Effect of Fukuoka Prefecture no-lifting care promotion project on the prevalence of back pain, the frequency of lifting care and assistive technology installed for transfer among care workers.

Abstract

In this study, to examine the effect of the Fukuoka Prefecture no-lifting care promotion project, we investigated the prevalence of low back pain, the frequency of lifting care and installed assistive technology for transfer among care workers who participated in the project. As a result, the prevalence of low back pain in the first year of the project was 62%, but in the fifth year of the project, this rate had decreased to 47%. The frequency of lifting care was 81% of caregivers in the first year of the project, but decreased to 40% in the fifth year of the project. On the other hand, the number of installed assistive technology for transfer increased the longer the project period. These results suggest that the Fukuoka Prefecture no-lifting care promotion project is expected to reduce the prevalence of low back pain and the frequency of lifting care. However, it will take time for the effects of no-lifting care to become significantly evident for care workers.