Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 2018, 6, 45-51 http://www.scirp.org/journal/jbm ISSN Online: 2327-509X ISSN Print: 2327-5081 DOI: 10.4236/jbm.2018.65006 May 21, 2018 45 Journal of Biosciences and Medicines The Effectiveness of the Lateral Patient Transfer Device to Reduce Musculoskeletal Risk among Practical Nurses in a Hospital, Thailand Parvena Meepradit, Kanjana Panyadee, Tanongsak Yingratanasuk Department of Industrial Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Saen Suk, Chonburi, Thailand Abstract Moving patients is a task that requires force, and poses musculoskeletal risk among practical nurses. The use of an equipment to assist patient lifting and transferring can reduce musculoskeletal risk. This study was a qua- si-experimental research measuring the effectiveness of a patient moving de- vice for a period of 4 weeks among practical nurses in a hospital. The 33 sub- jects were selected based on the inclusion criteria. The data were collected by using the rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) tool. The results showed that the patient moving device could reduce musculoskeletal risk which included the work posture significantly (P < 0.05). This study could be used as a prac- tical basis for hospital to bring in the equipment for assisting moving of pa- tients. Keywords Lateral Transfer of Patient, Practical Nurse 1. Introduction The shortage of nursing staff in Thailand is a national problem that has been continuing for decades. It is due to the change in the population structure, the increase of the elderly population and chronic diseases [1]. This change has brought more patients to hospitals. There has also been a restriction on em- ployment of professional nurse [2]. The practical nurses or nurse assistants play an important role in caring of the patients in hospitals. The most common activ- ities for patient care are keeping the patient clean, wiping to reduce fever, pre- How to cite this paper: Meepradit, P., Panyadee, K. and Yingratanasuk, T. (2018) The Effectiveness of the Lateral Patient Transfer Device to Reduce Musculoskeletal Risk among Practical Nurses in a Hospital, Thailand. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 6, 45-51. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2018.65006 Received: April 5, 2018 Accepted: May 18, 2018 Published: May 21, 2018