Physical Task Demands of Caregivers Working in a Long-Term Care Facility

Pen and Paper Ergonomic Tool - Part 1A : "The caregiver did NOT use any tools or aids while performing the following transfer tasks"

Each participant will be observed throughout an entire workday using a new pen-and-paper-based ergonomic tool developed in the lab. This assessment tool (see Appendix A) is a comprehensive document designed to record the various physical tasks and demands encountered during a typical workday for caregivers in long-term care facilities. The tool was developed based on standardized task analysis tools widely used in ergonomic practices (OHCOW, 2023). Part 1A of this tool will identify the number of transfers performed by caregivers during a workday, specifying the frequency (number of times this task was performed) and time (seconds) of each type of transfer WITHOUT the use of tools or aids.

Pen and Paper Ergonomic Tool - Part 1B : "The caregiver used tools and/or aids while performing the following transfer tasks"

Part 1B of this tool will identify the number of transfers performed by caregivers during a workday, specifying the frequency (number of times this task was performed) and time (seconds) for each type of transfer WITH the use of tools or aids.

Pen and Paper Ergonomic Tool - Part 1C: "Tools used for resident transfers"

The purpose of Part 1C is to determine how many transfers each type of equipment was used for by caregivers on a workday. It identifies the frequency of use for both mechanical and non-mechanical tools.

Pen and Paper Ergonomic Tool - Part 2A: "Number of resident handling in Bed"

Part 2A of this tool will identify the number of resident handling tasks performed by caregivers in bed during a workday, specifying the frequency (i.e., the number of times this task was performed). This section is also subdivided to identify not only the number of manipulations but also the types of manipulations performed.

Rate of Perceived Discomfort Questionnaire (RPD-Q)

The RPD-Q will be administered to provide an overview of the progression of caregivers' discomfort during their workday. This questionnaire will quantify the discomfort felt by the participants at the beginning, during, and after their workday during data collection. This self-administered questionnaire is based on a visual analogue scale of 0 to 100 points. Zero points represent no discomfort at all, while 100 points represent the maximal level of discomfort. Additionally, the RPD-Q will make it possible to identify whether the level of discomfort increases as the workday progresses, as well as the areas of the body most affected by such changes.

Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire - Part 1A : "Lifestyle Habits"

To gain an overview of work-related injuries in a care setting, investigators will gather information to identify risk factors and determine whether certain habits might contribute to injury development within this population. The H\&L-Q is divided into three parts, with the first focusing on lifestyle habits, such as average alcohol consumption (in ounces) during a typical week.

Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire - Part 1B : "Lifestyle Habits"

This section of the questionnaire provides relevant information regarding lifestyle habits, such as average tobacco use during a typical week. The outcome measurement will be based on the frequency of use throughout the week.

Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire - Part 1C : "Lifestyle Habits"

This section of the questionnaire provides relevant information regarding lifestyle habits, including the estimated amount of time engaging in physical activities (in minutes) and time spent in sedentary behavior (in hours) during a week.

Health and Lifestyle Questionnaire - Part 2 : "Work related MSIs History"

This section captures the history of WRMSIs experienced by participants throughout their careers. It aims to assess the impact of these injuries on their work capacity and overall well-being. By analyzing this data, investigators will be able to determine the prevalence of WRMSIs (%) within the study population.