Affiliations: Division of Physical Therapy, Department of
Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA,
USA | Department of Health Promotion and Behavior,
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA | Department of Educational Psychology, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the
effectiveness of an active ergonomics training (AET) program in computer users.
Two constructs from the social-cognitive theory were adopted to provide a more
comprehensive assessment of the proximal markers of behavior change. Method: Eighty-seven symptomatic and asymptomatic employees who
worked at a computer for a minimum of 10~hours per week took part in a
prospective randomized controlled study. Subjects participated in a six-hour
training intervention at their workplace. Key elements of the AET intervention
were skill development in workstation analysis, active participation, and
implementation of multiple prevention strategies. Results: After receiving AET, risk factor exposure was significantly
reduced for participants at higher risk [F(1,82) = 6.42, p < 0.01].
Significant increases in knowledge [F(1,74) = 8.39, p < 0.01], self-efficacy
[F(1,73) = 6.95, p < 0.01], and outcome expectations [F(1,75) = 8.75, p <
0.01] were found in the intervention group. When the participants were
stratified according to the presence of symptoms at baseline, the group with
pain that received the AET intervention had significantly less upper back pain
intensity (z = -2.03, p < 0.05), pain frequency (z = -2.70, p < 0.01),
and pain duration (z = -3.25, p < 0.01) post-intervention than the control
group with pain. Conclusion: Results from this study provide evidence that
participative training in workstation ergonomics can improve work postures,
work practices, risk factor exposure, and pain.
