Evaluation of the implementation of an education and training programme for nursing personnel at a hospital in Sweden

An education and training programme in (a) patient transfer technique (b) physical fitness, and (c) stress management was given to the nursing personnel working in physically strenuous departments at a Swedish county hospital with about 750 beds, all equipped with modern lifting devices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of the programme as regards (1) the nurses views of the programme and of the new work technique, (2) the prevalence of symptoms, and (3) the influence of the programme within the organisation. The study was based on data from four questionnaires which were distributed to 348 female nursing personnel who participated in the entire programme during 1992-1995. Interviews were conducted with a group comprising both management and nursing personnel. The results showed that the nurses were motivated to use what they learnt in the program. In 1995, 93% of the nurses used the new patient transfer technique. Those who reported that they did not use the work technique rated some patient transfers as more physically strenuous than those who used the work technique. There was an increase in the prevalence of upper back and hip symptoms from 1992 to 1995, but this result was not seen for any other body region. When the programme was planned no "organisational space" was created for the purpose of maintaining the new knowledge among the personnel. However, after completion of the programme, continuous follow-up sessions in the work technique are being given to make this new work model a permanent component of competence training for the nursing personnel.