Preventing back pain through education.

Abstract

Nurses continue to suffer from the effects of back injuries; the cost in terms of lost production due to associated sickness leave is enormous, while the cost in human suffering is incalculable. Liz Gonet and Anna Kryzwon describe the development of a 'Back awareness' course in their neurological unit which aims to utilise the processes of cascade learning to ensure that all nurses receive instruction in both lifting technique and body posture. Formal evaluation methods are in the process of being designed and initial responses from course participants have been very encouraging.