[Experience of prevention activities in local health units. Assaults and musculoskeletal disorders].

BACKGROUND: Assaults against health care workers and musculoskeletal disorders are two significant issues for occupational health physicians. Training (the most common form of proposed intervention) by itself is not effective in reducing adverse effects. CASE REPORT: Two field studies are reported. The first experience targeted physical violence against nursing assistants in a long-term psychiatric care unit. The basic programme included architectural, organizational, educational, and clinical efforts and led to a significant reduction in aggressive behaviour by patients. The second experience, concerning prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in hospital workers, was based upon participatory ergonomic, educational, and rehabilitation measures. After the intervention, the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms decreased moderately, but significantly. Increased fitness for work was observed in workers.
CONCLUSION: Multi-level and multi-purpose prevention programmes can be effective in reducing occupational health problems among health care workers.