Influence of Educational-Intervention Program on Adherence to Workplace-Ergonomic Principles among Catering Staff of Selected Universities in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Adherence to workplace-ergonomics principles preserves worker’s health, and productivity, negligence results in musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study evaluated the influence of an educational intervention program on Adherence to ergonomic principles among Catering Staff of selected Universities in Nigeria. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study. The study population was 423 catering staff of two purposively selected universities. Sixty consenting Staff were systematically derived by selecting every 7th person, using the normal distribution power formula for intervention studies and enrolled in an experimental group (EG: n=30) and a control group (CG n: =30). EG received the ergonomics-based educational intervention, one-hour/day/week for three weeks. CG received lectures on infection control. The study lasted twelve weeks. A validated, structured, pre-tested questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.78 to 0.93 was self-administered by respondents. EG and CG had a 100% response rate. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze baseline and 12th-week follow-up data at 5% significance level Results: The mean age of respondents was 41.52 ± 10.23. CG and EG showed a significant difference in adherence to ergonomics principles at the 12th-week follow-up (3.30 ± 0.37 and 9.97 ± 0.30; p < 0.05). EG showed a significant difference in adherence to ergonomics principles between baseline and 12th-week follow-up. (7.53 ± 0.32 and 9.97 ± 0.03; ES 1.407(0.783 to 2.031) p - 0.001 respectively. Conclusion: The educational intervention program improved adherence to ergonomic principles. The study recommends routine training of university catering staff in ergonomics to sustain adherence.