Health status, resources, and job demands in geriatric nursing staff: A cross-sectional study on determinants and relationships.

BACKGROUND: According to current estimates, the number of people needing care will double in the next 40 years. It is expected that between 130,000 and 190,000 additional nurses will be needed by 2030 in Germany. Physical and psychological burdens associated with nursing in long-term care facilities can develop into serious health risk factors and significantly impact occupational factors such as absenteeism, especially when linked to difficult working conditions. However, demands and resources specific to the nursing profession have not been analyzed extensively to preserve and promote nurses' workability and health adequately. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to examine the extent to which perceived health among geriatric nursing staff in Germany is predicted by personal resources, job demands, and job resources. In addition, we analyzed the impact of different behavior and experience patterns on these relationships. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: An observational study was conducted between August 2018 and February 2020 in 48 nursing home facilities with 854 staff members in Germany as part of the project 'PROCARE - Prevention and occupational health in long-term care'. METHODS: The survey contained instruments that measure workplace exposure, musculoskeletal complaints, physical and mental well-being, chronic stress, and work-related behavior and experience patterns. In addition, health-related information on physical activity and nutrition was collected. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. RESULTS: The combined physical and mental workload for geriatric nurses is very high, with 75 % showing chronic stress. In the overall model, job and personal resources have a stronger association with mental health than physical health, while job demands have an equal impact on mental and physical health. Coping behavior also plays an important key role that should be assessed and considered. A behavior and experience risk pattern (health-endangering) is more strongly associated with a lower health status than a health-promoting behavior pattern. Results of the multigroup test showed that work-related behavior and experience patterns significantly moderate the relationship between physical health and mental health (χ2 = 392/p ≤ .001/df = 256/RMSEA = 0.028/CFI = 0.958/TLI = 0.931). Only 43 % show a health-friendly coping pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings underline the importance of holistic health promotion, which not only aims at changes at the behavioral level and the development of coping strategies but also takes on the task of reducing the workload and including measures to improve the working climate. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS.de (DRKS00015241); August 9, 2018. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Healthier coping patterns can benefit geriatric nurses' health. However, this is not a substitute for improving working conditions.

Does mental practice or mirror therapy help prevent functional loss after distal radius fracture? A randomized controlled trial.

STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, single-blinded controlled trial. INTRODUCTION: Therapy results after distal radius fractures (DRF) especially with older patients are often suboptimal. One possible approach for counteracting the problems are motor-cognitive training interventions such as Mental Practice (MP) or Mirror Therapy (MT), which may be applied in early rehabilitation without stressing the injured wrist. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of MP and MT on wrist function after DRF. The pilot study should furthermore provide information about the feasibility of these methods. METHODS: Thirty-one women were assigned either to one of the two experimental groups (MP, MT) or to a control group (relaxation intervention). The participants completed a training for six weeks, administered at their homes. Measurements were taken at four times (weeks 0, 3, 6 and 12) to document the progression in subjective function (PRWE, QuickDASH) and objective constraints of the wrist (ROM, grip strength) as well as in health-related quality of life (EQ-5D). RESULTS: The results indicated that both experimental groups showed higher improvements across the intervention period compared to the control group; e.g. PRWE: MT 74.0%, MP 66.2%, CG 56.9%. While improvements in grip strength were higher for the MP group, the MT group performed better in all other measures. However, time by group interactions approached significance at best; e.g. ROM: P = .076; ηp2 = .141. CONCLUSION: The superiority of MP as well as MT supports the simulation theory. Motor-cognitive intervention programs are feasible and promising therapy supplements, which may be applied in early rehabilitation to counteract the consequences of immobilization without stressing the injured wrist.

Physical activity and health promotion for nursing staff in elderly care: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Nursing staff is burdened by high workload and stress. Furthermore, heavy lifting, as well as transferring nursing home residents, cause lumbar tissue damage and back pain. Exercise intervention studies to reduce work-related problems are rare and the evidence for efficacy of studies among nurses is limited. Studies including targeted analysis of requirements are necessary to generate effective recommendations and tailored interventions for health promotion programmes. The purpose of this multicentred intervention study is to identify work-related problems, to implement health promotion programmes and to evaluate their effectiveness. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A randomised controlled trial will be conducted, including a total of 48 nursing home facilities in eight regions of Germany with an estimated sample size of 700 nurses. Standardised ergonomics and posture training (10 weeks, once a week for 20-30 min) and subsequently, back-fitness training (12 weeks, once a week for 45-60 min) will be administered. Following the implementation of standardised health promotion programmes, further demand-oriented interventions can be implemented. The perceived exposure to work-related demands, work-related pain in different parts of the body, health-related quality of life, perceived stress, work-related patterns of behaviour and experience, presentism behaviour, work environment as well as general needs and barriers to health promotion, will be assessed at baseline (pre-test), at 10 weeks (post-test, after ergonomics training), at 22 weeks (post-test, after back-fitness training) and at 34 weeks of the programme (follow-up). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was reviewed and approved by the local ethics committee of the University of Hamburg (AZ: 2018_168). The results of the study will be published in open-access and international journals. Furthermore, the results will be presented in the participating nursing homes and at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: DRKS.de (DRKS00015241).

A multicomponent exercise intervention to improve physical functioning, cognition and psychosocial well-being in elderly nursing home residents: a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial in the PROCARE (prevention and occupational health in long-term care) project.

BACKGROUND: Older adults, who are living in nursing homes that provide a high level of long-term nursing care, are characterized by multimorbidity and a high prevalence of dependency in activities of daily living. Results of recent studies indicate positive effects of structured exercise programs during long-term care for physical functioning, cognition, and psychosocial well-being. However, for frail elderly the evidence remains inconsistent. There are no evidence-based guidelines for exercises for nursing home residents that consider their individual deficits and capacities. Therefore, high-quality studies are required to examine the efficacy of exercise interventions for this multimorbid target group. The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a multicomponent exercise intervention for nursing home residents that aims to improve physical and cognitive functioning as well as quality of life. METHODS: A two-arm single-blinded multicenter randomized controlled trial will be conducted, including 48 nursing homes in eight regions of Germany with an estimated sample size of 1120 individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a training or a waiting time control group. For a period of 16 weeks the training group will meet twice a week for group-based sessions (45-60 min each), which will contain exercises to improve physical functioning (strength, endurance, balance, flexibility) and cognitive-motor skills (dual-task). The intervention is organized as a progressive challenge which is successively adapted to the residents' capacities. Physical functioning, cognitive performance, and quality of life will be assessed in both study groups at baseline (pre-test), after 16-weeks (post-treatment), and after 32-weeks (retention test, intervention group only). DISCUSSION: This study will provide information about the efficacy of a multicomponent exercise program in nursing homes (performance, recruitment). Results from this trial will contribute to the evidence of multicomponent exercises, which specifically focus on cognitive-motor approaches in the maintenance of mental and physical functioning. In addition, it will help to encourage older adults to actively engage in social life. Furthermore, the findings will lead to recommendations for health promotion interventions for frail nursing home residents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was prospectively registered at DRKS.de with the registration number DRKS00014957 on October 9, 2018.

Preventing functional loss during immobilization after osteoporotic wrist fractures in elderly patients: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Distal radius fractures are among the most common fractures and account for approximately one-sixth of all fractures diagnosed. Therapy results after distal radius fracture, especially of elderly patients, are often suboptimal. The inevitable immobilization for several weeks leads to reduction in range of motion, deterioration of muscle strength, malfunction of fine motor skills as well as changes of motor and sensory representations in the brain. Currently, there are no strategies to counteract these immobilization problems. The overall aim of the study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of motor-cognitive approaches (mental practice or mirror therapy) on hand function after wrist fracture. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a controlled, randomized, longitudinal intervention study with three intervention groups. One experimental group imagines movements of the fractured upper extremity without executing them (mental practice). The second experimental group receives a mirror therapy program consisting of the performance of functional movement synergies using the unaffected forearm, wrist, and hand. The control group completes a relaxation training regime. Additionally, all patients receive usual care by the general practitioner. We include women aged 60 years and older having a distal radius fracture and sufficient cognitive function. All groups are visited at home for therapy sessions 5 times per week for the first 3 weeks and 3 times per week for weeks 4 to 6. Measurements are taken at therapy onset, and after 3, 6 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure will assess upper extremity functioning (Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation [PRWE]), while secondary outcome measures cover subjective wrist function (Disabilities of the Arm and Shoulder; [DASH], objective impairment (range of motion, grip force) and quality of life (EuroQol-5D, [EQ5D]). DISCUSSION: Results from this trial will contribute to the evidence on motor-cognitive approaches in the early therapy of distal radius fractures. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration number NCT01394809 and was granted permission by the Medical Ethical Review Committee of the University of Tübingen in June 2011.