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Tervisekaitse spetsialistide õpe Tartu Tervishoiu Kõrgkoolis.

WORK ERGONOMICS FOR HEALTHCARE SPECIALISTS RESEARCH GROUP


Collaborator: Estonian University of Life Sciences


Keywords: occupational health, ergonomics, physiological risk factors, musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomic intervention


Overview of Main Activities: Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common work-related health problems caused by risk factors present in the work environment. Healthcare workers make up 10% of the European Union workforce and, like workers in other fields, they experience musculoskeletal disorders primarily caused by physiological risk factors (e.g., manual handling of loads, repetitive movements, working in forced postures). It is important to design the work environment in such a way that workers are exposed to as few risk factors as possible, implementing ergonomic interventions when necessary.

Research Group Members

KRISTI VAHUR,
MSc (public health), Research Group Leader

CV

ÜLLE PARM,
PhD (microbiology)

MARIT SALUS,
MSc (sport sciences)

JELENA SOKK,
PhD (sport sciences)

EDA MERISALU,
PhD (clinical medicine), EMÜ

Research and Development Activities in the Research Group

  • Kristi Vahur’s doctoral thesis (supervisors E. Merisalu and Ü. Parm) aims to explain the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among medical laboratory workers and to assess the impact of ergonomic interventions on the functional status of the musculoskeletal system of the subjects.

Ongoing Applied Research

  • Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among healthcare sector workers and the impact of intervention activities on musculoskeletal disorders.

Science Popularization

  • Kristi Vahur, Marit Salus, Mari Valgepea. (2022). Musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists. TTHKK Research Papers Collection XVI.
  • Kristi Vahur, Merli Ilm. (2022). Hand and wrist disorders among laboratory workers. TTHKK Research Papers Collection XVI.
  • Kristi Vahur. (2024). Exposure to job-related risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory workers. Oral presentation at the BSE2024 conference of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
  • Kristi Vahur, Marit Salus, Mari Valgepea. (2024). Musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists. Poster presentation at the Ülemiste City Health Conference.

Student Thesis Related to the Research Group

  • Merli Ilm. (2022). Hand and wrist disorders among laboratory workers. Supervisor: Kristi Vahur.
  • Mari Valgepea. (2022). Musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists. Supervisors: Kristi Vahur, Marit Salus.
  • Kärt Oras. (2023). Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among dental clinic workers. Supervisor: Kristi Vahur.
  • Karina Ilves. (2023). The impact of work postures on musculoskeletal disorders among medical laboratory workers and the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions. Master’s thesis, Estonian University of Life Sciences. Supervisors: Kristi Vahur, Eda Merisalu.
  • Joonas Jääger. (2024). Methods for preventing musculoskeletal disorders in the work of radiology technicians.
Kristi VahurKristi Vahur

Kristi Vahur

Head of the Physiotherapy and Environmental Health Department

+372 737 0228kristivahur@nooruse.ee
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