Changes in Care Workers’ Health and Work-related Outcomes Following Implementation Support for No-lifting Care: A Single-facility Pre–post Study

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Abstract
Background: Manual resident handling is a major occupational health concern in long-term care settings. No-lifting care (NLC) aims to reduce physical burden by limiting manual lifting and promoting the appropriate use of assistive devices. This preliminary study examined changes in care workers’ health, work-related outcomes, and quality of life during a 1-year NLC implementation program at a geriatric health services facility. Methods: This single-facility pre–post study included 33 eligible care workers. Questionnaire surveys, including the WHOQOL-26, were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months (post-intervention follow-up). Valid responses were obtained from 25, 19, and 19 participants, respectively. Sixteen participants completed the WHOQOL-26 at all three time points and were included in the complete-case longitudinal analysis. WHOQOL-26 scores were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance or the Friedman test, as appropriate. Results: The frequency of physical discomfort, intention to leave, and perceived difficulty in providing care showed positive descriptive changes following NLC implementation. Among complete cases, psychological domain scores decreased from 17.0 ± 2.1 at baseline to 14.1 ± 2.8 at 6 months and increasing to 16.6 ± 2.8 in the post-intervention follow-up (p < 0.01). Environment domain scores showed a similar pattern, decreasing from 22.2 ± 3.7 to 14.1 ± 2.8 and subsequently increasing to 23.1 ± 3.5 (p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: NLC implementation support was associated with favorable descriptive changes in selected work-related outcomes. The temporary decline and subsequent recovery in psychological and environment domain scores may reflect an adjustment process during implementation. Our findings support the use of NLC as an organizational change requiring sustained practical and on-site support.

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