An Investigation of the Physical Task Demands of Caregivers Working in a Long-Term Care Facility in New Brunswick
Conditions: Work Related Musculoskeletal Injuries (WRMSIs)
Sponsor: Universite de Moncton

An Investigation of the Physical Task Demands of Caregivers Working in a Long-Term 
Care Facility 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Study Protocol and Appendix 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dubé A1., Brun C1., Albert WJ2. & Cardoso MR1. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Université de Moncton 
University of New Brunswick 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
May 29th, 2024 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Appendix A: Ergonomic Tool 
 
Participant ID: _______________________________ No: __________________ 
 
Date: ________________________________Location: ______________ 
 
The aim of the evaluation is to observe and record the various motor tasks performed by 
the participants during a typical day at work. 
 
There will be no assessment of movement quality or techniques used; the aim is simply to 
count and record the number of times each movement or motor task has been performed 
during the day. 
 
Part 1: Patient Transfers  
A- The caregiver did NOT use any tools or aids while performing the following 
transfer tasks:  
 
Type of transfers 
requiring Physical 
assistance from the 
caregiver 
Number of transfers 
completed 
Resident 
condition 
1. No assistance 
from resident 
2. Assist/Help 
3. Guidance 
only 
 
Duration 
(minutes): 
Record 3 
separate trials 
 
Bed to Wheelchair  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
Wheelchair to Bed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
Wheelchair to chair  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  

 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Chair to Wheelchair  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
Wheelchair to Toilet  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
Toilet to Wheelchair  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

B- The caregiver used tools and/or aids while performing the following transfer 
tasks:  
 
Type of transfers 
requiring 
physical assistance 
from the caregiver 
Number of transfers 
completed 
Resident 
condition 
1. No assistance 
from resident 
2. Assist/Help 
3. Guidance 
only 
 
Duration 
(minutes): 
Record 3 
separate trials 
 
Bed to Wheelchair – 
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Wheelchair to Bed –  
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Wheelchair to Chair –  
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Chair to Wheelchair –  
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 

 
 
 
… 
 
 
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Wheelchair to Toilet –  
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
Toilet to Wheelchair –  
with the use of 
tools/aids 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 –  
 
PM 
1 – 
2 – 
3 – 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

C- Tools used by caregiver for resident transfers: 
 
Type of tool used with mechanical assistance 
when transferring the resident (e.g., ceiling 
lifts). 
Number of transfers completed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Type of tool used WITHOUT mechanical 
assistance when transferring the resident (e.g., 
transfer boards). 
Number of transfers completed 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Part 2: Resident handling 
A - Resident handling in Bed 
 
Resident handling Movement Patterns 
Number of handlings completed 
Side to side (turning a resident to their 
side ex: Turn 1, Turn 2) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Straightening (sit/back) 
 
 
 
 
 
Side bearing 
 
 
 
 
 
Pull a patient up in bed (ex: Up in Bed) 
(vertical) 
 
 
 
 
 
Pull a patient down in bed (ex: Up in Bed) 
(vertical) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizontal pull (ex: Side 1, Side 2)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Horizontal pull (lower limbs) 
 
Additional Movement Patterns 
 
 
 
 
 

B: Resident handling in Wheelchair – Sitting 
 
Motor task 
Number of handlings completed 
Side to side 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lift up 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Repositioning of lower limbs 
 
Additional Movement Patterns 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Part 3: Motor tasks – Housework – Sanitary 
 
Motor tasks 
Number of times completed 
Making a bed 
 
 
 
 
Leaning towards the ground (e.g., picking 
up an object, rubbing dirt on the floor) 
 
 
 
 
 
Lifting an object that weighing more than 
10 pounds 
 
 
 
 
 
Assisting the resident with their bathing 
needs 
 
 
 
 
 
Washing a resident independently 
(without help) 
 
 
 
 
 
Assisting a resident to walk 
 
 
 
 
 
Assisting in dressing and undressing a 
resident 
 
 
 
 
Assisting a resident to eat 
 
Standing: 
 
Sitting: 
Other 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Part 4: Time spent under different type of behaviors (lasting more than 10 mins) 
 
Workplace Movement 
Number of times 
(+10mins) 
Duration (minutes): 
Record 3 separate 
trials 
Standing (working) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 – 
2 –  
3 –  
 
Sitting (working) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 – 
2 –  
3 –  
 
Walking (working) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 – 
2 –  
3 –  
 
Walking (pushing a 
wheelchair or carrying an 
object) - loading 
 
 
 
 
 
1 – 
2 –  
3 –  
 
Other 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1 –  
2 – 
3 - 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Part 5 : Additional Information 
 
Number of hours worked without a break 
(max) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total hours worked 
 
 
 
 
 
Total rest time (hours) 
 
 
 
 
 
Other 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part 6 : Field observations : 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

APPENDIX B – Rate of Perceived Quesonnaire (RPD) 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Appendix C: H&L-Q (Lifestyle Quesonnaire) 
 
Par8cipant ID_________________________              Date__________________________ 
 
Sex_________    Age__________   Years of experience in the ﬁeld___________________ 
 
Work status (full-8me or part-8me): _______________ 
 
Answer the next sec8on to the best of your knowledge. 
1. How many 8mes per week do you par8cipate in cardiovascular exercise 
(including walking, jogging, biking, swimming; etc.) _____________  
If so, for how long (average) _______minutes. Total: __________ minutes/week. 
 
2. How many 8mes per week do you par8cipate in strength training (muscular) 
exercise (liQing weights, body weight exercises, bands; etc.) _____________  
If so, for how long (average) _______minutes. Total: __________ minutes/week. 
 
3. How many average units of alcohol (1oz) do you consume per week? _______ 
oz/week. 
 
4. Are you a regular tobacco user? If so, do you consume daily? (Yes or No) Or, do 
you consume only a few 8mes a week? (Yes or No) 
 
What form of tobacco do you use? (CigareXe, Vape, Chew, or Other) 
 
5. How would you rate your average quality of sleep on a scale of 1-10 (1 being very 
poor and 10 being great)? ____________.  
What is your typical bed8me and wake up schedule? _________ PM/AM - 
________PM/AM 
 
How much 8me do you spend in a sedentary behavior at home (ex: si^ng, laying down 
screen8me…) 
 
1) Less than 2 hours/day 
2) Between 2 to 4 hours/day 
3) Between 4 to 6 hours/day 
4) Between 6 to  hours/day 
5) More than  hours/day 
 
 
 
 
 

How much 8me do you spend in a sedentary behavior at work (ex: si^ng, laying down 
screen8me…) 
 
1) Less than 2 hours/day 
2) Between 2 to 4 hours/day 
3) Between 4 to 6 hours/day 
4) Between 6 to  hours/day 
5) More than  hours/day 
 
Have you ever experienced work-related musculoskeletal injury (muscle, ligament or 
bone injuries that aﬀect your ability to perform your job or interfere with your everyday 
life) 
1. Yes 
2. No 
 
 
If yes, please ﬁll out this Nordic ques8onnaire:  
Important note: The term "discomfort" refers to persistent discomfort caused by 
musculoskeletal injury or pain, and the terms "8ghtness" or "s8ﬀness" that are NOT 
persistent are not applicable to this term. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
If yes, how, and when did the injury (ies) occurred. 
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________. 
 
 
 
Did you have to take some time o0 from work due to this injury, if so, please 
elaborate: 
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________. 
 
 
How would you rate the overall physical demands of your work? 
1. Very Easy 
2. Easy 
3. Average 
4. Diﬃcult 
5. Very Diﬃcult 
 
Based on your baseline level at the start of the day, how would you rate your level of 
fa8gue at the end of your workday on average on a scale of 0 to 10? 
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________. 
 
What sugges8ons do you have for interven8ons or strategies that could poten8ally 
reduce the physical demands of your work and ensure your safety and well-being at 
work? 
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________. 
 
General Comments: 
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.