Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention Module to Increase Knowledge, Health Belief and Practices of Work- Related Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in the Malaysian Armed Forces
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Keywords

Work Related Injury
Health Belief Model
Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Introduction: Statistics show that a hospital is one of the most hazardous places to work. Healthcare workers (HCW) in hospitals are exposed to physical, chemical, biological, ergonomics and psychosocial hazards that may cause serious injuries. Because there is widespread ignorance of the hazard, awareness must be increased about the harmful effects of injuries and about the prevention and control of WRI mainly through health behaviour changes. Objective: To develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a Health Belief Model based educational intervention on WRI among healthcare workers. This program is expected to create awareness and enhance the knowledge in relation to practices of WRI and its prevention among the HCW. Materials and Methods: A clustered randomised controlled trial study was conducted in 2 military hospitals. All participants, who fulfilled the selection criteria, were recruited via stratified random sampling. The study instrument used was a self-administered questionnaire. Intervention group received an educational based intervention on WRI. The intervention and control groups were compared at 1 and 6-months post- baseline using RM-MANCOVA to determine the significant changes between and within groups using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0. Result: There were statistically significant differences between intervention and control group on the combined dependent variables after controlling for covariates with F=79.679, p<0.001, Wilks’ Λ = 0.464, η2=0.536 and statistically significant differences within group subjects and time on the combined dependent variables after controlling for covariates with F=66.962, p<0.001, Wilks’ Λ = 0.337, η2=0.663. Discussion: The educational intervention delivered proved to be a success with a change in knowledge, health belief and practice during the 6 months’ period. Effect sustainability study must be followed up and education must be implemented to improve the occurrences of WRI among healthcare workers.

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