Ergonomía en educación secundaria

Abstract

Objective: one of the fields of performance in Physiotherapy consists of developing health patterns among the community through education. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the inclusion of physiotherapeutic aspects related to the postural hygiene and ergonomics in formative cycles of secondary education. Material and method: 23 students belonging to the last course of the formative cycle of the superior degree of a institute of secondary education of the region of Murcia were assigned to two groups: experimental (n = 15, with an average age of 20.2 years old) and control (n = 8, with an average age of 19.5 years old). The pre-test evaluation was carried with both groups by means of a survey of questions relative to the postural health and a questionnaire to evaluate knowledge of ergonomics and postural hygiene. The experimental group participated during two hours in a physiotherapeutic program in which theoretical and practical aspects about ergonomics and methods of adopting appropriate postural hygiene were approached. The program was applied in accordance to the guidelines established by the Law of General Ordination of Educational System (LOGSE) for the development of a unit within the curriculum of the formative cycle. The group control received attention placebo by the professor-tutor during two hours of academic activities with similar contents. One week later the post-test evaluation was carried by means of a questionnaire testing the knowledge of both groups. Results: the health survey detected that a high percentage of the sample (91.3%) had experienced pain or problems with their back. The results of the pre-test indicate initial homogeneity between both groups with regard to the knowledge of ergonomics. However, one week after the application of the educational program, the results show a significant difference (p < 0.001) in favour of the experimental group. Conclusions: the high percentage of subjects from both groups that had experienced, at some time, pain or problems with their back is an indicator of the interest and the motivation that the youths show regarding aspects about Physiotherapy and ergonomics. Related to the effectiveness of the program, the difference is statistically significant among the marks obtained by the experimental group in the questionnaire. This group has more than enough knowledge of ergonomics including correct assimilation and compression of the unit on the part of the experimental group. This also shows that the educational intervention of the physiotherapist has been effective. Given the importance of the topic, the results obtained and the interest shown by students, director and teachers a unit of work on ergonomics with the physiotherapeutic contents applied in the experimental group has been included in the curriculum for further courses in the center where this study was carried out.