Pilot evaluation of the effectiveness of an ergonomics awareness educational programme addressed to middle-school children.

Background: Ergonomics programmes addressed to children fit the health-promoting schools (HPS) framework. Beyond the integration of ergonomics in curricula, an important aspect is the effectiveness of the programme. This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme proposed to a sample of middle-school children (aged 10-13 years) of the metropolitan city of Cagliari.

Methods: The programme was designed along the lines of the INAIL (Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work) scheme and proposed to 260 children. It consisted of three phases: 1) assessment of students' background with a pre-intervention questionnaire (completed by 142 students); 2) teaching of the ergonomics training modules and evaluation of the weight of a sample of 160 backpacks, and of students' perception to be able to sit by putting their feet on the ground; 3) evaluation of conceptual understanding of ergonomics concepts with a post-intervention questionnaire (completed by 107 students out of the 142 students who completed phase 1).

Results: There was a substantial improvement in the percentage of correct responses post-intervention, confirmed by the chi-square test, regarding concepts about ergonomics, backpack weight and handling. Most of the backpacks exceeded the maximum allowed value, and 20% of students were perceived to be unable to sit putting their feet on the ground.

Conclusions: The practical application of ergonomics pedagogy proved effective in the school setting and should be integrated into school curricula. The prevention technicians can offer a holistic approach, while the teachers are essential to implement the programme on a large scale. Effectiveness evaluation is necessary to guide resource allocation and implement and sustain the HPS approach. A tailored programme has a greater chance of reaching its target audience and maximizing effectiveness.