Muscle Fatigue Experienced by Healthcare Workers in Hemodialysis Centers: A Survey

The demand for dialysis treatments and the care team is growing. In a hemodialysis center, registered nurses (RNs) and patient care technicians (PCTs) work closely to monitor treatments and ensure patient safety. Due to the nature of dialysis treatments, these professionals often work long hours with extensive physical movements, which can lead to muscle fatigue. Work-related muscle fatigue can put the individual healthcare worker, the patient, and the organization at risk. As a leading medical device manufacturer for dialysis, Fresenius Medical Care is committed to offering our users the best possible products by applying human factors principles in the design process. The objectives of this study are to investigate the existence and extent of muscle fatigue experienced by healthcare workers in dialysis centers, and to explore factors contributing to muscle fatigue for these professionals. The ultimate goal is to mitigate muscle fatigue by optimizing our dialysis product designs.