Changes in postural risk and general health associated with a participatory ergonomics education program used by heavy video display terminal users: a pilot study.

To determine if a brief, participatory ergonomics education program was associated with changes in work posture and general health of heavy video display terminal (VDT) users, 23 full-time VDT users participated in an on-site, small-group, 60-minute ergonomics education session and 1 week later an individual 15-minute follow-up session at their workstation. Posture was assessed by a blinded tester who scored videotape records to complete the Postural and Repetitiveness Risk Factors Index (PRRI), and general health status was assessed via self-administered Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire before the intervention and again 5 weeks later. Five weeks after the 60-minute session, PRRI scores were 19% lower than were preintervention scores (p < 0.