Table 3 Synthesis, integration of quantitative and qualitative data for each type of intervention

Lifting equipment for patients

Limited, convergent results (5 studies)

Yes [39, 42, 43, 45, 46]

• Strong support from nurses, supervisors, co-workers, and patients

• Nurses’ participation to intervention process

• High adequacy to worker’s needs for lifting and transferring tasks

• Low adequacy to workers’ needs for repositioning tasks

• Some difficulties in applying procedures (resisting, heavy patients, procedural errors)

Participatory ergonomic intervention

Limited, non convergent results (2 studies)

No [41]

• High satisfaction among steering groups members

• High attendance to meeting of steering groups members

• Limited dose delivered and dose received of fully implemented ergonomic measures

• Lack of financial and personal resources

• Low adequacy to perceived workers’ needs

• Low satisfaction among workers

Yes [40]

• Strong management support for the program

• High dose delivered and received

• Low direct participation of workers

• Limited acceptance by employees in some units

Work style intervention and/or physical activity

Limited (1 study)

Yes (Work style, WS)

No (Work style and physical activity, WSPA) [38]

• High participation of workers to WS (attendance to meetings)

• Lower participation of workers to WSPA (attendance to meetings)

• Low adequacy with workers’ needs for the physical activity component of the intervention (WSPA)

• Group meeting may not be suitable for increasing physical activity (WSPA)

Workload and empowerment

Limited (1 study)

No and yes

No effects on health and symptoms but decrease in sickness days [44]

• High dose delivered (except for physical activity training).

• Low dose received

• Low fidelity to protocol

• Low workers’ satisfaction toward an intervention tool (rest-break tool)

• Difficulties in applying procedures

• Economic crisis climate, job insecurity

• Low support and commitment of supervisors