Background: Evidence regarding the value of ergonomics and other musculoskeletal injury prevention interventions in
the healthcare sector is mixed. A systematic review of papers published between 1990 and 2006 found only moderate
evidence that such interventions are effective from an economics perspective. Aim: The aim of this study was to update
these findings. Method: The OvidSP journal database was searched for papers published between 2006 and 2013 using
the strategy and quality assessment method previously applied. Results: The initial search yielded 4417 manuscript ‘hits’.
There were 4348 manuscripts that were excluded. The remaining 69 manuscripts were read and a further 67 studies were
subsequently excluded. The two remaining studies were considered along with the four identified in the previous review
to provide an overall ranking of evidence. Conclusions: The level of evidence on the value of ergonomics and other
musculoskeletal injury prevention interventions in the healthcare sector remains moderate, and focussed on the financial
impact on employers. This may be partly due to the dynamic and changing nature of the work environment and the lengthy
follow-up times required for studies of this type. A combination of reliable and robust outcome measures, supported by
evidence of cost impacts for the individual and the health service, as well as employers, would provide fuller analyses of the
value of such interventions.