Musculoskeletal DisorderNCT05551143
R2P Field Test of the EMS LiftKit
A study testing LiftKit in people with Musculoskeletal Disorder, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The long-term goal of our research program is to reduce the high incidence of musculoskeletal injury associated with person-handling tasks performed by EMS providers/responders (NORA Public Safety Industry Sector). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Musculoskeletal Disorder
- What is being tested?
- LiftKit
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 166 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Nov 2022to 30 Jun 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Working EMS providers
Who cannot join
- None
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: R2P Field Test of the EMS LiftKit: Validating Usability, Usefulness, Desirability, and Effects on Musculoskeletal Injuries in EMS Providers Working in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities
The long-term goal of our research program is to reduce the high incidence of musculoskeletal injury associated with person-handling tasks performed by EMS providers/responders (NORA Public Safety Industry Sector). The literature shows the significant burden of these injuries, many of which affect the back and are debilitating. There is a need for effective ergonomic tools that can assist EMS providers in the patient handling tasks encountered in patient homes, particularly those patient handling situations that include restricted or tight spaces. To address this need, our prior work identified a set of potential ergonomic solutions, using a participatory process with EMS providers, for physically challenging and frequently occurring patient handling tasks that occur in patient homes. A final product of this prior work was the development of the LiftKit, which is a collection of seven tools that were shown in biomechanical validation studies with EMS providers to effectively reduce physical demands during simulated patient handling tasks in a laboratory setting. The overall objective of this proposed research-to-practice application is to evaluate the LiftKit's seven patient handling tools (interventions) in the field to assess their usability, usefulness, and desirability, as well as their impact with regards to preventing musculoskeletal injuries incurred during EMS patient handling tasks. In this field study, 30 LiftKits will be placed on EMS vehicles that service urban, suburban, and rural communities. Given the three-shift operation used by fire-service based EMS departments, there is the potential to recruit between 180 and 270 EMS providers for the study. Immediately following the training on how to use the tools and at 4, 8, and 12 months following the training, participants will be interviewed and questioned about each tools' usability, usefulness, and desirability. Frequency of each tool's use will be assessed with a questionnaire at the time of the interview and a daily Run-Use survey tool. Musculoskeletal injury data due to patient handling tasks during the 12 month follow-up period will be compared with injury data from the three-year period prior to study initiation. The final product of this work will provide the important evidence needed to widely promote the adoption of the ergonomic tools within the LiftKit, in order to reduce MSD injury risk to EMS providers associated with common patient handling tasks.
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Disorder
- Being tested
- LiftKit
- Keywords
- EMS, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Back Injury, Firefighter
- Medical subject headings
- Musculoskeletal Diseases, Back Injuries
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
LiftKitOther
The LiftKit contains 7 tools that could assist EMS providers when lifting/moving patients. These tools are:
- Simple Strap - A sling to lift a seated patient
- Strap and slide stick - A strap system for raising a supine patient to a sitting posture.
- Slip Preventer- An envelope that goes over the patients feet with high friction straps for the EMS providers to stand on that prevent the patient from sliding forward when lifted.
- Drag Straps - straps with handles that can be clipped on tarps used to drag patients
- The Binder Lift - a vest with handles that allow EMS providers to easily get hold of patient they need to lift.
- Patient Turning Straps - a way to log-roll a patient that in on the floor while in a standing posture.
- The ELK - an inflatable seat cushion that can raise a patient who in the floor to chair level
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| LiftKit Intervention | Experimental | All participants will have access to the LiftKit that provides them with a set of tools that should reduce the physical demands experienced by EMS providers when lifting and moving patients in their homes, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Receives: Other: LiftKit |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Usability, Usefulness and Desirability Measures
Surveys used to assess usability, usefulness, and desirability of tools within the LiftKit. Response scales are 5-point Likert scales that are set up so that higher scores reflect better outcomes. High scores indicate better usability, more useful tools, and the tools are more desirable.
Measured: The survey was administered after each participant completed their 12 months of participation.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Musculoskeletal Injury Data
Musculoskeletal Injuries related to patient handling tasks during the 12 month study period
Measured: 12 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Sep 2022
- Study start1 Nov 2022
- Primary completion31 May 2024
- Study completion30 Jun 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Musculoskeletal DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ohio State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Steve Lavender, Ohio State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05551143
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- LiftKit
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 19 Sep 2022
- Last updated
- 6 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- R2P Field Test of the EMS LiftKit: Validating Usability, Usefulness, Desirability, and Effects on Musculoskeletal Injuries in EMS Providers Working in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05551143
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- LiftKit
- Conditions
- Musculoskeletal Disorder
- Keywords
- EMS, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Back Injury, Firefighter
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 166 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The long-term goal of our research program is to reduce the high incidence of musculoskeletal injury associated with person-handling tasks performed by EMS providers/responders (NORA Public Safety Industry Sector). The literature shows the significant burden of these injuries, many of which affect the back and are debilitating. There is a need for effective ergonomic tools that can assist EMS providers in the patient handling tasks encountered in patient homes, particularly those patient handling situations that include restricted or tight spaces. To address this need, our prior work identified a set of potential ergonomic solutions, using a participatory process with EMS providers, for physically challenging and frequently occurring patient handling tasks that occur in patient homes. A final product of this prior work was the development of the LiftKit, which is a collection of seven tools that were shown in biomechanical validation studies with EMS providers to effectively reduce physical demands during simulated patient handling tasks in a laboratory setting. The overall objective of this proposed research-to-practice application is to evaluate the LiftKit's seven patient handling tools (interventions) in the field to assess their usability, usefulness, and desirability, as well as their impact with regards to preventing musculoskeletal injuries incurred during EMS patient handling tasks. In this field study, 30 LiftKits will be placed on EMS vehicles that service urban, suburban, and rural communities. Given the three-shift operation used by fire-service based EMS departments, there is the potential to recruit between 180 and 270 EMS providers for the study. Immediately following the training on how to use the tools and at 4, 8, and 12 months following the training, participants will be interviewed and questioned about each tools' usability, usefulness, and desirability. Frequency of each tool's use will be assessed with a questionnaire at the time of the interview and a daily Run-Use survey tool. Musculoskeletal injury data due to patient handling tasks during the 12 month follow-up period will be compared with injury data from the three-year period prior to study initiation. The final product of this work will provide the important evidence needed to widely promote the adoption of the ergonomic tools within the LiftKit, in order to reduce MSD injury risk to EMS providers associated with common patient handling tasks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| LiftKit Intervention | Experimental | Other: LiftKitAll participants will have access to the LiftKit that provides them with a set of tools that should reduce the physical demands experienced by EMS providers when lifting and moving patients in their homes, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Working EMS providers
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- None
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| LiftKitThe LiftKit contains 7 tools that could assist EMS providers when lifting/moving patients. These tools are: 1. Simple Strap - A sling to lift a seated patient 2. Strap and slide stick - A strap system for raising a supine patient to a sitting posture. 3. Slip Preventer- An envelope that goes over the patients feet with high friction straps for the EMS providers to stand on that prevent the patient from sliding forward when lifted. 4. Drag Straps - straps with handles that can be clipped on tarps used to drag patients 5. The Binder Lift - a vest with handles that allow EMS providers to easily get hold of patient they need to lift. 6. Patient Turning Straps - a way to log-roll a patient that in on the floor while in a standing posture. 7. The ELK - an inflatable seat cushion that can raise a patient who in the floor to chair level | Other | LiftKit Intervention |
Primary outcome
Usability, Usefulness and Desirability Measures
Time frame: The survey was administered after each participant completed their 12 months of participation.
Surveys used to assess usability, usefulness, and desirability of tools within the LiftKit. Response scales are 5-point Likert scales that are set up so that higher scores reflect better outcomes. High scores indicate better usability, more useful tools, and the tools are more desirable.
1 secondary outcome
Musculoskeletal Injury Data
Time frame: 12 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing LiftKit in people with Musculoskeletal Disorder, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Usability, Usefulness and Desirability Measures (time frame: The survey was administered after each participant completed their 12 months of participation.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Nov 2026.