Knowledge Alliance for Innovative Measures in Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Prevent4Work

<< Background >>Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are common across Europe, resulting lost days and permanent incapacity to work. The incidence and prevalence rates seem to be increasing, indicating a sub-optimal effect of contemporary approaches for the prevention of WMSDs. The European Knowledge Alliance “Prevent4Work” was created to improve the current management strategies of WMSDs by developing and implementing innovative teaching modules based on new technologies.<< Objectives >>The Prevent4Work Project aims to establish a network connecting higher education institutions, ITC enterprise and clinical expertise, which will identify gaps in the existing educational resources focusing on occupational health. Moreover, innovative educational programmes will be introduced, adaptive mobile Health tools will be developed that can deliver high quality evidence-based material to prevent WMSDs in Europe.<< Implementation >>The Prevent4Work Project is a consortium consisting of universities, enterprises and hospitals in Spain, Denmark, and Italy. The target groups are workers and enterprises from different activity sectors and healthcare professionals and students. The project consists of 9 work packages, including a state of-the-art review, the development of a risk assessment questionnaire and an open access educative training platform.<< Results >>The Prevent4Work Project has organized 3 symposiums, including 1 Ideas Contest, with more 1,045 participants; 4 webinars for workers, trainers and health professionals with 1,811 participants; 6 online training courses and 2 MOOCs with 2,423 unique users. Furthermore, more than 1,500 workers have participated in our pilot actions. Additionally, we have published 4 scientific articles, 1 practical guideline for trainers and 1 strategic guideline for integration into Universities Curricula.