A study of nurses' performance relative to the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders associated with patient mobility in the teaching hospitals across Kermanshah

Abstract

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) associated with patient mobility are one of the most common occupational hazards to which the nursing staff are exposed. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate nurses’ performance relative to the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders associated with patient mobility in the Teaching Hospitals across Kermanshah in 2018. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 270 nursing staff were studied in 2017. As for data collection, the valid questionnaire of nurses’ performance was used. Then, after data collection, the data were entered into SPSS Statistical Software Version 16.0 and analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics such as chi-square, independent t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of the present study revealed that the average working time per week was 54.14 ± 13.17 h, regardless of the promotion and productivity rules. It was also found out that the most painful parts of the body identified by the nursing staff were the lumbar spine and neck. The mean score of nurses’ performance relative to the risk factors for musculoskeletal and skeletal disorders associated with patient mobility was 7.75 out of 18. Given the level of nurses’ performance relative to the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders associated with patient mobility, it is necessary to carry out further studies so as to figure out how to prevent and reduce such disorders.