A Study on the Correlations between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work-Related Psychosocial Factors among Nursing Aides in Long-Term Care Facilities.

Man-Hua Yang,Chieh-Chun Kao,Pei-Chi Hsieh,Chao-Jie Jhan

doi:10.3390/ijerph19010255

Abstract

Background: Among the nursing aides employed at long-term care facilities (LTCFs), those with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are most likely to experience disability or develop an intention to leave. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of work-related psychological factors among nursing aides in LTCFs with MSDs in Taiwan. Methods: Purposive sampling was used in this cross-sectional study to enrol 308 nursing aides from residential LTCFs in Taiwan as research subjects. A demographic and job background survey, a job content questionnaire (JCQ), and the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) were used to collect data. Results: Lower job control associated with higher psychological job demands, and lower social support was associated with more severe MSDs for the nursing aides (p < 0.001). Among the MSDs reported by nursing aides in LTCFs, lower back pain was the most serious. In addition, nationality, age, exercise habits, chronic diseases, worksite, lack of rest time, lack of assistive devices, low coworker support, and high psychological job demands were significant factors affecting MSDs. In total, 42.1% of the variance in MSDs among nursing aides in LTCFs was explained. Conclusions: Work-related psychological factors among nursing aides in LTCFs have an important association with MSDs. For nursing aides, coworker support should be improved, and their psychological demands at work should be reduced.

Highlights

Published: 27 December 2021Taiwan is an Asian country with an elderly population that totals 14.1% of the national population
Seventy-five percent of the research subjects worked in a nursing home (n = 231), forty-nine percent of the research subjects worked in the middle of Taiwan (n = 151), the mean seniority was 6.5 years (SD = 5.9), and the mean number of working hours was 10.3 hours per day (SD = 3.2)
The lower the social support of nursing aides and the higher their psychological job demands, the higher the severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This result is similar to previous studies exploring the correlation between psychological factors and MSDs in nursing aides, which found that high psychological stress, low social support, and effort–reward imbalance were significantly associated with MSDs [2]

Summary

Introduction

Published: 27 December 2021Taiwan is an Asian country with an elderly population that totals 14.1% of the national population. Many factors may influence the development of MSDs, including advanced age, female sex, high body mass index (BMI), lack of exercise, smoking habits, and chronic diseases [4,5] With their heavy workloads and extensive walking requirements, nursing aides are prone to lower limb MSDs. The severity of upper limb MSDs is increased among nursing aides in positions that require them to assist patients in taking baths or turning over or to lift heavy objects at work [5,6]. Nationality, age, exercise habits, chronic diseases, worksite, lack of rest time, lack of assistive devices, low coworker support, and high psychological job demands were significant factors affecting MSDs. In total, 42.1% of the variance in MSDs among nursing aides in LTCFs was explained. Coworker support should be improved, and their psychological demands at work should be reduced

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