Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of persistent low-back pain (LBP) based on the number of patient-handling activities among female healthcare workers with no LBP and those with sub-chronic LBP at baseline. Female healthcare workers in the eldercare services answered a questionnaire about the number of patient-handling activities (<1, 1-2, 3-10, >10 per day) and days with LBP in 2005. We prospectively investigated the odds ratio (OR) for developing persistent (>30 days in the past 12 months) LBP in 2006 from the frequency of patient-handling activities using multi-adjusted logistic regression analysis among female healthcare workers without LBP (0 days in the past 12 months) (N=1544) and with sub-chronic LBP (1-30 days in the past 12 months) (N=2294) in 2005. Among female healthcare workers with sub-chronic LBP at baseline, the multi-adjusted OR for developing persistent LBP was 1.04 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.71-1.52] for those with 1-2 activities, 1.29 (95% CI 0.91-1.83) for those with 3-10 activities, and 1.61 (95% CI 1.07-2.42) for those with >10 patient-handling activities per day (P=0.01 for trend), referencing those not performing patient-handling activities. Among female healthcare workers without LBP at baseline, we did not find an increased risk for developing persistent LBP within one year resulting from performing several patient-handling activities. Preventive initiatives for persistent LBP may aim to keep the number of patient-handling activities below ten per day among healthcare workers with sub-chronic LBP.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of persistent low-back pain (LBP) based on the number of patient-handling activities among female healthcare workers with no LBP and those with sub-chronic LBP at baseline
Preventive initiatives for persistent LBP may aim to keep the number of patient-handling activities below ten per day among healthcare workers with sub-chronic LBP
Low-back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent among healthcare workers compared to the general population, with an annual prevalence ranging from 45% [1] to 77% [2]
Summary
This study is based on a prospective cohort of employees in the eldercare services in 36 Danish municipalities. Data collection for the second round was, for the most part, conducted in the autumn of 2006 but continued in spring 2007. Questionnaires were sent to 12 744 respondents who were employed in the 36 municipalities. Of these potential respondents, 9949 completed a questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 78%. One municipality withdrew from the cohort during the follow-up period, which meant that the follow-up population consisted of 9847 employees from 327 individual workplaces in the eldercare services. Due to drop-outs or other reasons, 7864 were eligible for interviewing in the second round in 2006, and 6307 responded (80% response rate). We excluded male respondents (N=234), respondents who were not directly engaged in the provision of care services (N=1153), and respondents with missing data (N=128)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
