Prevalence and Association of Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis Among Nurses in Government Tertiary Care Hospitals of Peshawar

Abstract

Background: Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel discomfort and pain, resulting from inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thickened fibrous aponeurosis extending from the medial calcaneal tuberosity to the metatarsal heads. It affects more than 1 million people worldwide annually, with a lifetime prevalence that may reach 10% of the general population. Despite its widespread impact, the exact incidence remains unknown. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of plantar fasciitis among nurses working in government tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted over six months, utilizing a convenient sampling technique. A total of 332 female nurses aged 25 to 50 years with clinical duties exceeding five hours per day participated in the study. Data were collected using the Plantar Fasciitis Pain and Disability Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity. Face-to-face interviews and physical assessments were conducted by trained healthcare professionals. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics calculated for quantitative variables and Chi-Square tests used to examine associations between variables. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was secured from all participants. Results: The mean age of participants was 29.8042 ± 3.67743 years. The mean total score for plantar fasciitis was 31.4096, and the mean VAS score was 1.9458. Pain occurrence per week was reported as 1-2 days by 44.0% of participants, 3-4 days by 46.7%, and 5-7 days by 9.3%. Pain was most commonly worse in the afternoon (35.8%) and interfered with walking occasionally (52.7%). High heel standing was uncomfortable for 54.5% of participants. A significant relationship was found between age and VAS scores (p=0.001), as well as between high heel usage and increased pain levels (p=0.000). Conclusion: The mean score of plantar fasciitis among the nurses was below the threshold indicating significant prevalence. However, a significant association was found between high heel usage and plantar fasciitis, suggesting that footwear choices play a critical role in the development of this condition. Ergonomic interventions promoting supportive footwear and regular breaks are recommended to mitigate the risk of plantar fasciitis among nurses.