Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Low Back Pain Among Nurses in a Thai Public Hospital

Abstract

Nursing is one of the occupations with a high risk for the occurrence of low back pain, affecting both health and working abilities. The low back pain management among healthcare professionals could be one of the key implications to prevent and control injuries and accidents related to low back pain. This research aims to study the prevalence, risk factors, impact, and guidelines on low back pain management. Another aim is to assess the low back pain knowledge among working nurses. One hundred nurses (78 females and 22 males) aged 34.2 ± 8.8 years from a Thai public hospital, were participated in this study. The survey was distributed to all participants to access to personal information, work information and low back pain assessment. The results showed that there were about 86 nurses experiencing low back pain at the time of the study. The severity was analyzed according to the Fairbank disability scores from Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaires. There were mild disabilities about 71% among participants. The three greatest impacts of low back pain on the daily activities were standing (31%), sitting (26%) and walking (26%) respectively. Risk factors associated with low back pain were age, body mass index, weight, duration of employment, gender, marital status, job category, smoking and wearing high-heeled shoes. Specific tasks were ranked from the greatest to the least that associated with low back pain. There are following: pushing or pulling loads, twisting the trunk, bending forward or leaning backward, lifting heavy objects with two hands and carrying loads with one hand. The massage therapy, relaxation, and pain killer medication were as common low back pain management among nurses. Most of the nurses assessed their knowledge about low back pain at a moderate level.