Abstract
This study aimed to explore the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and the work performance of nursing staff. This cross-sectional study used the Checklist for Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and the Work Ability Index to survey the prevalence of MSDs, as well as to determine the impact of MSDs on 117 nursing staff working in an emergency department, an intensive care unit, and general wards. The findings indicate that the nursing staff were exposed to a workplace environment with a high risk of MSDs. Nursing staff in the emergency department were at a particularly high risk of MSDs in their upper and lower limbs, while those working in the intensive care unit had a particularly high risk of injuries caused by manual material handling. Analyzing the relationship between MSD risk factors and NMQ scores showed a 6 times, 3.25 times, and 2.28 times increase in MSD conditions with a high workload compared to a low workload in the hand and wrist, the lower back or waist, and the knee, respectively. Medium and high workloads were found to increase the risk of MSD, which in turn affected the work ability of the nurses.
Highlights
This study found that nursing staff in the emergency department were at a high risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) in their upper and lower limbs, while those working in the intensive care unit had a high risk of injuries caused by manual material handling
This study provided evidence on the prevalence of MSDs by specific body parts in nursing staff working in different hospital departments
Through self-reported surveys and objective observation, we described the patterns of MSDs among the nursing staff of a teaching hospital in southern Taiwan, and explored the hazards of poor ergonomic engineering by analyzing the effects of MSDs on work ability
Summary
The primary functions of the musculoskeletal system include enabling motion, offering protection, supporting the body, and maintaining body homeostasis. Overexertion, fatigue, prolonged loads, insufficient oxygen, and repetitive activities can reduce muscle contraction [1]. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) involve pain and inflammation in body tissues (e.g., muscles, tendons, and nerves), reduced motor function, or muscle/bone discomfort caused by the continuous exertion of force and repeated movements [2]. MSDs are soft tissue inflammation in the body or degenerative diseases such as tendinitis, muscle strain, joint degeneration, nerve compression, or tenosynovitis. Symptoms of MSDs include pain, soreness, swelling, and restriction of posture angle. In addition to acute trauma, MSDs are mostly caused by chronic injuries attributable to long-term poor posture, repetitive movements, improper force exertion, and overloading [3]
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