Prevalence and Job Behavioral Risk factors cause Low Back Pain among Nursing staff in Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors contributing to lower back pain among nursing staff in a tertiary care hospital. The sample group included 169 individuals, with 91.71% female and 8.28% male. Most participants were between the ages of 20-30 years and childless, working between 41-56 hours per week with a work schedule between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Most of the sample group fell into the normal BMI range and reported receiving 5-6 hours of rest per day. However, the study found that more than half of the respondents did not exercise, and most reported being alcohol-free. The study identified eight operational behaviors that cause lower back pain: material lifting equipment, sitting, and working, stress from work, lifting or transporting patients in bed, lifting patients up and down from the bed, material movement, performing unnatural gestures while performing tasks, and standing while performing tasks. The results of the study show that most participants (58.03 %) were between the ages of 20-30 years. The next largest age group was the 30-40 age range (45.99 %). Most of the sample group did not have children, and 53.25% of them worked between 41-56 hours per week, with a schedule between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The highest percentage (76.92 %) belonged to this category. Additionally, 73.60% of the sample group had an average Body Mass Index (BMI), and over half of the respondents reported receiving 5-6 hours of rest per day. However, the study found that 55.03% did not exercise, and 91.72% reported being alcohol-free. The study also identified eight factors that cause lower back pain from operational behavior: material lifting equipment, sitting, and working, stress from work, lifting or transporting patients in bed, lifting patients up and down from the bed, material movement, performing unnatural gestures while performing tasks, and standing while performing tasks. The study found that the prevalence rate of lower back pain among nursing staff was 65.09%. The movement postures that resulted in lower back pain in the sample group were identified as follows: lifting and moving patients, 44.38%; stooping, 27.81%; lifting equipment, 15.98%; torso distortion, 15.38%; reaching across the bed, 9.47%; and pushing and pushing a nursing cart, 3.55%. Based on the data collected in this study, it can be concluded that lower back pain in nursing staff is primarily influenced by work behavior factors, including improper working posture, as well as psychological factors arising from work pressure and stress. To address this issue, hospitals should implement ergonomic management, provide training, arrange proper workspaces, and provide supportive equipment to help reduce the workload for nursing staff and minimize the impact of work-related lower back pain.