Abstract
Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is an important public health issue, being of widespread and of a considerable negative social, psychosocial, and economic influence. Majority of health care professionals of almost all countries has the risk of musculoskeletal system disorders. LBP is considered one of the most important causes of morbidity among health care workers (HCWs) that affects their work.
Low back pain (LBP) in HCWs generally results from an acute traumatic event, but it may also be caused by cumulative trauma. Mechanical LBP due to cumulative trauma tends to occur more commonly in the workplace. The risk groups of low back pain among healthcare professionals are physicians, dentists, nurses, physiotherapist, laboratory workers and caregivers. Health care workers are exposed to shift duties which affects their psychological and physical health. So, the present was planned to find out prevalence of LBP among HCWs and its contributing factors.
Material and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in 190 HCWs, aged 18 years to 16 years, working at S.M.S. Hospital, Jaipur for more than one-year duration. All cadres of HCWs were included in sample population using probability proportionate to size (PPS).LBP was assessed by using SNMA criteria and its severity and psychological impact was assessed by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) respectively. Aggravating and relieving factors of LBP were studied. Numerical and count data was analyzed by using unpaired t-test and chi square test respectively. P-value <0.05 was taken as significant.
Results: 24.74% of HCWs were suffering from LBP. Standing and flexion of spine were found most common aggravating factors (87.23% and 78.72% respectively). Rest was found as commonest relieving factor in 95.74% cases of LBP.
Conclusion: LBP is a major problem of HCWs and standing for long duration and flexion of spine are common aggravating factors. Rest is commonest relieving factor.
Keywords: Health Care Workers, Low Back Pain, Prevalence, Contributing factors.
References
- Abebe AD, Gebrehiwot EM, Lema S, Abebe TW. Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Risk Factors Among Adama Hospital Medical College Staff, Ethiopia. 2015 Nov. European Journal of Preventive Medicine;3(6):188-192. Doi:10.11648/j.ejpm. 20150306.15.
- Simsek S, Yagci N, Senol H. Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Low back Pain Among Healthcare workers in Denizli. 2017;29(2):71-78. DOI: 10.5505/agri. 2017-32549.
- Cunningham C, Flynn T, Blake C. Low back pain and occupation among Irish health service workers.Occup Med (Lond). 2006 Oct;56(7):447-54.
- Alnaami I, Awadalla NJ, Alkhairy M, Alburidy S, Alqarni A, Algarni A, Alshehri R, Amrah B, Alasmari M, Mahfouz MA. Prevalence and factors Associated with low Back Pain Among Health Care workers in South western Saudi Arabia. BMC Musculosketetal Disorders.2019;20:56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2431-5
- Karahan A, Kav S, Abbasoglu A, Dogan N. Low back pain: prevalence and associated risk factors among hospital staff. Journal of Adavanced Nursing. 2008 Oct;65(3):516-524.
- Emmanuel NM, Ezhilarasu P, Bheemarao AB. Low Back Pain Among Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital, South India. J Osteopor Phys act. 2015 Nov;3:161. Doi: 10.4172/2329-9509.1000161.
- Wong TS, Teo N, Kyaw MO. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Low Back Pain Among Health Care Providers in a District Hospital. Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal. 2010;4(2):23-28.
- Helfensten JM, Goldenfum MA, Siena C. Occupational Low Back Pain, Rev Assoc Med Bras 2010; 56 (5) : 583-9 date May 29, 2010.
- Hills EC. Mechanical Low Back Pain: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology. https:emedicine.medscape.com/ article/ 310353-overview#a4
- Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilborn A, Vinterberg H, Sorensen FB, Andersson G,Jorgenses K. Standardised Nordic Questionnaires for the Analysis of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Applied Ergonomics. 1987;18(3):233-237.
- Johnson OE, Edward E. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain among workers in a Health Facility in South- South Nigeria. BJMMR. 2016;11(8):1-8. DOI:10.9734/BJMMR/2016/ 20785.
- Mohseni-Bandpei MA, Ahmad- Shirvani M, Golbabaei N, Behtash H, Shahinfar Z, Femandez-de-las-Penas C. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Low Back Pain in Iranian Surgeons.J Manipulative PhysiolTher.2011 Jul-Aug;34(6):362-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2011.05.010.
- Dlungwane T, Voce A, Knight S. Prevalence and Factors associated with Low Back Pain Among Nurses at a regional Hospital in Kwa Zula- Natal, South Africa. Health SA Gesondheid. 2018; 23: a1082. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v23i0.1082.
- Omokhodion FO, Umar US, Ogunnowo BE. Prevalence of low back pain among staff in a rural hospital in Nigeria. Occup Mod.1999 Oct;50(2):107-110.
- Alzidani TM, Alturkistani AM, Alzahrani BS, Aljuhani AM, Alzahrani KM. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Taif Surgeons. Saudi J Health Sci. 2018;7(3)172-177. doi 10.4103/sjhs sjhs_70_18.
- Homaid MB, Abdelmoety D, Alshareef W, Alghamdi A, Alhozali F, Alfahmi N et.al. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low back Pain among Operation room Staff at a Tertiary Care Center, Makkah, Saudi Arabia: a Cross-Sectional Study. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2016 Jan;28(1). DOI 10.186/s40557-016-0089-05.
Corresponding Author
Yadav Rajeev
Department of Community Medicine, S.M.S. Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i3.55
