Prevalence and factors affecting musculoskeletal disorders of hospital porters working in hospitals, Mueang District, Phitsanulok Province

Abstract

     This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors affecting musculoskeletal disorders among 93 hospital porters working in hospitals in Mueang District, Phitsanulok Province. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was assessed using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaires, and ergonomic working posture risk was evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Factors affecting musculoskeletal disorders among hospital porters were analyzed through multiple regression analysis.
     The study results found that the majority of the participants were male (93.5%) With a mean age 33.46 ± 8.90 years. Most of them had 1-10 years of work experience (50.5%) and worked in government hospitals (71.0%). The top three highest mean weighted scores for musculoskeletal disorders were the lower back, the right lower leg, and the neck, respectively. Factors significantly affected musculoskeletal disorders at a statistical significance level of 0.05 included chronic diseases (p-value = 0.028), average working hours per week (p-value = 0.010) type of hospital (p-value = 0.006), and risks from working posture (p-value = 0.013). Therefore, to reduce musculoskeletal disorders among hospital porters, based on these findings, it is recommended to organize educational activities for hospital porters, such as demonstrations of proper techniques for assisting patients. Additionally, implementing health risk behavior modification programs could help reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, ultimately leading to the prevention and mitigation of musculoskeletal disorders among hospital porters.