Risk factors of work-related low back pain among emergency nurse at regional hospitals in the northeast of Thailand

Abstract

A cross-sectional  analytic  study  was  conducted to investigate  the  risk factors  of  work-related  low  back  pain (WLBP) among nurses.  The  participants  were  240  emergency  nurses  at  the  regional  hospitals  in the northeast of Thailand. The self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from personal factors, job characteristics,  work stress and WLBP. The multiple logistic regression indicated that the significant risk factors of WLBP were female nurses (ORadj  = 2.29, 95% CI 1.01 -5.19, p = 0.048),  work experience ≥ 10 years  (ORadj  = 2.52, 95% CI 1.14 – 5.54,   P = 0.022),  computer work   (ORadj  = 2.08, 95% CI 1.16 - 3.72, P = 0.013), pulling/pushing while moving patients  (ORadj = 2.74, 95% CI 1.20-6.25,  P = 0.016),    and work  stress  (ORadj  = 2.80, 95% CI 1.33-5.91, P = 0.007). This study found that female nurses and  work experience at least 10 years  had the higher risk of  WLBP. Ergonomics factors from computer work, pulling/pushing while moving patients and work stress  played  also an important role for WLBP.  Therefore the regional hospitals should provide activities reduced work stress in the organization, ergonomics training and effective handling/lifting instruments for prevention of WLBP among emergency nurses.