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