Work-related Factors of Chronic Low Back Pain among Nurses Working in Tehran Hospitals

Aim: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between chronic mechanical low back pain and work-related risky behaviors of nurses at hospitals in Tehran. Methods: In order to determine the relationship between chronic mechanical low back pain and work-related risky behaviors of nurses, a cross-sectional was conducted among nurses in general hospitals in Tehran- Iran from April ۱۷, ۲۰۱۴ to July ۱۶, ۲۰۱۴. Five hundred eligible nurses, who were working in the different wards of under study hospitals, were included in this study. A researcher- designed ۵۰ - item questionnaire was used to collect data. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (alpha=۰.۹۱), and test-retest evaluation (ICC=۰.۹۴) of the scale confirmed reliability of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS.v۱۶ through descriptive and analytic tests.  P-value < ۰.۰۵ was considered significant in both analyses. Findings: In total, five hundred nurses with mean age of ۳۷.۷۱+ ۶.۷۵ years took part in the study. ۱۶۸ nurses (۳۳.۶%) were male and ۳۳۲ nurses were (۶۴.۴%) female. The majority of nurses who were working more than ۱۵ years (۷۵%) were suffering from low back pain. Low back pain was more prevalent among female nurses (۶۸%) compared to male nurses (۳۲%). Most participants believed that excessive physical tension and hard work at their worksite were the causes of their chronic low back pain. There were no significant differences between two genders in this regard (P>۰.۵). In contrast with men, the majority of females (N= ۲۲۲, ۶۶.۸%) believed that psychological tensions at work have been the reasons for their chronic low back pain. Conclusion: Iranian nurses believed that work – related physical and psychosocial factors could result in low back pain.

Keywords:

Low Back Pain , Nurses , Work-related factor , Hospital , Iran