Low Back Pain, Disability and Quality of Life in Nursing Personnel: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Purpose:Low back pain (LBP) is a global health problem and one of the leading causes of disability. Also, LBP is a major occupational problem among nursing staff. The study aims to determine LBP, disability, quality of life (QoL), and the relationship between LBP and job-related risk factors and dimensions of QoL in nurses. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study with a descriptive-analytic approach, eligible nurses working in teaching hospitals affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences were included in the study by census method. Data were collected based on the demographic questionnaire, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS), and Short-Form ۳۶ (SF-۳۶) health survey questionnaire. Data were analyzed (descriptive, logistic regression, spearman correlation) using SPSS software, version ۲۳. Results: This study included ۴۰۲ nurses with a mean age of ۳۶.۴۷±۷.۱ years and employment mean of ۱۱.۸۳±۶.۴ years of an employment. The prevalence of LBP was ۸۶.۳% and the mean of pain intensity and disability were ۴.۸±۲.۷ and ۳۰.۴±۱۷.۴, respectively. The mean QoL components, such as physical and mental were ۵۸.۰۳±۱۹.۶ and ۵۷.۴۲±۱۸.۳, respectively. The factors that were significantly associated with LBP were body mass index (BMI) (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), frequent bending (P=۰.۰۰۴), and workplace communication (P=۰.۰۰۸). LBP affected dimensions of QoL, especially physical function (P=۰.۰۰۸), role physical (P=۰.۰۲), general health (P<۰.۰۰۰۱), and social function (P=۰.۰۳). Conclusion: This study showed the high prevalence of LBP among nurses and the role of individual and workplace factors in the occurrence of LBP. Such cognition facilitates the design of an educational program and undertakes the targeted preventive actions.

Keywords:

Nurse , Low back pain , Disability , Quality of life (QoL)