Prevalence, characteristics, and work-related risk factors of low back pain among hospital nurses in Taiwan: A cross-sectional survey

• Authors: Pei-Hsin Lin , Yun-An Tsai , Wei-Chih Chen , Shih-Fong Huang

Abstracts

EN

Background: Low back pain is a common health problem among hospital nurses. However, the prevalence, characteristics, and work-related risk factors of low back pain have not been widely investigated in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: This study used a cross-sectional survey of 217 hospital nurses to gather self-reported information on the prevalence of back pain, demographic and pain characteristics, and work-related risk factors from 178 respondents who indicated a past history of back pain. The association between the characteristics of back pain and work-related risk factors was also examined. Results: The lifetime prevalence of back pain was 82.03%, and the point prevalence of back pain was 43.78%. The mean pain score is 41.67. The number of years at work was significantly associated with the pain score for an individual’s most recent episode of back pain, the extent of bothersomeness of back pain and leg pain, and the extent to which back pain interfered with normal work. Conclusion: Back pain is common among hospital nurses in Taiwan. Years at work are significantly associated with pain severity and disability caused by back pain.

Keywords

EN

low back pain; nurses; prevalence; Taiwan

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 41-50

Dates

published

2012

Contributors

author

Pei-Hsin Lin

• Division of Neural Repair, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
• School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

author

Yun-An Tsai

• Division of Neural Repair, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
• School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

author

Wei-Chih Chen

• Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Keelung City, Taiwan, Republic of China

author

Shih-Fong Huang

• Division of Neural Repair, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
• School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-012-0008-8

Biblioteka Nauki

2180113