title: Personal and job-related factors as determinants of incidence of back injuries among nursing personnel.
abstract: The purpose of this multicenter prospective cohort study was to assess personal and job-related factors as determinants of incidence of reported back injuries among nurses. The study population included 5,649 nurses who were surveyed by questionnaire and then observed for a 12-month study period. An annual injury rate of 4.9% was observed. Four factors were found to be significant (P less than .01) predictors of back injury. All four factors--service area, lifting, job category, and previously reported back injury--maintain significance when a forward stepping model of logistic regression is applied. The adjusted odds ratios observed are 4.26 for service areas where lifting occurs most as compared with areas where lifting occurs least; 2.19 for daily lifters v light, occasional, and nonlifters; 1.77 for nursing aides v registered nurses and supervisory personnel; and 1.73 for individuals who have previously reported back injury v those who have not reported previous injury. These findings strongly suggest that job-related rather than personal characteristics are the major predictors of back injury in nurses.
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D019567:Back Injuries; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors