Associations of psychosocial and individual factors with three different categories of back disorder among nursing staff.
Although back disorders are a major occupational problem for nursing staff, few studies distinguish different types. By means of a structured questionnaire, we performed a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of diagnosed lumbar disc hernia, chronic low-back pain (LBP) (at least 90 d in the preceding 12 months) and acute LBP (intense pain for at least 1 d) with respect to physical, individual and psychosocial factors among female nurses (n=587), nursing aides (n=228) and head-nurses (n=43) working in a university hospital (95% of the female workforce). Almost all respondents reported known high-risk occupational activities. Overall prevalence of reported back disorders was 44% (acute LBP 19%, chronic LBP 17%, lumbar hernia 8%). On multinomial logistic regression analysis, scoliosis and commonly stress-related psychosomatic symptoms were associated with all three types of back disorder; trauma/fractures of the spine, pelvis and/or legs and a global work-environment/job-satisfaction score with acute LBP; increasing age with lumbar disc hernia. While confirming the relevance of considering different definitions of back disorder, our data indicate items for investigation in cohort studies. These include: identification of specific risk factors for lumbar hernia; avoidance of possible work-environment risk factors such as hurried execution of different tasks at the same time; and influence on job suitability of underlying spinal pathologies such as scoliosis.
Violante
Francesco S
FS
Alma Mater Studiorum--University of Bologna, Occupational Medicine Unit, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. francesco.violante@unibo.it
Fiori
Marina
M
Fiorentini
Cristiana
C
Risi
Alessandro
A
Garagnani
Giacomo
G
Bonfiglioli
Roberta
R
Mattioli
Stefano
S
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis