title: Musculoskeletal complaints and psychosocial risk factors among Chinese hospital nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal complaints represent a common occupational problem for health care workers throughout the world. Despite their sizeable numbers, however, few epidemiological studies have investigated musculoskeletal complaints among Chinese hospital nurses. Objective To assess the prevalence of, and risk factors for, musculoskeletal complaints among hospital nurses in mainland China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 282 female, registered nurses were surveyed (92% response rate) using a modified Chinese-language version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. Body sites were divided into the neck, shoulder, upper back and lower back regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 12 month period-prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints at any of the four regions was 70%. The lower back was the most commonly reported body site (56%), followed by the neck (45%), shoulder (40%) and upper back (37%). High mental pressure, boring or tedious tasks and limited work support were identified as significant risk factors (adjusted odds ratios: 1.79-2.52). No correlations were found between manual handling or perceived physical exertion and increased reporting of musculoskeletal complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown that musculoskeletal complaints are prevalent among Chinese hospital nurses. The correlation with various psychosocial factors is also consistent with evidence from other countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hazard Assessment, National Institute of Industrial Health, Kawasaki, Japan. smith@niih.go.jp
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Rui-Sheng
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological