The prevalence of and risk factors for back pain among home care nursing personnel in Hong Kong.
BACKGROUND
There is a large gap in research with regard to back pain (BP) among home care nursing personnel (HCNP); only seven studies have been conducted worldwide. There is a need to identify the magnitude of and risk factors for BP that are unique to Hong Kong (HK) HCNP.


METHODS
A total population sampling technique was employed in this cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression analyses were used to control for potentially confounding variables.


RESULTS
The 12-month prevalence of upper and lower BP was 71.2% (n=265). Three predictors were identified: physical risk factors in the office (OR=3.57, 95% CI=1.55-8.24), static postures (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.04-1.90), and psychological job demands (OR=1.11, 95% CI=1.01-1.22).


CONCLUSIONS
HCNP in HK have a high prevalence of BP. BP in HK HCNP is independently attributable to physical work factors in the office, static postures, and psychological job demands, and is not primarily associated with patient lifting and transferring which are traditionally identified as risk factors for BP in hospital nursing personnel. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:14-22, 2006. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cheung
Kin
K
School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Gillen
Marion
M
Faucett
Julia
J
Krause
Niklas
N
D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors