Low back problems and possible improvements in nursing jobs.
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports a study that aimed to evaluate the workload, to identify problems leading to the higher incidence rate of work-related low back injury among nurses in the orthopaedic and intensive care unit departments of the hospital, and to gather information about improvements that the nurses would like in the workplace.


BACKGROUND
The literature shows that low back injuries are common among nurses, and intervention programmes are needed to address this problem.


METHODS
The hospital injury records were examined in a retrospective study. In addition, a validated questionnaire was administered between January and May 2005 to 47 nurses (23 orthopaedic and 24 intensive care nurses). The questionnaire contained questions on workload, history of back injuries, problems, possible solutions and psychophysical measures of exertion.


RESULTS
The life-time incidence and point prevalence of low back pain were 65% and 30%, respectively, in orthopaedic nurses, and 58% and 25%, respectively, in the intensive care nurses. The mean weight handled was reported to be 47 +/- 30 kg by the orthopaedic nurses and 26 +/- 10 kg by the intensive care nurses. The low back scored highest for body-part discomfort - 4.6 and 4.0, respectively, on a 10-point scale. The rate of perceived job exertion was 6.7 +/- 1.8 (very strong), and 5.8 +/- 1.9 (strong) on Borg's 10-point scale. The total effort required by the job, rated on Visual Analogue Scales, was 67 +/- 14% and 68 +/- 15% of the maximum, respectively. The Borg scores and the total effort according to the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Borg scores and force effort on the Visual Analogue Scale were moderately correlated (r = 0.53, P < 0.01 for both comparisons).


CONCLUSIONS
The methodology proposed here is practical for job evaluation and to design a participatory ergonomic intervention aiming at reducing low back injuries in nursing jobs. There are workload differences between nursing jobs. Lifting devices, biomechanical training, bigger rooms, adequate set-up and additional staff are suggested improvements.
Vieira
Edgar Ramos
ER
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. evieira@ualberta.ca
Kumar
Shrawan
S
Coury
Helenice J C G
HJ
Narayan
Yogesh
Y
D000328:Adult; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017770:Lifting; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011187:Posture; D015995:Prevalence; D011601:Psychophysics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013039:Specialties, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload