Factors associated with back problems among emergency medical technicians.
BACKGROUND
Back problems are a common complaint among emergency medical technicians (EMTs). It is hypothesized that the likelihood of reporting back problems will be associated with the individual and work-related characteristics of a national sample of EMTs.


METHODS
A case-control analysis was performed on 579 EMTs wherein cases were the 104 subjects who reported new back problems in 2004. Controls were 475 subjects who reported no back problems in 2003 and 2004.


RESULTS
EMTs dissatisfied with their current assignment were significantly more likely to report back problems (OR = 9.33; 95% CI = 3.04-28.67), as were EMTs reporting good or fair fitness when compared to excellent fitness (OR = 3.39; 95% CI = 1.54-7.45, OR = 3.43; 95% CI = 1.37-8.56).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this analysis suggest that there are two modifiable factors associated with self-reported back problems among EMTs, satisfaction with current assignment and self-reported physical fitness.
Studnek
Jonathan R
JR
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, OH 43230, USA. jons@nremt.org
Crawford
J Mac
JM
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002568:Certification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States