[Prevalence and risk factors of occupational low back pain in ICU nurses].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the prevalence of occupational low back pain (OLBP) and assess work-related risk factors in ICU nurses.


METHODS
Forty hundred seventy-seven ICU nurses of study group and nurses working in other wards (control group) of the same comprehensive hospital were investigated using OLBP Investigation Questionnaire for nurses. Working postures and related work activities were evaluated by using the Win OWAS software and the compressive force (Fc) of the disc between L5 and S1 was calculated by using the Bless Pro software and sampling was taken by digital camera in ICU ward of one hospital.


RESULTS
The prevalence of OLBP (87%), frequency of OLBP (48%=1 per month) and OLBP related work-absence (7%) of the ICU nurses were significantly higher than the control group (64%, 32% and 2%, respectively). The frequency of harmful postures occurred during working tasks of observing drainage, lifting and transferring patients in bed, injection, suctioning and adjusting drip were 99%, 90%, 75%, 75% and 6%, respectively. The ratios of Fc of adjusting drip rate (taken as 100), suctioning, injection, observing drainage and lifting and transferring patients in bed were 100:155:199:301:418.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of OLBP in ICU nurses is high. High frequency of bending and twisting, transferring patients in bed are the main causes of OLBP in ICU nurses.
Sun
Jing
J
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Peking University Health Science Center, Peking 100083, China.
He
Zhong
Z
Wang
Sheng
S
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult