Multidimensional intervention and sickness absence in assistant nursing students.
BACKGROUND
When handling patients, nursing assistant (NA) students and nurse students are frequently exposed to risk factors for low back pain (LBP) including sudden loads and twisting and bending of the spine. Furthermore, LBP is a major cause of sickness absence.


OBJECTIVE
To ascertain if a multidimensional prevention programme combining physical training, patient transfer technique and stress management prevents sickness absence and LBP in NA students.


METHODS
The study was a 14-month cluster randomized controlled study. The participants were NA students from 37 randomly selected classes located at two schools of health and social care in Copenhagen, Denmark. The participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire regarding sickness absence, LBP and psychosocial factors on commencement and after completion of the study.


RESULTS
Of 766 female NA students, 668 (87%) completed the baseline questionnaire. Sickness absence during the study period increased in both groups but the increase was significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group, mean (standard deviation) number of days 12 (20) versus 18 (34), P < 0.05. The intervention group reported no change in the mean level of general health perception, energy/fatigue or psychological well-being at follow-up, while the control group reported a decline on those scales. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of LBP at follow-up between the intervention and control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to the control group, the intervention group had significantly less sickness absence. The intervention had no preventive effect on LBP prevalence.
Svensson
Annemarie Lyng
AL
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. ah46@bbh.regionh.dk
Strøyer
Jesper
J
Ebbehøj
Niels Erik
NE
Schultz-Larsen
Kirsten
K
Marott
Jacob Louis
JL
Mortensen
Ole Steen
OS
Suadicani
Poul
P
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education*; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult