Back problems among emergency medical services professionals: the LEADS health and wellness follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
Describe work-life and demographic characteristics associated with reporting recent back pain, and estimate back pain severity among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals.


METHODS
A 58-item postal questionnaire was used to collect relevant health and wellness information from a national sample of EMS professionals. The outcome variables were self-reported pain in the back or legs, and severity of recent back pain as indicated by the Aberdeen Back Pain Scale (ABPS).


RESULTS
There were 470/930 (50.5%) participants who reported one or more days of pain in the back or legs over a 2-week period. The variables most strongly associated with recent back pain and pain severity were prior back problems, self-reported health, and job satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicated that work-life, health, and demographic characteristics of EMS professionals were associated with reporting recent back pain.
Studnek
Jonathan R
JR
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Columbus, Ohio, USA. jonst@medic911.com
Crawford
J Mac
JM
Wilkins
J R
JR
Pennell
Michael L
ML
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012307:Risk Factors