title: Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among paramedics working in a large hospital in Ahwaz, southwestern Iran in 2010.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among employees throughout the world, particularly in high risk groups such as nurses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of MSDs among nurses in a large hospital in Ahwaz, southwestern Iran, and to examine its correlation with gender, age, shift working, years at service and smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a self-reported questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, Nordic questionnaire for MSDs was disseminated to all inpatient hospital paramedics (n = 195) in a large hospital in Ahwaz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Questionnaires of 161 participants were completed and returned back for analysis (response rate of 83%). The reported prevalence of MSDs was very high in the studied paramedics so that more than 90% of them reported at least one MSD in last week. The most prevalent site affected was that of neck (64%) followed by head (62.1%), knees (54.7%) and wrists/hands (49.7%); the least frequent disorder was that of elbows (14.3%). MSD was more common in females and increased with age and years of service. Non-shift workers reported more neck and elbows MSDs than shift workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the very high prevalence of MSDs among paramedics, it is suggested that they engage in an exercise program at their work place to lower the risk of MSDs and promote working efficiency.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, UK. shafizadehmg@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Shafizadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult