title: Risk of musculoskeletal disorder among Taiwanese nurses cohort: a nationwide population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent the leading causes of occupational injuries among nursing staff. This population-based study was designed to assess the incidence and age-specific incidence of MSDs among a Taiwanese nurse cohort compared with non-nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were used to identify MSDs in the study population. A total of 3914 nurses with a diagnosis of MSD were included, together with 11,744 non-nurses as a comparison group. The comparison subjects were randomly selected at a ratio of 3:1 relative to the nurse population and were matched by gender and age. The incidence of MSDs was calculated for the study group, with nurse-to-reference risk ratios presented as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During the period 2004-2010, 3004 MSDs occurred among the nurses (76.24%) and 7779 (65.79%) in the non-nurses. The annual incidence of MSDs for the nurses increased from 28.35% in 2006 to 33.65% in 2010. The nurse-to-reference risk ratio was 1.27 (95% CI 1.19-1.35) in 2004 and 1.46 (1.37-1.55) in 2010. Herniation of intervertebral disc, lumbago, rotator cuff syndrome, medial epicondylitis, trigger finger and carpal tunnel syndrome were the most common problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses are at higher risk of MSDs and the trend is increasing. Incorrect work-related posture/movement, psychological issues and the rolling shift system may be the major causes of MSDs among nurses in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yueh-Chin
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chin-Tun
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Shu-Fen
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Horng-Mo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Shyang-Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shu-Chuan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lee-Wen
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Chien-Ning
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jen-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009726:Nurses; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult