title: Combined effects of physical demands and shift working on low back disorders among nursing personnel.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects of physical demands and shift working on low back disorders (LBDs) among nursing personnel. The study used 2 questionnaires: a self-administered questionnaire composed of parts of Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire to assess LBDs and job content questionnaire to assess physical demands. The participants were divided into 4 groups: from group 1 (low physical demands day workers) to group 4 (high physical demands shift workers). In regression analysis, high physical demands were associated with the prevalence of LBDs independently (OR 4.4, 95% CI [2.40, 8.00] and p < .05), but there was no association between shift working and LBDs (p > .05). Odds ratio in high physical demands shift workers was 9.33 compared to the reference group (p < .001). Calculated synergistic index was 7.37. Simultaneous impacts of shift working and high physical demands may increase the prevalence of LBDs among nursing personnel.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Medicine Department, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raeisi
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Namvar
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golabadi
authors.forename: Mirsaeed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Attarchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012723:Sex; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance