title: Evaluation of the Back College for nursing staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-related musculoskeletal pain- particularly back pain - is an important individual and socioeconomic problem. The Back College for the insurance holders of the Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW) is based on a multimodal concept and has been evaluated with respect to pain relief and continuing in the nursing profession.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective cohort study, the participants in the Back College from 2009 to 2011 were surveyed in writing. Besides demographic data, the survey covered information on qualification, length of employment, institution, employment status, periods of inability to work, applicability of working techniques and continuation in the profession. Back pain was recorded at three time points - T1 (before the Back College), T2 (directly after the Back College) and T3 (at the time of the survey). Pain changes were submitted to tests for paired samples. Multivariate logistic analysis was applied to determine potential factors influencing unfavourable changes in pain or leaving nursing due to back pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey covered 1,282 insurance holders, with a response rate of 80%. Statistically significant reductions in pain were found for the whole group and for all subgroups. For persons who predominantly worked in old people's homes and who did not take part in refresher services, an increased odds ratio was found for unfavourable changes in pain (OR: 1.9 or 1.4, respectively). Persons with a qualification in geriatric nursing or in intensive care/OP/anaesthesia had an increased risk of leaving nursing due to back pain (OR: 2.5 in each case). An increased risk of leaving was also found for persons who did not take part in workplace support (OR: 2.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the context of the study design, the multimodal concept of the Back College is clearly related to relief of back pain. The Back College appears to be less successful for geriatric nurses and persons with qualifications in intensive care/OP/anaesthesia. Further studies are needed to ascertain why some participants experience less relief in stress from the working techniques they have learnt.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Centre City Hamburg, Lange Mühren 1, Hamburg, 20095, Germany.
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietsch
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harling
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Division (FBG), Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW), Pappelallee 33, Hamburg, 22089, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behl-Schön
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Epidemiology and Health Services Research for Healthcare Professionals (CVcare), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany ; Health Protection Division (FBG), Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW), Pappelallee 33, Hamburg, 22089, Germany.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nienhaus
keywords: Back school; Evaluation; Nursing