title: Nationwide firefighter survey: the prevalence of lower back pain and its related psychological factors among Korean firefighters.
abstract: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of lower back pain (LBP) and clarify the effect of work-related psychological factors on LBP. Nationwide survey data collected from male Korean firefighters (FIFS) were used. To identify the risk factors (work-related psychological factors such as job stress and depression) affecting LBP, the χ2test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of LBP was 19.3% and was highest in the emergency medical service (31.8%) part of FF job types. Within job stress, an uncomfortable physical environment, high mental job demand and organizational injustice were associated with LBP. However, inadequate social support inversely associated with LBP. Depression and high-risk alcohol drinking were related to LBP. LBP was closely related to job stress, depression and alcohol intake. Proper interventions of psychological factors should therefore be addressed to control LBP in FIFS.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Gi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7375-5605
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Dongguk University Gyeongju Hospital , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Seoul Medical Center , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: KyooSang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4896-0548
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: c Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D061388:Firefighters; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D000073397:Occupational Stress; D015279:Organizational Culture; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload
keywords: depression; firefighters; job stress; lower back pain