Figure - available from: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
Source publication
Background
Musculoskeletal pain, especially back pain, is common among health care professionals (HP). For prevention purposes, it is important to know whether HP develop their symptoms before or after entering the health care workforce. Cross-sectional studies among HP cannot answer this question. This follow-up study measures the prevalence and i...
Citations
... (18) Some osteokinematic movements, when performed excessively or sustained by long hours of work, such as cervical flexion and rotation, are associated with psychosomatic symptoms, such as anxiety, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). (20,22) As elucidated in our study, the worsening of neck pain during work was a reality found that, in turn, compromised all domains of QoL. A meta-synthesis identified that neck pain proves to be of multidimensional phenomenology, affecting both the physical and psychological domains, as well as the social one. ...
Objective. To analyze the repercussions of neck pain on the quality of life of health professionals in intensive care units. Methods. Cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study, carried out with 94 health professionals (21 nurses, 13 physical therapists and 60 nursing technicians) in Intensive Care Units of two medium-sized hospitals in a municipality in the far south of Brazil. An instrument containing variables of sociodemographic and work environment characterization was applied; the Neck Bournemouth Questionnaire (NBQ) and the WHOQOL-Bref were applied. Results. There was a predominance of female professionals (88.3%), white (78.8%), aged 30 to 39 years (34.1%), with family income between one and two minimum wages (31.9%) and weekly workload between 31 and 40 hours (67%), night shift (54.3%), time of professional experience of one to five years (38.3%) and one job (73.4%). Neck pain and disability showed significant negative correlations with quality of life. The relationship was weak with the physical (r: -0.218; p=0.035) and psychological (r: -0.280; p=0.006) domains, and moderate with social relationships (r: -0.419; p<0.001), environment (r: -0.280; p<0.001) and general quality of life (r: -0.280; p<0.001). Overall quality of life showed a moderate correlation with the feeling of anxiety (r: -0.431; p<0.001) and depression (r: -0.515; p<0.001) of professionals in the last week. Conclusion. Neck pain caused repercussions in the physical, psychological, social, environmental and general quality of life of health professionals in intensive care units.
... Furthermore, LBP is a significant predictor of psychological problems, with individuals experiencing approximately double the risk of depression compared to those without LBP [10,11]. Additionally, in occupational settings, LBP results in tremendous costs due to reduced work ability and is one of the most common causes of work absence and disability [2,[12][13][14][15][16]. Even in comparatively young and highly educated samples, LBP has been reported to be a common and potentially debilitating health complaint [17]. ...
... Going beyond most previous studies, this study examined distinct occupational groups, allowing more specific identification of vulnerable populations, such as those working in elementary occupations. Typically, previous research had not specially focused on occupational differences or were focused on ultra-specific occupational groups [16,17,23]. For example, besides those working in elementary occupations, women working as service workers and men working as craft workers were found to have especially high odds of reporting LBP even when controlling for age, education and other covariates. ...
Background
Low back pain (LBP) is a common health problem in workers that contributes to work disability and reduces quality of life. However, studies examining vulnerable groups in relation to sociodemographic differences in LBP remain scarce. Therefore, the current study investigates which sociodemographic groups of workers are most affected by LBP.
Methods
Data from the 2018 BIBB/BAuA employment survey were used (N = 16252). Age, education, occupational group, income, working hours, atypical working time, relationship status, and having children were used as sociodemographic predictors. Gender-stratified logistic regression analyses and intersectional classification tree analyses were conducted.
Results
A higher prevalence of LBP was observed for women compared to men. Significant differences in LBP emerged for age, working hours, atypical working time, occupational group and education, with some gender differences in the importance of predictors: Age was a significant predictor mostly in men as compared to women, atypical working hours had a slightly greater effect in women, whereas differences in LBP according to the occupational group were more pronounced for men. Vulnerable groups were found to be women who work in occupations other than professionals or managers, work atypical hours and have an intermediate or low educational level as well as men who work as skilled agricultural workers, craft workers, machine operators, or elementary occupations and are between 35 and 64 years old.
Conclusions
Thus, workers with certain occupations and lower levels of education, middle-aged men and women with unfavourable working time characteristics are most affected by low back pain. These groups should be focused on to potentially increase healthy working life and prevent work disability.
... Any discomfort in the locomotor system, particularly in the neck and back, can significantly impact the provider's quality of life. Therefore, it is essential to understand the causes and risks associated with such discomfort [1]. Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a prevalent form of disability that affects individuals of all ages and genders worldwide. ...
Background: Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort are common causes that influence most surgeons' performance and lifestyle. The purpose of this study is to investigate where surgeons experience the most musculoskeletal discomfort and suffering compared to non-surgical specialty doctors. Methodology: This descriptive case-control study included 156 participants from El Obeid, a city in Sudan's Northern Kordofan state. We randomly selected the volunteers between May and June 2024, irrespective of their age or gender. Results: This study included 156 doctors from diverse disciplines aged 27 to 70, with a mean age of 37. Male-to-female ratio: 2:1. Of the 156 participants, 104 (67%) were males and 52 (33%) were females. The bulk of participants were 31–35 (33%), 36–40 (30%), and under 30 (13%). Neck pain was experienced by 38% of participants, including 44% of surgeons and 25% of non-surgical specialists. Surgeons had a greater neck pain rate (RR = 0.420, 95% CI = 0.201–0.879). About 20% of participants, including 24% of surgeons and 13% of non-surgical specialists, reported shoulder pain. The study found a relative risk (RR) of 0.492 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.197–1.227 between shoulder pain and surgery. Additionally, 57% of participants—66% surgeons and 38% other specialties—reported lower back pain. With an RR of 0.317 (95% CI 0.159–0.633), surgeons are more likely to experience lower back pain. Foot discomfort affected 7% of participants, 9% of cases, and 4% of controls. Cases increased foot pain risk by 0.422 (95% CI 0.088–2.029). Conclusion: Surgeons in various specializations in Sudan, as well as doctors in non-surgical specialties, have a significant prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort. The most often reported areas of pain were the lumbar region, cervical region, shoulder, and lower extremities.
... Studies involving mainly young healthcare workers at the beginning of their careers show that the incidence of low back pain and neck and shoulder pain is alarmingly high [41]. This may be due to the lack of experience, therefore additional training in good practices and ergonomic organization of the workplace, and the use of appropriate equipment is a good solution. ...
Introduction and objective:
The profession of a physiotherapist is associated with various risks related to manual work, repetitive activities, an uncomfortable prolonged position of joints in some body postures forced by the work, and the standing position, which all impose considerable load on the upper and lower extremities and the spine. The aim of the study was to analyse ailments reported by physiotherapists in relation to their age, gender, seniority, the number of working hours per day, and body position during work.
Material and methods:
The study involved 120 physiotherapists working in various types of employment. The research was carried out using an author-design questionnaire based on the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The occurrence of the ailments was analysed in relation to respondents' age, gender, seniority, number of working hours per day, and body position during work. An analysis of the relationships between the variables was carried out. The analysis of qualitative variables was performed using the χ2 test.
Results:
The results showed that the majority of physiotherapists complained of fatigue (78.8%), leg pain (61.9%), spine pain (60.2%), headache (59.3%), and shoulder pain (52.5%). It was shown that such symptoms as fatigue, dizziness, leg pain, finger pain, headache, wrist pain, drowsiness, and numbness, were correlated with age.
Conclusions:
The pain symptoms reported by the surveyed physiotherapists affected different parts of the body and appeared with different frequency and intensity. The majority of the physiotherapists declared problems with the lower spine, neck, wrists, hands, upper spine, and shoulders. Thigh pain was the most commonly reported symptom, whereas neck pain was reported the least frequently. The lower spine and ankles were indicated as body areas with the most severe and the weakest pain, respectively.
Background
Neck pain (NP) and low back pain (LBP) are increasingly significant medical, social, and economic concerns. The midwifery profession, similar to other healthcare occupations, is particularly predisposed to these issues.
Methods
This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of back pain among midwives and evaluate the associated disability levels using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The study group included 208 actively practicing midwives aged 23 to 67 years (mean ± SD: 48.1 ± 10.7 years). Participants completed an anonymous survey comprising a custom-designed questionnaire, the Polish language versions of the NDI and ODI, and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity.
Results
The analysis revealed a statistically significant correlation between VAS pain intensity and both age ( r = 0.2476) and work experience ( r = 0.2758), indicating higher pain scores with increasing age and seniority. No significant association was found between BMI and VAS scores ( r = 0.0011). Additionally, NDI and ODI scores correlated significantly with age ( r = 0.1731; r = 0.3338), BMI ( r = 0.1685; r = 0.2718), and work experience ( r = 0.1987; r = 0.4074). Higher values for age, BMI, and seniority were associated with increased disability levels.
Conclusions
Neck and low back pain represent prevalent and impactful issues for midwives in Poland, contributing to mild to moderate disability, absenteeism, reliance on pain medication, and limited physical activity. Key contributing factors include age, professional experience, BMI, and low levels of physical activity.
Low back pain (LBP) is a global health concern, impacting individuals across various professions and age groups. This review explores the critical role of ergonomic factors in the prevention and management of LBP. Occupational risk factors, including heavy lifting, prolonged sitting, non-neutral postures, and repetitive motions, contribute significantly to the rising prevalence of LBP. Professions such as healthcare, law enforcement, and office work are particularly vulnerable due to their physical demands and static postures. Ergonomic interventions, including task redesign, assistive technologies, and workplace modifications, have proven effective in reducing the incidence of LBP. Dynamic seating, lumbar support devices, and wearable technology are among the innovations that have been introduced to promote healthier postures and reduce musculoskeletal strain. Additionally, ergonomic training programs focusing on proper body mechanics and posture correction are essential for long-term prevention. Beyond physical factors, psychosocial and lifestyle elements, such as stress, sedentary behavior, and smoking, also play a role in the development of LBP. Combining ergonomic interventions with health-promoting behaviors, such as regular physical activity and stress management, can significantly reduce the burden of LBP. Technological advancements, including mobile applications and wearable devices, support adherence to home exercise programs, offering continuous feedback for posture correction and movement. This comprehensive review underscores the need for a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ergonomic interventions, technological tools, and lifestyle modifications to manage and prevent LBP effectively in both occupational and everyday settings.
Aim
To compare student nurses' expectations and newly qualified nurses' experiences regarding clinical practice in Switzerland 1 year after graduation.
Design
A secondary explorative analysis of a cross‐sectional survey.
Methods
The data were sourced from the Swiss National Graduate Survey of Health Professionals covering six universities of applied sciences between 2016 and 2019, with information on three cohorts of bachelor student nurses, with a 1‐year follow‐up between each year. The participants were 533 bachelor‐prepared nursing graduates.
Results
The student nurses' overall expectations included the following top two prioritized aspects: ‘contributing to something important’ and ‘adequate time to spend with patients’. Newly graduated nurses' clinical practice experiences demonstrated that not all expectations were met 1 year after graduation. The largest gaps were found in ‘adequate time to spend with patients’, ‘work–life balance’ and experiencing ‘good management’.
Conclusion
The most crucial expectation gaps are related to having sufficient time to spend with patients and a good work–life balance. The most important result is whether there is a shortage of places for nurses to work rather than the oft‐cited shortage of nurses.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care
The expectations of Swiss newly qualified nurses can be better met by an assessment in the first year about which individual perceptions of workplace characteristics cause them to make choices to change something about their work, affect their job satisfaction or influence their intention to stay.
Impact
Few of the student nurses' expectations were met 1 year after graduation, therefore Swiss healthcare institutions should improve needs assessments to strengthen the nurse workforce starting early in employment. The results underscore the importance of a constructive management culture, such as that in magnet hospitals in the United States which underpins the philosophy of changing in nursing. The results can be used internationally as a benchmark and as a basis for introducing potential interventions for nurse retention.
Reporting Method
This study was reported following the Standardized Reporting of Secondary Data Analyses Checklist.
Patient or Public Contribution
There were no patient or public contributions.
Trial and Protocol Registration
This study has not been registered.
