Time control, catecholamines and back pain among young nurses

Abstract

Elfering A, Grebner S, Semmer NK, Gerber H. Time control, catecholamines and back pain among young nurses. Scand J Work Environ Health 2002;28(6):386-393.Objectives This study had two objectives. First, it addressed concern with the contribution of work stressors and resources to the development of back pain, over and above the influence of biomechanical work factors. Second, using recent models about the role of the sympathetic-adrenal medullar system in musculoskeletal problems as its basis, it tested whether low-back pain is associated with higher levels of catecholamines.Methods Altogether 114 nurses filled out a questionnaire in their first year of practice and again one year later.In addition, in a subsample of 24 nurses studied intensively at follow-up, urinary catecholamines were assessed at noon, before the end of work, in the evening, and at corresponding times on a day off. Daily stressful experiences and daily mood were also recorded. ResultsWith control for baseline pain, biomechanical workload, and other potentially confounding variables, time control at the beginning of the study predicted low-back pain a year later. In the subsample, the epinephrine and norepinephrine levels were higher in those reporting more frequent episodes of back pain, the largest differences occurring at the end of work. In addition, control over stressful events at work was lower in this group.Conclusions Time control is a risk factor for low-back pain among nurses beyond the influence of physical work load. Low control at work may increase the activity of the sympathetic-adrenal medullar system, which seems to play an important role in the development of musculoskeletal pain.

Workplace observation of work stressors, catecholamines and musculoskeletal pain among male employees

“…Furthermore, norepinephrine was associated with work stressors. This finding is in line with the results of previous studies that showed a similar association between work conditions, musculoskeletal pain, and norepinephrine excretion (3,10). Both sustained activation during work and lack of muscular relaxation after work may cause pain.…”

“…With respect to catecholamines, both epinephrine and norepinephrine should be related to musculoskeletal pain. However, norepinephrine is more proximally linked to muscle activity and musculoskeletal pain than epinephrine is (10). Altogether, evidence is increasing that chronic work-related stress, lack of rest, and recovery after work contribute to the development of persistent musculoskeletal pain (5).…”

“…Altogether, evidence is increasing that chronic work-related stress, lack of rest, and recovery after work contribute to the development of persistent musculoskeletal pain (5). Nevertheless, there is still a lack of field studies assessing work characteristics, musculoskeletal pain, and catecholamine excretion rates, both at work and after work (10).…”

Occupational stress, job satisfaction, and working environment among Icelandic nurses: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey

“…These studies have found that nursing is very strenuous work that causes a variety of pathological symptoms. For example, Elfering et al (2002) found that nurses in Switzerland are at risk for low-back pain; Lavanco (1997) found that in Sicily burnout is more prevalent among nurses than teachers, and Stordeur et al (2001) found that emotional exhaustion was the consequence of work-related stress factors among Belgian nurses. Occupational stress among nurses is associated with a variety of personal and institutional factors.…”

“…Numerous studies have shown that nursing is strenuous work and hence that occupational stress is prevalent among nurses (Elfering et al, 2002;Lavanco, 1997;Lee and Wang, 2002;Santos et al, 2003). A strong negative relation has been found between nurses' occupational stress and job satisfaction (Blegen, 1993), and it has also been reported that growing occupational stress results in increasing turnover rate and causes more and more nurses to leave the nursing profession (Shader et al, 2001).…”