Work-Related Factors of Low Back Pain among Nursing Aides in Nursing Homes for the Elderly

Abstract

Abstract:Work-Related Factors of Low Back Pain among Nursing Aides in Nursing Homes for the Elderly: Takashi FUJIMURA, at al. Department of Public Health, Kochi Medical School-This survey was performed in December 1991 on 555 nursing aides (NAs) in 32 Special Nursing Homes for the Eld erly (SNHs) in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. The purpose of the survey was to establish the relationship be tween low back pain among NAs in SNHs, and the degree of dependency in the activities of daily living (ADL) of the patients under their care. In order to investigate the work-related factors of low back pain, a questionnaire was sent to the NAs, request ing information on the NAs' low back pain condition. Another questionnaire was sent to the 32 SNHs, concerning the status of patients in the respective SNHs. Of the 463 NAs questionnaires which were returned, 443 female NAs' responses were analyzed. The following findings were observed.The preva lence of low back pain among the NAs was high (the one month prevalence was 77.0%), and of the afflict ed NAs, 98 (24.5%) were visiting a health care pro vider. The NAs with low back pain experienced diffi culty in completing their care-giving tasks, and com plained about their working conditions and working environment more often than the NAs without low back pain. In addition, this study showed that, at SNHs where the proportions of dependence in patients' ADL were high, the prevalence of low back pain among their NAs was high. This fact was also confirmed by multiple logistic regression. We, there fore, suggest in this study that patients' care needs are associated with low back pain among NAs. (J Occup Health 1995; 37: 89-98)

Musculoskeletal disorders among staff in South Korea’s largest nursing home

“…Statistical associations for MSD are known to include age, duration of employment (28), manual handling (29), work postures, work control, work organisation (1) and patient care needs (1,2). Female gender, smoking and uncomfortable work positions have also been reported as intrinsic risk factors (30).…”

“…Caring for incapacitated, elderly people may be especially hazardous as most nursing home patients depend heavily on nursing care for almost all their daily activities. Studies have shown that the more dependent the patient, the higher the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among their caring staff (2). Employment within a nursing home usually involves repetitive work, working fast and expending significant amounts of energy (3)(4)(5)(6).…”

Effectiveness of intervention for low back pain in female caregivers in nursing homes: a pilot trial based on multicenter randomization

“…In particular, female caregivers have been reported to be at high risk of having high blood pressure [2] and coronary heart disease [3]. Additionally, caregivers have high prevalence rates of low back pain and a high incidence of worker's compensation claims for back injuries [4][5][6]. Low back pain is frequent in various occupations, its presence being related to activities requiring repetitive lifting and repeated activities for which anomalous postures tend to be adopted [7].…”

“…The prevalence of this condition in nursing is high in comparison with that in other occupations and in relation to other types of work [9]. Risk factors include physical workload such as the manual lifting and transferring of patients, working conditions such as working time and rest during the night shift, and the working environment [4]. Among these factors, frequent exposure to the manual lifting and transferring of patients is a widely recognized risk factor.…”

“…Of note, for female caregivers, it was reported that dissatisfaction with working conditions and the workplace environment was high [4], mental stress from work and human relations tended to be high [8,9], and physical fitness elements such as flexibility and muscular strength were low [10]. Caregivers in nursing homes perform shift work, including night work.…”