Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Nurses Working at Hospitals of Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal

Abstract

Musculoskeletal conditions have been ranked as the leading cause of disability worldwide. Low back pain is the single largest contributor in 160 countries including Nepal. Nurses working in hospitals in Nepal are overworked and at risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. The study aimed to determine the 12-month periods and point prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs); the predictors, and the perceived risk factors among nurses. A self-administered standard Nordic questionnaire was distributed among all eligible 118 nurses working at two hospitals. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the predictors of WMSDs. Study findings revealed that nearly half (47.46%) of nurses had WMSDs most significantly affecting the lower back (18.93%). Nurses exceeding 30 years of age had almost seven times higher odds of having WMSDs compared to their counterparts aged less than 30 adjusting the effects of BMI, department, years of clinical experience, and type of hospital (OR= 6.92; CI =1.67-28.58). There was decreased odds of experiencing WMSDs by 0.33 times for nurses working in a private hospital than in a government hospital adjusting the effect of age, BMI, department, and years of clinical experience (OR=0.33; 95% CI=0.12-0.91). Similarly, nurses working in critical units had 5.24 times higher odds of having musculoskeletal disorders than in general units (OR=5.25; 95% CI=1.79-15.38). Nurses working for more than five years had 7.53 times higher odds of having WMSDs than those with less than and equal to five years of work experience (OR=7.53; CI 2.78-20.32). WMSDs are common among nurses primarily affecting the lower back and the odds of having MSDs is high with increasing age, BMI, and work experience, and for nurses who worked in critical care units and public hospital. Prompt preventive measures should be adopted to avoid risk factors of MSDs in work settings.