Musculoskeletal disorder: Risk factors and coping strategies among nurses

Abstract

Background: It is established that nurses suffer from varying degrees of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) at different regions of their body, which results in frequent loss of work days. Aim of study is to identify the risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorder and to determine the coping strategies to reduce their frequency. Methods: This study was conducted in the Outpatient Departments (OPDs), intensive care units of University Hospital and also from the nursing schoolof the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria, Egypt. Results: A high proportion of nurses reported MSD (99.0%) during the last year. Also during their whole careers at one or the other body regions, with the shoulder (97.0%) and Neck (95.0%) being the most commonly affected. Nurses with more than two pregnancies and usage of computer for more than two years were those with the most perceived risk factors for MSD. The usage of different part of body by the nurses as a coping mechanism during the nursing procedures (34.0%) and change of posture (30.0%) were the top two statistically significant coping strategies. Conclusions: The study confirms very high prevalence of MSD among the nursing staff and it was prominent at some specific body parts, of which neck and shoulder were the most affected.

Exploring the factors affecting musculoskeletal disorders risk among hospital nurses

“…The prevalence of work-related MSD among nurses varies between studies. Salama and Eleshenamie [14] studied the risk factors of MSD and coping strategies among 300 nurses in outpatient departments and intensive care units. They found that a high proportion of nurses reported MSD (99.0%) during the last year.…”

Psychosocial risk factors in development of low back pain in nurses working in intensive care unit of Clinical center of Montenegro

“…Kod medicinskih tehničara u Italiji je nađeno da je prevalenca bola u donjem dijelu leđa 49%, a u Brazilu je 45% [5]. U ambulantnim uslovima u Maleziji prevalenca je 89% [6], a u jedinicama intenzivnog liječenja u Egiptu 73% [7] ili Turskoj 84% [8].…”

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation in Guyana

“…(2018) study among nurses in Egypt, which revealed that the nurses were of childbearing age and had two pregnancies in the last two years. 80 Further evidence was also found in Al-Hadidi et al (2020) cross-sectional study developed among female nurses of childbearing age since lower back pain is considered the most common WMSD among female healthcare workers. 66 Also, most of the nurses who participated in the study at the GPHC had a diploma in nursing, and the highest level of education attained by the nurses was a Bachelor"s degree in nursing.…”

“…The coping strategies statistically significant were nurses using different parts of their bodies during nursing procedures (34%) and change of posture (30%). 80 Several reports have shown that MSD is one of the most occupational health problems seen in society among healthcare workers, particularly nurses, with a frequency of 40% to 90%, which is even three or four times the general population. 81 REBA survey to assess posture, and the study findings showed that the waist was the most prevalent MSD found among the operating room personnel and the nursing personnel with 46.7% and 56.7%, respectively.…”