Nurses back pain beliefs, coping strategies and factors associated with participant activation for self‐management of back pain

Abstract

Aims To determine the back pain beliefs, coping strategies and factors associated with participant activation for self‐management of back pain amongst nurses working in peri‐urban district healthcare centres. Design A descriptive cross‐sectional study design. Methods Data were collected between February and March 2020 using a self‐administered questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was done in Stata version 20.0. Back pain beliefs, participant activation and coping strategies were presented using relative frequencies and percentages. Odds ratios at 5% significance level were used to test association of factors for participant activation for self‐management of back pain. Results Majority of the participants had experienced back pain which lasted 3 days for half of the participants. Further, pain medication was commonly used to cope with back pain. In addition, age, gender and work‐setting were significantly associated with participant activation for self‐management of back pain. Conclusion Participants’ coping strategies for back pain were linked to the conveyed back pain beliefs which demonstrate that participants believed in rest and lengthy periods of time off work for back pain. However, participants acknowledged that taking an active role in determining one's health and function is vital. This highlights the importance of self‐management support for health behaviour change amongst nurses. Impact The study addressed back pain beliefs, coping strategies and participant activation for self‐management of back pain amongst nurses in peri‐urban healthcare centres. Majority of the participants experienced back pain which lasted 3 days. Pain medication was commonly used to cope with back pain. Age, gender and work‐setting were significantly associated with participant activation for self‐management of back pain. Although this study was conducted in Zambia, outcomes from this study may be of benefit to nurses in similar settings. Further, the research provides insight to the international body of knowledge on the process and appropriateness of international research in resource‐constrained settings.

Mediating Effects of Coping Strategies Between Activation for Self-Management of Back Pain and Work Engagement: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurses

“…This study used the Activation for Self-management of Back Pain scale developed by Nkhata et al [17] and translated into Chinese by S.…”

“…The Chronic Care Theory model suggests that individuals who are more active in self-management manage their health more actively and experience better health outcomes [15]. Activation for self-management is important in relieving back pain symptoms and the impact of pain on one's physical and psychological functioning, reducing the disruption of back pain at work [16][17][18]. In addition, nurses' work attitudes and motivation will be enhanced, potentially increasing the work engagement of CCL nurses.…”

Occupational low back pain prevention capacity of nurses in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study

“…The relationship between nurses' absent work days with occupational low back pain has been extensively documented ( 10 , 11 ), posing a substantial challenge to nursing resources and professional stability. In addition, nurses' mental wellbeing, quality of life, and financial situation may be impacted by low back pain ( 12 , 13 ). Therefore, more attention needs to be paid to improving the occupational low back pain and the health status of nurses.…”

Nurses’ beliefs about back pain, their coping strategies and participant activation for self-management

“…The lack of workplace support systems for nurses with back pain, as well as job dissatisfaction, contribute to reduced quality of life and physical dysfunction (Dlungwane, Voce & Knight 2018). In addition, socio-economic and other factors such as beliefs about management may exacerbate the nurses' experience of back pain (Dressner & Kissinger 2018;Nkhata et al 2021;Samaei et al 2017).…”

“…Participant activation is described as the desire and ability to self-sufficiently care for individual health needs and is related to self-management behaviours and health outcomes (Green & Hibbard 2012;Nkhata et al 2021). People with higher levels of activation are more inclined to engage in self-management, because they have the confidence and knowledge to preserve or enhance their health in a responsible manner (Ahn et al 2015).…”