Nurses perspectives about context specific job factors and coping strategies for back pain experiences among nurses in Lusaka, Zambia: A qualitative study

Abstract

Nurses comprise the largest group of the health care workforce and play a central role in patient care activities. This study explored nurses' perspectives about context specific job factors and coping strategies for back pain experiences among nurses in Lusaka, Zambia. An interpretive paradigm qualitative research design was used. Participants were selected using maximum variation including enrolled and registered nurses and nursing administrators. Data was collected using focus group discussions, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. All thirty-two participants expressed experiencing back pain, correlated with job related factors. Context related job factors for back-pain experiences comprised workload and work environment factors. Inadequate staffing, high patient load, long work hours, mode of performing tasks, inappropriate equipment and work settings were cited as contributing factors. Pain relief medication, exercises, physiotherapy, dietary supplements and rest were coping strategies used. The study concluded that perspectives about context specific job-related factors for back-pain experiences nurses identified were job-related factors like inadequate human resource, high patient load, long work hours and mode of performing tasks. Raising self-awareness, physical activity, adequate infrastructure, manual handling training in clinical contexts and making changes in workflow are approaches that could minimise the effects of back pain experiences among nurses.

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

“…In a related study (Dressner & Kissinger, 2018), 51.8% nurses had back pain experience which resulted in a cumulative 8,730 days‐away‐from‐work. These outcomes show that sick leave as a result of back pain may characterise severe consequences on the health system, such as increasing the workload especially in LMICs where inadequate staffing levels in nursing have been reported (Dlungwane et al, 2018; Nkhata et al, 2020). Furthermore, absence from work may also lead to unemployment and loss of earnings which has the potential of ill effects on individuals and their families (Abolfotouh et al, 2015).…”

“…Outcomes in our study show that most of the participants (69.4%) had experienced back pain (Table 1) that lasted about 3 days and had visited a doctor and obtained sick leave that lasted for an average of 3 days. In a related study (Dressner & Kissinger, 2018) show that sick leave as a result of back pain may characterise severe consequences on the health system, such as increasing the workload especially in LMICs where inadequate staffing levels in nursing have been reported (Dlungwane et al, 2018;Nkhata et al, 2020).…”

“…Back pain in the nursing profession is a significant health concern that is associated with increased activity limitation that affects patient care activities (Dlungwane et al, 2018; Johnson & Emmanuel, 2016; Nkhata et al, 2020). Therefore, having awareness about the nurses’ back pain beliefs, coping strategies and participant activation level for self‐management of back pain is essential in developing appropriate strategies that would enhance their abilities of self‐management of back pain.…”

“…These high prevalence rates are of major concern because they increase strain on the healthcare system and exert more pressure on the overburdened workers thereby reducing occupational efficiency and healthcare outcomes (Alnaami et al, 2019; Gim, 2017; Richardson et al, 2019). Lack of human resources, poor ergonomics, high workload, long hours of service delivery and inadequate and inappropriate equipment to perform nursing tasks are context‐specific factors that have been associated with back pain amongst nurses (Nkhata et al, 2020). Consequently, nurses with back pain have impaired physical, social and mental well‐being, which is exacerbated by limited possibilities for job modification, low levels of education about back care, low social support, poor working conditions and poor job satisfaction (Dlungwane et al, 2018).…”