Occurrence and impact of back pain on the quality of life of healthcare workers

Abstract

Introduction and Objective. Back pain affects specific occupational groups, among which healthcare workers are the most predisposed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the interdependences between subjective disability and their correlation with pain intensity and quality of life assessment among professionally active medical workers, taking into account working, socio-demographic and health conditions. Materials and Method. The cross-sectional study enrolled 110 professionally active medical workers (nurses, midwives, paramedics and physiotherapists). The study was conducted by a diagnostic survey method using 4 questionnaires: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQoL-BREF), and the authors' questionnaire. Results. Back pain was reported by 103 respondents (94%) with the lumbar area indicated the most frequently (72.81%). Severe pain every day was reported by 49.51% of respondents and was associated with longer working time. ODI questionnaire confirmed III and IV degrees of disability in paramedics and nurses, who additionally obtained the lowest results in the quality of life assessment. Correlations between age and VAS were demonstrated (p=0.002), and between VAS and ODI pain (p<0.0001) and ODI disability (p<0.0001). Conclusions. Back pain associated with professional activities is the consequence of overload. Health care workers should be included in a preventive programme and attend systematic ergonomics courses. Health care facilities should be retrofitted with equipment enabling work in accordance with the principles of ergonomics. The ODI questionnaire, together with the VAS method and scales for testing the quality of life, are useful tools in the clinical assessment of individuals with back pain.

Quality of Life and Its Predictive Factors Among Healthcare Workers After the End of a Movement Lockdown: The Salient Roles of COVID-19 Stressors, Psychological Experience, and Social Support

“…A study on primary healthcare workers in Brazil also reported that respondents presenting with negative self-perceived health status or being diagnosed with systemic illnesses by physicians contributed to poor physical health QoL (Teles et al, 2014). Moreover, a study on how chronic back pain affects the QoL of a cohort of medical workers also indicated that a greater degree of disability due to the medical condition was associated with poor physical health QoL (Mroczek et al, 2020). Hence, our findings further strengthened the reciprocal relationship between pre-existing medical conditions and poor physical health QoL.…”

Comparative efficacy of 12 non-drug interventions on non-specific chronic low back pain in nurses: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

“…The incidence in this population is reported to be 60.98%-72% [4][5][6] and has resulted in frequent nursing staff resignations and absences due to ill health [7,8]. NSCLBP in nurses can lead to significantly reduced quality of life [9] and is detrimental to the development of the nursing team and patient safety.…”

“…Basic information used for the sample plots the thickness of the muscle;6 numerical rating scale, NRS; 7 SF-36 questionnaire;8 Japanese Orthopaedic Association, JOA scores;9 Oswestry disability index, ODI; 10 self-rating depression scale, SDS; 11 self-rating anxiety scale, SAS;12 feeling of fatigue;13 frequency of low back pain;14 World Health Organization Quality of Life-brief questionnaire, WHOQOL-BREF;15 Job satisfaction;16 preventive behavior score;17 self-efficacy;18 occurrence rate. A: Physical exercise; B: Physical exercise plus health education; C: Health education; D: Multidisciplinary intervention; E: Manipulation treatment; F: Manipulation treatment plus physical exercise; G: None; H: Yoga; I: Protective equipment; J: Low back exercise; K: Low back exercise plus health education; L: Self-management; M: Self-management plus health education.…”

Prevalence and associated factors of low back pain in an urban Nigerian community

“…Birabi et al 9 relataram prevalência pontual de 67,1% entre agricultores. A maioria dos estudos disponíveis sobre lombalgia tem sido em populações trabalhadoras 10,11 ou são baseados em hospitais 12,13 levando a conclusões não representativas. Há uma escassez de dados epidemiológicos sobre DL de indivíduos no setor informal ou desempregados, especialmente em países de baixa renda 14 .…”