The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Complaints among Hospital Nurses and Nursing Home Caregivers in Indonesia

Abstract

The jobs of hospital nurses and nursing home caregivers are often associated with risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of such problems among nurses and caregivers in Indonesia. This study aims at determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MS) complaints experienced by caregivers in Indonesia and identifying relevant factors contributing to this problem. Standardized Nordic Questionnaires were distributed to 121 hospital nurses and nursing home caregivers, as a means of understanding the magnitude of the problem. Results of this study demonstrated that 75% of the respondents reported MS complaints (for any body parts) in the previous year. Roughly 40 to 50% of the respondents reported MS complaints of the upper and lower back. Complaints of the shoulder, neck, and right wrist were reported by about 30 to 40% of the respondents. Compared to their colleagues in the hospital, nursing home caregivers were six to eight times more likely to experience right shoulder problems and about three to four times more likely to develop lower back problems. Other working conditions resulting in an increased chance of MS problems included age, length of employment, and shift durations. It was suspected that poor working postures and excessive effort while handling the patients were two major factors that were in need of immediate attention. The findings of this study could be used as a basis for ergonomic interventions in both medical and home care settings. Such improvements may, in the long run, result in better morale, increased productivity, and a stronger bottom line for hospital and nursing home too.

Nurses’ work, work psychology, and the evolution & devolution of care provision in nursing homes: A scoping review

“…Many factors were found to influence nurses’ physical health in the long-term care sector. Long shifts and physically taxing work combined to heighten the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms, including shoulder, lower back, neck, and joint pain ( Dhaini et al., 2016 ; Iridiastadi et al., 2019 ), which occurred significantly more often in long-term care than acute care ( OECD, 2020 ). Research set in Brazil and Estonia observed that musculoskeletal disorders were particularly prevalent amongst nurses in long-term care ( Mariano et al., 2015 ; Sepp et al., 2015 ).…”

“…Research set in Brazil and Estonia observed that musculoskeletal disorders were particularly prevalent amongst nurses in long-term care ( Mariano et al., 2015 ; Sepp et al., 2015 ). The most frequently reported types of physical injury in long-term care included back pain/injury, joint pain, and shoulder pain/injury ( Dhaini et al., 2016 ; Iridiastadi et al., 2019 ). An Estonian study measuring fatigue in nursing staff's thumb muscles after a shift suggested modern equipment as a solution to reducing nurses physiological stress in long-term care ( Sepp et al., 2015 ).…”

Examining the Predictors of Turnover Behavior in Newly Employed Certified Nurse Aides: A Prospective Cohort Study

“…Musculoskeletal disorders not only affect physical and mental health, work performance, and quality of life and increase medical costs and social cost, but they can also decrease work competency and cause turnover [ [43] , [44] , [45] ]. Previous studies [ 8 , 9 , 46 ] also pointed out that musculoskeletal disorders are one of the main factors of turnover in nurse aides. Caring for patients requires the execution of many repetitive actions, and excessive force exertion or improper posture may lead to musculoskeletal soreness and fatigue.…”

“…Although previous studies have highlighted the influencing factors of turnover behavior in nurse aides, some factors still lack an empirical basis. In this study, we compiled potential influencing factors found in the relevant literature or proposed by experts, which were classified as follows: personal socioeconomic background [ 4 , 5 ], workplace psychosocial hazards [ 2 ], worker health hazards [ 6 , 7 ], and musculoskeletal disorders [ 8 , 9 ]. These four factors are separately described below.…”

Biomechanical Evaluation of a Patient-Handling Technology Prototype

“…The patient-handling activities performed by hospital nurses are often associated with increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs (Waters et al, 2007;Nelson et al, 2007;Iridiastadi et al, 2019). These are a group of disorders affecting the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and bones, which are caused by strenuous physical activity in combination with poor posture (Batubara and Dharmastiti, 2017;Ribeiro et al, 2017).…”