Work- Related Musculoskeletal Symptoms Among Nurse Staff in Ismailia, Egypt

Abstract

Introduction: Nursing career is considered one of the most physically laborious professions which are associated with high prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Although the latter is of major concern worldwide; limited epidemiological studies on WMSDs among nurses for referencing in Egypt. Aim of work:1) Assessing the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal symptoms (MSSs) among nurses in Suez Canal University Hospital and Ismailia General Hospital, 2) determining the associations between personal and occupational characteristics, physical risk factors with MSSs of back, neck, knee, wrist and shoulder and, 3) determining the relationship between presence of musculoskeletal symptoms and its sequel. Materials and methods: A cross sectional study is implemented on 135 female nurses with full history taking including medical and occupational histories. A modified form of Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) and medical history checklist for symptoms of WMSDs from Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety is used for detection and assessment of musculoskeletal symptoms. Results: About 113(83.7%) of the participants reported musculoskeletal symptoms: 91.4% in inpatient and ICU and 77.90% in outpatient. The most prevalent site was lower back (79.3%, 58.4%) in inpatient, ICU and outpatients respectively, working in awkward positions and presence of work related symptoms with (OR:22.259, CI:4.58-108.10) (p<0.05), concentration for long periods(OR:0.25, CI:0.07-0.95) (p<0.05) presence of work shifts(OR:0.1.25, CI:1.14-1.38) (p<0.05) are the most perceived predictors for MSSs. Conclusion: A high frequency of Egyptian nurses reported WMSDs at some body sites; with the low back being the most injured site. Nurses in inpatients and ICU departments were more affected than outpatients. Working in awkward positions for long periods, presence of working shifts and concentration for long periods were the most perceived job risk factors.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Nurses at the Ho Teaching Hospital, Ghana

“…Due to the diverse nature of their work, nurses are likely to be exposed to different risk factors (Attar, 2014), such as frequent torso twisting and bending and prolonged standing and lifting of patients. Several epidemiological studies have identified nursing as one of the occupations with the highest prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders [WRMSDs] (Anap et al, 2013;Ellapen & Narsigan, 2014;Amer, 2018). In Ghana, nurses constitute 65% of the health workforce with a nurse to patient ratio of 1:22 and a nurse to population ratio of 1:750 (Ghana Health Service, 2017).…”

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

“…66 More so, Amer (2018) cross-sectional study revealed that there was a high frequency of WMSD among Egyptian nurses, and the lower back was mostly affected. 73 More evidence of lower back pain among nurses to convey the present study findings can also be found in the systematic review conducted by Pinar and Ali (2018). 74 The lower back was also the most affected body region in the systematic review and meta-analysis done by Saberipour et al (2019) among Iranian nurses.…”

“…The lower back was the most prevalent site (79.3%), and the researchers concluded that there is a high frequency of WMSD among Egyptian nurses, and the lower back is mostly affected. 73 Pinar and Ali (2018) also conducted a systematic review in the PubMed database to evaluate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in nurses, and a total number of 34 articles were included in the analysis, and it was reported that MSD in nurses was limited in the last 12 months. The prevalence of MSD varied from 33% to 88%, and the most affected body region was the lower back, shoulder, neck, knees, wrist/hands.…”

Patterns of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nurses

“…Ever married nurses and nurses from rural areas had statistically significantly higher musculoskeletal complaints (p=0.001, (p=0.022) respectively (Results are not tabulated). Table (2) revealed that the prevalence of WMSDs accounted for 88% (No=176) of the study population who at least had one part of their body affected in the last 12 months, about 78.4% of them, their regular activities were affected and 92% of them experienced pain in the last week. Most of the studied nurses (68.5%) were complaining of low back pain in the last 12 months.…”