Knowledge Intervention Towards The Reduction Of Work-Related Low Back Pain And Enhancement Of Body Mechanics Skills In The Nursing Profession
Loading...
Date
2015-07
Authors
Alnawajha, Samer K.A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Nurses experience the highest incidence of work-related back injuries, a serious and costly problem that affects their profession. In Malaysia, interventional studies regarding work-related lower back pain (LBP) among nurses are limited. Thus, facts related to this problem are only inferred from regional and international studies. This study attempts to assess the effectiveness of an educational program in reducing work-related LBP, improving nurses’ quality of life and nursing skills in using proper and correct body mechanics among Malaysian nurses working at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Hospital USM).
Pre-test and post-test intervention based on the LBP education and clinical training were selected as method of intervention. Cross-sectional study was selected in the first part of this study using a stratified random sample of nurses selected from all wards in Hospital USM. The sample size was 300 nurses with 100% response rate. Randomized control trial study was selected for second part with sample of 35 in each control and intervention group.
The study showed that the prevalence of work-related LBP was 51%. Mean score of pain severity in the first part of the study was 2.47. Multiple logistic regression analysis show that three factors that contributed to the occurrence of work-related LBP which are nurses who assume poor body posture at work, who do not have work organization and
who perceive poor health status. These groups of nurses increased odds of having work-related LBP at 243.571, 32.058, and 0.066 times respectively.
Fifteen of 31 nurses from intervention group did not experience LBP after the educational module, whereas 32 of 35 nurses from the control group experienced LBP (p=0.008). One-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant decreased in LBP severity (p<0.001), time experienced of LBP (p<0.001) in the intervention group after the interventional module. Also, a significant decrease in pain duration was found between control and intervention group after interventional module. A significant improvement in various physical and psychological factors was found between the control and intervention group after the intervention. This study promoted the effectiveness of educational program module with clinical training into basic nursing education and health care practices in reducing the incidence of work-related LBP among nurses.
Description
Keywords
Work related low back pain , educational program, practical skills.