జర్నల్ ఆఫ్ ఆస్టియోపోరోసిస్ అండ్ ఫిజికల్ యాక్టివిటీ
అందరికి ప్రవేశం

నైరూప్య

Low Back Pain among Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital, South India

Nirmala M Emmanuel*, Punitha Ezhilarasu and Anu Bharathy Bheemarao

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to assess the prevalence of Low Back Pain (LBP) among nurses, their risk status and association between LBP and selected demographic and clinical variables. The sample was female nurses between the age group of 20 and 60 years who could speak and write English, and willing to participate. A demographic proforma and a standardized screening tool for LBP were used for data collection. Approval for Institutional Review Board and written consent from participants was obtained. The completed forms (1284) were analysed, 53.4 % of the nurses had LBP and 17.1 % among them were at high risk status. There was a significant association (p<0.001) between LBP and age, body mass index, experience, and place of work. As LBP is common among nurses and nurses comprise majority of the health care professionals adequate precautions should be taken by the nurses to prevent low back pain. Periodic screening of nurses for low back pain and referring the high risk nurses for immediate medical assistance may prevent complications related to low back pain and improve the functional ability of the nurses. Regular education on good body postures, physical fitness and appropriate body mechanics may help in prevention of low back pain among nurses.