Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Nurses in Four Tertiary Care Hospitals at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, KSA

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common health problem among health care workers; leads to disability, absence and loss of resources on treatment, investigation and rehabilitation. Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for Low Back Pain among nurses in four tertiary hospitals at KFMC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and Methods: A cross sectional study in which all nurses for LBP has been surveyed using questionnaire including the occupational factors and the characters of LBP; with other variables such as age group, gender, job category, country of origin, previous LBP episodes and prognosis for it. Nordic questionnaire for LBP has been used. Results: A total sample of 937 nursing staff returned the filled questionnaire out of 1300 distributed (72% response rate). 576 (61.5%) of nursing staff reported current attacks of episodes of LBP, 611 (65%) reported at least one attack of LBP during past 12 months and 375 (40%) of them reported to have at least one attack during life time. LBP was highest among younger age group who are less than 30 years old, 269 (64.4%) compared to older nurses (>49 years old) 30 (50.8%). Female nurses had less rate of LBP 498 (60.5%) compared to male nurses who were 78 (88.4%). Inpatient nurse, outpatient nurse and nurse assistant had consistently higher rates of low back pain; 253 (63.9%); 160 (63.5%) and 95 (62.9%) compared to administrative nurses 68 (49.3%). Middle Eastern nurses had the highest rates of LBP compared to other nationalities 48 (66.7%). Using a patient lifting device was associated with higher rates of LBP 198 out of 285 (69.5%) p<0.05; OR=1.65 (1.21<95% CI <2.25). Carrying patients had a higher rate of LBP 442 out of 664 (66.6%) p<0.05; OR=2.07 (1.53-2.79); same for nurses who move or support patients and also nurses who push wheels of patients had also higher rates of LBP. LBP was severe enough to visit a doctor among 329 (57.1%) and 329 (57.1%) had to take medication, 84 (14.6%) had to Correspondence to: Dr. Mostafa A.F. Abbas, The Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, KFMC, Riyadh, KSA, [email protected] . have X-ray and 63 (10.9%) had to take a sick leave because of LBP. Eighty five percent of those who had current LBP reported that their pain was related to work incidents. Nevertheless, only 11.5% had changed their duty because of their back pain. Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP among nursing staff at KFMC is high. Certain patient–transfer tasks seemed to play important role in LBP.