Prevalence and risk factors of low back pain among nurses in a Thai public hospital.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence and risk factors causing low back pain in Thai nurses working in a public hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 265 Thai Hospital nurses between July and August 2008. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the data onsite. Risk factors including personal factors, working factors, job stress, health behavior, and work environment were measured. Data were analyzed by frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, and logistic regression. The prevalent rate of low back pain based upon the nurses' report in the previous 12 months was 61.5%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that moving patients in bed without assistance and a lack of back muscle exercise were the significant risk factors causing low back pain among nurses (p < 0.05). The prevalence of low back pain among Thai Hospital nurses was high. Further steps should be taken to prevent LBP by designing and implementing preventive factor-based interventions.