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Prevalence, characteristics, and work-related risk factors of low back pain among hospital nurses in Taiwan: A cross-sectional survey

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

Abstract

Background

Low back pain is a common health problem among hospital nurses. However, the prevalence, characteristics, and work-related risk factors of low back pain have not been widely investigated in Taiwan.

Materials and Methods

This study used a cross-sectional survey of 217 hospital nurses to gather self-reported information on the prevalence of back pain, demographic and pain characteristics, and work-related risk factors from 178 respondents who indicated a past history of back pain. The association between the characteristics of back pain and work-related risk factors was also examined.

Results

The lifetime prevalence of back pain was 82.03%, and the point prevalence of back pain was 43.78%. The mean pain score is 41.67. The number of years at work was significantly associated with the pain score for an individual’s most recent episode of back pain, the extent of bothersomeness of back pain and leg pain, and the extent to which back pain interfered with normal work.

Conclusion

Back pain is common among hospital nurses in Taiwan. Years at work are significantly associated with pain severity and disability caused by back pain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neural Repair, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Pei-Hsin Lin, Yun-An Tsai & Shih-Fong Huang

  2. School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Pei-Hsin Lin, Yun-An Tsai & Shih-Fong Huang

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taipei, Keelung City, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Wei-Chih Chen

  4. Division of Neural Repair, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, 201 Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C., 11217

    Shih-Fong Huang

Authors
  1. Pei-Hsin Lin
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  2. Yun-An Tsai
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  3. Wei-Chih Chen
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  4. Shih-Fong Huang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shih-Fong Huang.

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Lin, PH., Tsai, YA., Chen, WC. et al. Prevalence, characteristics, and work-related risk factors of low back pain among hospital nurses in Taiwan: A cross-sectional survey. IJOMEH 25, 41–50 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-012-0008-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13382-012-0008-8

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