Prevalence and risk factors for foot and ankle musculoskeletal disorders experienced by nurses

The Effect of Anthropometric Shoes on Lactic Acid Reduction in Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Study from Indonesia

Background

The mobilization characteristics of nurses' work, such as standing, walking, and transferring patients for a long time, can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Repetitive activities nurses perform can cause foot problems such as discomfort and insecurity, characterized by increased lactic acid levels. Anthropometric shoes are specifically designed to reduce complaints on nurses' feet.

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the effect of individual anthropometric shoes on lactic acid levels in nurses at the hospital.

Methods

This study used a mixed-method study design. This study involved 71 nurses in the quantitative study and 15 nurses in the qualitative study. Nurses in Emergency Room, Central Surgical Installation, Inpatient Room, Intensive Care Unit, and Outpatient Installation were randomly selected using a stratified random sampling technique. The instruments used were the Accutrend Lactacyd tool, demographic questionnaire and interview questionnaire. Bivariate data analysis was using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data analysis using thematic analysis.

Results

This mixed-method study shows that anthropometric shoes can reduce nurses' lactic acid levels. In the quantitative study; there was a significant difference in lactic acid levels of nurses before and after using anthropometric shoes with the average results of measuring lactic acid levels, namely pre-test (22.48 mg/dL) and post-test (16.27 mg/dL), with a p-value (0.000). The qualitative study data revealed positive results related to increased nurse knowledge, positive views on the effect of shoes on nurse performance, and the impact of using anthropometric shoes in providing comfort and safety, such as decreased muscle fatigue and pain.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlight the effect of individualized anthropometric shoes on lactic acid levels in nurses in Indonesian hospitals. It is essential to conduct further research and evaluate the results in a broader setting to ensure that anthropometric shoes can directly affect lactic acid levels.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Ankle-Foot Pain Among Nurses Working in Surgical Units of Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Ankle-foot pain is a serious public health concern among nurses and has a significant impact on the quality of the health care service delivery system. However, little is known about the prevalence and factors associated with ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units in Ethiopia.

Purpose

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units of comprehensive specialized hospitals in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Participants and Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 nurses working in surgical units of comprehensive specialized hospitals, from May 15 to June 7, 2022. A simple random sampling technique was employed. Data were collected by five BSc nurses using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed. Finally, variables were declared as statistically significant at P < 0.05 using the odds ratio and 95% CI.

Results

The prevalence of ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units was 51.8% (95% CI = 46.9-57.5). More than 10 years of working experience [AOR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.35-8.92], working 48 or more hours per week [AOR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.27-6.00], prolonged standing [AOR = 5.72, 95% CI = 3.20-10.25], high physical job demand [AOR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.53-3.80], and low job control [AOR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.47-3.71] had statistically significant association with ankle-foot pain.

Conclusion

This study found that ankle-foot pain was common among nurses working in surgical units. Having more years of work experience, working more hours per week, prolonged standing, high physical job demand, and low job control were statistically associated with ankle-foot pain.

Foot and Ankle Disorders in Nurses Exposed to Prolonged Standing Environments: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Prolonged standing environments constitute an occupational risk factor for nurses, particularly for developing foot and ankle disorders. The definitions and potential relationship to hours spent walking or standing are poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the main disorders found on nurses' ankles and feet, their prevalence, the influence of hours spent walking or standing, and gender differences.

METHODS

This review followed a previously published protocol. Primary and secondary studies were retrieved from relevant databases from December 2020 to March 2021. Potential articles were collated to Mendeley, and two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstracts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included. Two researchers retrieved and reviewed the full text of these studies independently. A predetermined extraction tool was used to retrieve relevant data, summarized in a tabular and narrative format.

FINDINGS

The most common disorder was pain, followed by numbness, burning feet, bunions, structural deformities, and calluses. Prevalence differed among studies, depending on settings and specific local policies. Discussion: Various foot and ankle disorders and related variables have been found, with clear gaps that may be addressed in the future.

CONCLUSION/APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE:

Few studies have focused on nurses' foot and ankle disorders. Mapping signs and symptoms may contribute to the future development of preventive interventions for nurses' workplaces.

Nurses’ experience with chronic foot pain and their job-the national science foundation foot health survey

Background

Chronic foot pain (CFP) impacts nurses' ability to provide care at the bedside. Treatment options for CFP were insufficient to address foot pain for nurses who stand or walk for prolonged periods while providing care to patients.

Aims

This study aimed to explore nurses' experience with CFP, current treatment options for foot pain, and the impact of foot pain on nurses' job performance.

Methods

This is secondary data from Individual interviews (n = 122) involving open-ended questions. Data were collected between April 2019-September 2020 while attending the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps program comprising faculty and students among others in the United States. Multiple linear regression and multinomial/binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess what factors were associated with the pain and pain relief solutions.

Results

Nurses who worked at the bedside predominantly switched jobs and reported higher levels of foot pain than those who did not switch jobs (β = 0.19, p = .044). Longer working hours (β = 0.35, p < .001) were associated with higher levels of pain. Nurses who worked longer time were more likely to purchase new work shoes and socks (OR = 1.177, p = .025) to alleviate foot pain than changing shoes only.

Conclusions

Most nurses expressed interest in new products to relieve their CFP. Innovations are urgently needed to address CFP. Future longitudinal studies are required to further elucidate appropriate preventative strategies to prevent and treat CFP in nurses.

Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses: a multicenter cross-sectional study in Bahrain

Objectives. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses in Bahrain and determine the factors that contribute to the occurrence of these symptoms. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from a convenience sample of 550 nurses working in three hospitals in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the last 12 months was assessed using the self-administered Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ). Results. A total of 550 nurses participated in the study. Most were females (n = 488, 89.1%) between 31 and 40 years of age (n = 239, 43.8%). The overall self-reported prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints of all joints in the past 12 months was 88.1%. The highest prevalence was in the lower back (72.3%), followed by the shoulder (52.8%) and the neck (49%). The lowest prevalence was the elbow (12.1%). The prevalence of lower back symptoms was significantly associated with age (p < 0.001), coexisting medical conditions (p < 0.001), area of practice (p < 0.001), number of tasks (p < 0.001) and types of shifts (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The findings indicate a high prevalence of symptoms among nurses. There is a need to implement strategies in healthcare facilities to improve working environment conditions and reduce the prevalence rate.

Prevalence of Body Area Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review

Healthcare professionals perform daily activities that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The objective of this review was to summarize these MSDs by body areas in relation to healthcare professions. The underlying question is, worldwide, whether there are areas that are more exposed depending on the occupation or whether there are common areas that are highly exposed to MSDs. This issue has been extended to risk factors and responses to reduce MSDs. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines between February and May 2022. Google scholar and Science Direct databases were scanned to identify relevant studies. Two authors independently reviewed, critically appraised, and extracted data from these studies. Overall and body area prevalence, risk factors, and responses to MSDs were synthetized by occupational activity. Among the 21,766 records identified, 36 covering six healthcare professions were included. The lower back, neck, shoulder and hand/wrist were the most exposed areas for all healthcare professionals. Surgeons and dentists presented the highest prevalence of lower back (>60%), shoulder and upper extremity (35-55%) MSDs. The highest prevalence of MSDs in the lower limbs was found for nurses (>25%). The main causes reported for all healthcare professionals were maintenance and repetition of awkward postures, and the main responses were to modify these postures. Trends by continent seem to emerge regarding the prevalence of MSDs by healthcare profession. Africa and Europe showed prevalence three times higher than Asia and America for lower back MSDs among physiotherapists. African and Asian nurses presented rates three times higher for elbow MSDs than Oceanians. It becomes necessary to objectively evaluate postures and their level of risk using ergonomic tools, as well as to adapt the work environment to reduce exposure to MSDs with regard to the specificities of each profession.

Rasch and Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Arabic Version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS): An Intercultural Approach

The current study was designed to validate the Arabic version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS) using Rasch and confirmatory factor analyses. This included person and item fit, separation, and reliability; rating scale functionality to evidence substantive validity; unidimensional structure to evidence structural validity; and item technical quality to evidence content validity. The study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022. Utilizing AMOS-based confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study also assured the dimensionality of the DSMS. The participants were 103 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia with a mean age of 44.72 years (standard deviation = 17.35). The analysis was performed using a trichotomous rating scale, and only one item exhibited a misfit (DSMS14). The item difficulty range was -1.0 to +1.0 logits, while the person's ability range was -3.0 to +3.0 logits. The first construct proved one Rasch dimension, which was explained and further analyzed using AMOS-CFA for the one-factor model. The DSMS was shown to be beneficial as a screening instrument for patient-reported diabetes self-management, despite several flaws that need to be addressed to improve the scale further.

Correlation between standing posture during work and low back and lower limb pain among cleaners and caregivers of older adults

ABSTRACT Maintaining a standing posture during work has been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Few studies, however, assess the standing time using objective measures. Thus, this study aimed to verify whether standing time at work is associated with lower back and lower limb pain in the last seven days and last 12 months in caregivers of older adults and cleaners. This is a cross-sectional study. Standing time at work was quantified using inclinometers attached to the workers’ thigh and spine. Musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the point-biserial correlation coefficient (rpb) between standing time at work and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The analyses were performed using the SPSS software, adopting 5% significance level. Workers spend most of their time standing still (41.3%) or walking (39.3%). The presence of symptoms in the lower back was positively correlated with standing time (rpb=0.52; p<0.05). Walking time was negatively correlated with symptoms at the hip in the last 12 months (rpb=−0.53; p<0.05) and running time with symptoms at the hip, in the last seven days, (rpb=−0.43; p<0.05) and the lower back (rpb=−0.43; p<0.05). Longer standing time was correlated with the presence of symptoms in the lower back. Meanwhile, less time walking and running were correlated with the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the hips and lower back.

Correlação entre a postura em pé durante o trabalho e dor na coluna lombar e nos membros inferiores em trabalhadoras da limpeza e cuidadoras de idosos

RESUMO A postura em pé durante o trabalho tem sido associada a sintomas musculoesqueléticos. Entretanto, há poucos estudos que avaliam o tempo em pé utilizando medidas objetivas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se o tempo em pé no trabalho está associado com dor na coluna lombar e nos membros inferiores nos últimos sete dias e 12 meses em cuidadoras de idosos e trabalhadoras da limpeza. Trata-se de estudo transversal, em que o tempo em pé no trabalho foi quantificado por meio de inclinômetros fixados na coxa e na coluna vertebral, e os sintomas musculoesqueléticos foram avaliados por meio do Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares. Os dados foram analisados por meio da correlação ponto bisserial (rpb) entre o tempo em pé no trabalho e a presença de sintomas musculoesqueléticos. As análises foram realizadas por meio do software SPSS e o nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Verificou-se que as trabalhadoras passam a maior parte do tempo em pé paradas (41,3%) ou andando (39,3%). Houve correlação positiva entre a presença de sintoma na lombar e o tempo em pé (rpb=0,52; p<0,05) e correlação negativa entre o tempo andando e sintomas no quadril (rpb=−0,53; p<0,05) nos últimos 12 meses e o tempo correndo e sintomas no quadril (rpb=−0,43; p<0,05) e na coluna lombar (rpb=−0,43; p<0,05) nos últimos sete dias. O maior tempo em pé foi correlacionado com a presença de sintomas na lombar; enquanto o menor tempo andando e correndo foram correlacionados com a presença de sintomas no quadril e na coluna lombar.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Caring Behaviors among Nursing Staff in Greek Hospitals: a Prospective Multicenter Study

Introduction:Care delivery from nursing staff to patients in hospital environment may involve the exertion of considerable muscular force and, as a result, there is a consequent risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the relationship between reported MSDs and perceived caring behaviors among nursing staff. Methods: A total of 250 questionnaires were completed in three Greek hospitals during February and March 2019. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for the evaluation of MSDs and the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) for the assessment of caring behaviors were used. Results:A total of 185 participants (74%) were found to have at least one MSD. Back (64.3%), neck (63.2%) and shoulder (58.4%) pain were the most commonly reported MSDs. The mean score on the CBI-24 scale was 5.06 (SD=0.51) and the mean "Connectedness" dimension was 4.59 (SD=0.74). Elbow MSDs were significantly associated with the lowest score in the "Knowledge and skills" dimension (p=0.024) and the lowest overall nursing score (p=0.048). Linear regression analysis showed that the lowest nursing care score was associated with left-handed nurses (p=0.008) of low hierarchical position (p=0.013), suffering from elbow MSDs (p=0.002), for which they did not seek treatment (p=0.023). Participants who continued to work on a regular basis despite MSDs showed a lower score on the dimensions of "Respectful" (p=0.05) and "Connectedness" (p=0.01). Conclusion:The nursing staff showed high percentage of MSDs that negatively affected their perceived dimensions of caring behaviors. These findings could be used to prevent and deal with work-related MSDs, reduce occupational hazards and improve hospital patient care.

Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders: Psychological and Physical Risk Factors

Purpose—This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of MSD pain in various anatomical regions among nurses. Method—A cross-sectional study involving a self-administered questionnaire by registered nurses with clinical experience. Data was collected using convenience sampling after obtaining informed consent. The results were drawn from a total of 300 nurses. Results—The nurses presented with occasional mental exhaustion (44.3%) and often physical exhaustion (44.0%). Almost all (97.3%) the nurses complained of having work-related pain during the last 12 months. Body parts with the most pain were the lower back (86.7%), ankles (86.7%), neck (86.0%), shoulders (85.0%), lower legs (84.7%) and upper back (84.3%). The pain frequency was rated as occasional pain for the neck and upper back, pain was often felt for the rest of the parts. Nurses complained of severe pain in the lower back (19.7%), right shoulder (29.7%) and left shoulder (30.3%). The frequency of having musculoskeletal symptoms in any body region was increased with age, lower education level, female gender, high BMI, job tenure and lifestyle. Conclusions—Nurses’ WRMSD complaints should be taken seriously to curb further risk and musculoskeletal hazards.

Foot Disorders in Nursing Standing Environments: A Scoping Review Protocol

Musculoskeletal disorders can be significantly disabling, particularly those related to work, when the underlying mechanisms and clinical variables are not well known and understood. Nurses usually remain in standing positions or walk for long periods, thus increasing the risk for the development of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly on the foot, such as plantar fasciitis or edema. This type of disorders is a major cause of sickness, absence from work, and also dropout ratios among nursing students, which contributes to the shortage of nursing professionals. This review will address foot disorders that arise from prolonged standing in nursing professionals and describe the main clinical parameters characterizing them, with exclusions for other health professions or disorders with other identified causes. English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish published studies from 1970 to the current year will be considered. The review will follow the JBI methodology, mainly though the PCC mnemonic, and the reporting guidelines for Scoping Reviews. The search will include main databases and relevant scientific repositories. Two independent reviewers will analyze the titles, abstracts, and full texts. A tool developed by the research team will aid in the data collection.

A Rasch analysis of the self-administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument (S-FHAI)

Background

Reliable and valid measurement is the foundation of evidence-based practice. The self-administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument (S-FHAI) was recently developed to measure patients’ evaluations of their own foot health. Evidence regarding the psychometric properties of the S-FHAI is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate those properties by using a Rasch analysis.

Methods

This methodological study analysed secondary data that was collected from nurses (n = 411) in 2015. The psychometric properties of the S-FHAI were evaluated using the Rasch model. Unidimensionality was analysed first, followed by item functioning, person misfit and differential item functioning (DIF).

Results

The S-FHAI demonstrated evidence of unidimensionality, with an acceptable item fit according to the Rasch model. Person fit and person separation were low, however, indicating restricted separation among different respondents. Item separation was high, demonstrating clear discrimination between the items. No DIF was detected in relation to gender, but significant DIF was demonstrated in relation to age for 6 of the 25 items.

Conclusions

The S-FHAI has potential for use in investigating self-reported foot health. The Rasch analysis revealed that the psychometric properties of the instrument were acceptable, although some issues should be addressed to improve the scale. In future, it may be beneficial to analyse the sensitivity of the items and to test the S-FHAI in more diverse patient populations.

The Prevalence and Factors Associated with Musculoskeletal Pain Among Pilgrims During the Hajj

Background

Musculoskeletal pain is a primary burden on individuals as well as social and health care systems. Annually, 2-3 million pilgrims perform the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is highly physically demanding because pilgrims generally move by foot for long distances among a series of religious sites, an effort that may exceed their typical levels of physical activity. To understand the impact of musculoskeletal pain on the completion of the Hajj, it is first necessary to evaluate the extent of the problem. Accordingly, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors among pilgrims during the Hajj.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the period of the Hajj. The participants were adult pilgrims ≥ 18 years of age. Data regarding demographics, the prevalence of falls and the point prevalence of musculoskeletal pain by anatomical site were recorded. Participants were allowed to report more than one site of pain. Prevalence, crude and adjusted risk ratios were calculated.

Results

A total of 1715 pilgrims were included in the analysis. The prevalence of falls was 13.76%. The prevalence of overall musculoskeletal pain (pain at any site) was 80.46%. Musculoskeletal pain was most commonly reported in the ankle/foot (38.34%), leg (29.89%), lower back (28.47%) and knee (21.84%). In general, musculoskeletal pain at multiple sites was more common in females and in older and obese individuals. However, there were variations in the importance of sex, age and body mass index as associated factors across different pain sites.

Conclusion

Musculoskeletal pain is common among pilgrims. Unlike most populations examined in other studies, ankle/foot pain was the most common in pilgrims. These data provide guidance for potential preventative programs and the allocation of resources to optimize pilgrims' experiences and ability to complete the Hajj.

Ankle and Foot Pain and Associated Factors Among Nurses at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Ankle–foot pain is a significant public health problem in nurse professionals and has great burdens to the individuals, healthcare systems, and community at large. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of ankle–foot pain and its associated factors among nurses in Ethiopia. Thus, the finding of this study will help to address health problems resulting from ankle–foot pain among nurses.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of ankle–s–foot pain among nurse working in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Patients and Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 366 nurses, and a simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. Data were collected by using a self-administered adapted standardized Nordic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a bivariate logistic regression model were done to identify factors associated with ankle–foot pain. Those variables with a P-value less than 0.05 with 95% CI in multivariate model were taken as statistically significant. Finally, AOR with 95% confidence interval at a P-value of <0.05 was reported.

Results

The prevalence of self-reported ankle–foot pain among nurses was 43.7% (95% CI=38.5–49.1). Older age (AOR=7.669, 95% CI=2.316−25.390), low shoe comfort (AOR=4.215, 95% CI=2.031–8.745), multiple foot conditions (AOR=6.102 95% CI=1.959–19.008), working night shifts (AOR=2.047, 95% CI=1.098−3.816), high physical demand (AOR=3.487, 95% CI=1.988–6.116), and nurses working in the intensive care unit (AOR=2.402, 95% CI=1.219–4.732) showed a statistically significant association with ankle–foot pain.

Conclusion

This study indicated that the prevalence of ankle–foot pain is commonly reported among nurses working in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Therefore, awareness and prevention of ankle and foot pain in nurses should be prioritized to reducing risk factors. Nurses should give attention to comfortable footwear, and further longitudinal research is recommended.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders amongst undergraduate nursing students at the University of Johannesburg

Background

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) present as pain or discomfort in the musculoskeletal system that individuals experience from work-related activities. Substantial research evidence exists on qualified nurses with WRMSDs, but there is a distinct lack of research regarding nursing students and their work environment in South Africa.

Aim

The primary aim of this study was to establish a baseline prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) amongst undergraduate nursing students. The secondary aim was to identify the role of certain occupational and biopsychosocial factors in the development of MSDs.

Setting

The University of Johannesburg, Health Sciences Faculty, Doornfontein Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Method

A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted through a questionnaire (from 24 June to 29 July 2019) was initiated amongst the undergraduate nursing students at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. All 250 undergraduate nursing students were given the opportunity to participate by completing the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire-Extended (NMQ-E). A total of 125 questionnaires were collected and used in the study. Data analysis consisted of frequencies, descriptives and custom tables. The Chi-square test for association was used to test the associations between variables.

Results

The study found an 83% prevalence of MSDs. Musculoskeletal disorders occurred most commonly in the lower back (81.1%), neck (65.9%) and shoulder (63.6%) regions. Factors that showed associations with overall MSDs were female gender (p = 0.002), height (p = 0.009) and studying at home (p = 0.040). Stress and tablet or smartphone use had significant associations with certain body regions.

Conclusion

The findings indicate a high prevalence of MSDs in undergraduate nursing students in this sample, substantially higher than in other similar studies in which lower back disorders were most prevalent.

A framework for studying risk factors for lower extremity musculoskeletal discomfort in nurses

Lower extremity musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) is prevalent, but understudied, in nurses. A comprehensive, theoretical, aetiological model of lower extremity work-related MSD in hospital in-patient staff nurses was developed through a review of the literature to provide a framework for aetiological and intervention research. The framework informed the design of a survey of 502 hospital staff nurses. Symptom prevalence ranged from 32% in hip/thigh to 59% in ankle/foot regions. Logistic regression modelling using survey data showed that different work and personal factors were associated with discomfort in different regions of the lower extremity. Individual factors (e.g. older age, higher BMI or having any foot condition), physical factors (e.g. higher frequency of patient handling), psychosocial factors (e.g. lower job satisfaction) were associated with discomfort in one or more parts of the lower extremity. Future research should target these factors for intervention, to attempt to reduce occurrence of lower extremity discomfort in nurses. Practitioner Summary: Practitioners may find useful the illustrated, theoretical aetiological model of factors that could influence the prevalence of lower extremity discomfort in nurses. The model could guide conversations with nurses and observational analyses of nursing work. The model and survey results may provide ideas for intervention exploration. Abbreviations: MSD: musculoskeletal discomfort; BMI: body mass index; MSK: musculoskeletal; ICU: intensive care unit; NLERF: nurses' lower extremity MSD risk factor; NASA-TLX: NASA-task load index.

The prevalence of foot pain and its associated factors among Saudi school teachers in Abha sector, Saudi Arabia

Background:

The heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg. Foot pain is not rare finding in the general population, particularly in older adults. The prevalence in adults ages ≥18 year's ranges from 17 to 24%. Heel pain is a general term used to describe pain and discomfort felt anywhere in or around the rear of the foot. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of heel and foot pain and their determinants among teachers in Abha sector.

Methodology:

A deceptive cross-sectional approach was applied for the current research. All accessible teachers working in governmental and private schools in Abha sector. To be included, teachers should be teaching but not in administrative positions, free of musculoskeletal disorders due to causes other than teaching. Teachers with foot congenital anomalies, newly employed teachers. A self-administered questionnaire was personally distributed to included school teachers in Abha sector. Questionnaires were distributed and collected on second day after being filled by teachers. Posterior HP health Survey questionnaire was used to assess foot and foot pain.

Results:

The study included 1,439 teachers from different districts of Abha sector with their ages ranged from 24 to 60 years old with mean age of 41 ± 9 years. Female teachers constituted 72.8% of the sample and teachers’ weight ranged from 45 to 185 kg with mean weight of 76.6 ± 18.2 kg. Exact of 85.5% of the teachers had foot pain during the last 12 months. Foot pain was mild among 17.3% of the teachers with foot pain and severe among 25.5% of them. Low back pain was recorded among 81% of the teachers followed with knee pain (62%), neck pain (58%), shoulder pain (55%), and wrist pain (28%).

Conclusions and Recommendations:

In conclusion, the study revealed that majority of teachers complained of foot pain. The pain was moderate especially after long standing. The pain was more among old aged teachers with high load of teaching sessions. The pain altered the traditional daily activities among majority of teachers but very few number who asked for medical consultation.

Predictors of musculoskeletal symptoms in radiology technologists in Austria, Europe

BACKGROUND

Musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are a major health problem in health professionals. However, there is very little evidence about predictors of MSS in the group of radiology technologists.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to identify prevalence and predictors of MSS in radiology technologists working in Austrian Hospitals.

METHODS

272 radiology technologists completed a self-report questionnaire including MSS, work demands, work strain and well-being (WHO-5 questionnaire).

RESULTS

Lower back pain and upper back pain are the most frequent MSS in radiology technologists. A high proportion of participants experience these symptoms every day (20.1% and 19.8%, respectively). Work strain, age and well-being were the best predictors for MSS in a regression model.

CONCLUSIONS

MSS is a major health issue for radiology technologist working in hospitals. Our results provide evidence for the assumption that psychological factors play an important role in development of MSS. Thus, beside physical health promotion programs (e.g. safe patient handling), psychological intervention may have positive effects on MSS.

The Effects of Multifaceted Ergonomic Interventions on Musculoskeletal Complaints in Intensive Care Units

Working at intensive care units (ICUs) is considered a risk factor for developing musculoskeletal complaints (MSC). This study was conducted between January 2017 and June 2019 in two ICUs of a university hospital. It was designed as a pre- and post-assessment of the intervention group (IG) (N = 27) compared with a control group (CG) (N = 23) to determine the effects of a multifaceted ergonomics intervention program in reducing MSC. The IG (N: 35) received a multifaceted ergonomic intervention program, which was implemented by an ERGO team over an 18 month period. Four ergonomic interventions were planned as follows: individual level interventions such as training; stretching exercises and motivation meetings; administrative intervention such as a daily 10 min stretching exercises break; engineering interventions such as lifting and usage of auxiliary devices. The CG (N:29) did not receive any intervention. Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to assess MSC in both groups. At the start of the intervention, both groups were similar concerning the number of visits to doctors due to MSC, the number of sick leave days, and total CMDQ scores (p > 0.05 for all). Two factor repeated ANOVA measures were performed for between-groups and within-group analyses. The mean of the initial CMSDQ total scores in both groups increased significantly in the 18th month (p < 0.001). However, the interaction effect of group and time (between and within factors) was not significant (p = 0.992). Work-related MSC is a common occupational health problem among nurses. This study showed that individual-level interventions are not likely to succeed in eliminating manual patient lifting by nurses. Our results suggested that interventions without administrative measures might have limited success

Work- and stress-related musculoskeletal and sleep disorders among health professionals: a cross-sectional study in a hospital setting in Switzerland

Background

Musculoskeletal and sleep disorders have been reported to be very common among health care and hospital workers and particularly nurses. They are assumed or found to be a result of psychological stress and/or physical strain or pain. However, no other study so far – at least in a hospital setting and for Switzerland – has considered and investigated musculoskeletal as well as sleep disorders in consequence of or rather in association with both physical workload and psychological stress.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey data of 1232 health professionals were used and analysed. Data were collected in 2015/16 among the health care workforces of three public hospitals and two rehabilitation clinics in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Musculoskeletal and sleep disorders were assessed by three items taken from the Swiss Health Survey, a 2-item measure of accumulated low back, back, neck and shoulder pain and a single-item measure of problems in getting to sleep or sleeping through. Stratified and adjusted bivariate logistic and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to calculate measures of association (adjusted odds ratios, z-standardized beta coefficients), to control for potential confounders, and to compare different health professions (nurses, physicians, therapists, other).

Results

Almost every fourth of the studied health professionals reported severe or even very severe musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and nearly every seventh severe sleep disorders (SDs). These prevalence rates were significantly or at least slightly higher among nurses than among physicians and other health care workers. General stress, work stress, physical effort at work, and particularly a painful or tiring posture at work were found to be clear and strong risk factors for MSDs, whereas only general and work-related stress were found to be significantly associated with SDs. There was no or only weak association between MSDs and SDs.

Conclusions

This study found MSDs to be largely a result of physical workload or rather poor posture at work and only secondarily a consequence of (general) stress, whereas SDs were revealed to be primarily a consequence of stress on and particularly off the job. Preventive strategies therefore have to differentiate and combine measures for the reduction of both psychological stress and physical strain.

Association of trajectory of body mass index with knee pain risk in Japanese middle-aged women in a prospective cohort study: the Japan Nurses' Health Study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether body mass index (BMI) trajectory, lifestyle and reproductive factors are associated with knee pain risk among middle-aged women.

DESIGN

Prospective study of the Japan Nurses' Health Study (JNHS).

SETTING

The JNHS investigates the health of female nurses in Japan. Biennial follow-up questionnaires are mailed to the participants.

PARTICIPANTS

The 7434 women aged over 40 years who responded to the 10-year self-administered follow-up questionnaire.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE

Self-reported knee pain at the 10-year follow-up was the primary outcome. We analysed BMI (normal or overweight) trajectory data from a baseline survey to the 10-year follow-up survey using group-based trajectory modelling. Exposure measurements were BMI trajectory, BMI at age 18 years, lifestyle variables and reproductive history.

RESULTS

BMI trajectories from baseline to the 10-year follow-up were divided into four groups: remained normal, remained overweight, gained weight or lost weight. At the 10-year follow-up, 1281 women (17.2%) reported knee pain. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with the remained normal group, multivariable-adjusted ORs (95% CI) of knee pain were 1.93 (1.60 to 2.33) for the remained overweight group, 1.60 (1.23 to 2.08) for the gained weight group and 1.40 (0.88 to 2.21) for the lost weight group. The attributable risk percent (95% CI) of the remained overweight group was 48.1% (37.3% to 57.0%) compared with the reference group of remained normal. Alcohol intake at baseline was significantly associated with knee pain.

CONCLUSIONS

The lost weight group had a lower risk than the remained overweight group and the gained weight group and did not carry statistically significant risks for knee pain. Weight reduction and maintaining a normal BMI in middle age was important for preventing knee pain in women.

Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among haemodialysis nurses - a comparison between Danish and Swedish samples

Objective. The repetitiveness of priming and dismantling disposables for haemodialysis treatments might be an important contributor to musculoskeletal complaints. The objective was therefore to compare the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among haemodialysis nurses in Denmark and Sweden. Methods. For this cross-sectional study, nurses were recruited from haemodialysis centres in Denmark (n = 194) and Sweden (n = 351). Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints was evaluated using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. Results. The percentage of nurses reporting musculoskeletal complaints from at least one part of their body was 90.2% in the Danish sample and 88.9% in the Swedish sample. The anatomical locations with the most complaints were the neck, lower back and hands. Except for the proportion of complaints concerning the neck, there were no differences between the countries. Absenteeism from work was mostly due to complaints regarding the hands. Conclusion. The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints seems to be higher among haemodialysis nurses than among nurses in general. Because complaints concerning the hands are common, and also related to absenteeism from work, it is of particular importance that manufacturers of dialysis equipment and nurse managers acknowledge these occupational health and safety hazards in their efforts to create a good work environment.

Attitude and behavior of clinical nurse towards self-health care: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Researches focus on the risk factors affecting the health of nurses have been amounting. However, the specific factors about nurse' attitude to health and health-seeking behavior pattern are not well explored.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent out to all 620 nurses in department of surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) and demographic information, educational background, clinical experience, and attitude to the disease were investigated.

Results

The survey indicated that 44.44% (N=212) of respondents did not consult physician. Instead, they self-managed their illness, with 60.38% (N=128) of non-consulters taking some medications. Education background (P=0.027) and income (P=0.010) were found to be the main factor affecting whether a doctor was consulted. Those who self-evaluated with well physical condition show higher strict compliance (55.00% vs. 41.64%), lower discount-compliance (43.75% vs. 56.15%), and lower total ignorance (1.25% vs. 2.21%), compared with those who self-evaluated not well (P=0.020). The respondents who thought the work stress was the influencing factor to the health were more likely to feedback a poor health status, worry about their health, fear to suffer from a disease, and complain about suffering from pain or discomfort.

Conclusions

Half of nurses self-treat, with a large proportion self-prescribing, and do not believe in or comply with the doctor's advice, which warrant a closer look.

Stability of Three Different Sanitary Shoes on Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The main purpose of this research was to determine the stability of three different sanitary shoes on nurses with eyes open and closed with respect to barefoot condition. In addition, the secondary aim was to determine the reliability of stability measurements under these different conditions. Methods: A crossover quasi-experimental study (NCT03764332) was performed. Twenty-six nurses who wore different sanitary shoes (Eva Plus Ultralight^®, Gym Step^® and Milan-SCL Liso^®) were evaluated with respect to barefoot condition for stability measures on the Podoprint^® podobarometric and stabilometry tool and with eyes open and closed. Furthermore, the reliability of stability measurements was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) under these different conditions. Results: Between-groups comparisons of the static and stabilometry podobarometric data with eyes open showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Milan-SCL Liso^® sanitary shoes improved podobarometric data of forefoot force and distribution with respect to barefoot condition. Eva Plus Ultralight^® and Gym Step^® sanitary shoes increased the stroke length mean, stroke surface mean, and anterior speed mean as well as reduced y axis displacement mean with respect to barefoot condition. Similar findings were determined for measurements with eyes closed. ICCs ranged from poor to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.010–0.995). Conclusions: Sanitary shoes improved podobarometric and stabilometry stability with respect to barefoot condition.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Associated Factors in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran

BACKGROUND

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in nursing are regarded as an important factor for creating tension since they may often cause discontent, leave profession, and provide incorrect services to their clients. The present study aimed to determine WMSDs and their related factors among the nursing staff in university hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).

METHODS

In the present descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 nurses in SUMS were selected based on systematic random sampling. To this aim, demographic information, and Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaires were used for data collection. The data were analysed by descriptive and analytical tests (mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, and ANOVA) by SPSS/21 software.

RESULTS

Based on the findings of WMSDs, low back disorders (88.33%) were more prevalent. In addition, a significant relationship was observed between WMSDs in different areas of the body with age, sex, and work experience and hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Regarding the high prevalence of WMSDs among nurses, it is recommended to adopt interventional program for preventing WMSDs by reducing working hours and physical pressure control.

Emotional Distress as a Predictor of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Malaysian Nursing Professionals

Background:

Emotional distress is becoming a great concern and is more common in both developed and developing countries. It is associated with several disease conditions.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of self-perceived emotional distress and its relation to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in nurses.

Methods:

A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out on 660 female nurses working in public hospitals in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The validated Malay version of the standardized Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (M-SNMQ) was used to identify the annual prevalence of WRMSDs; perceived emotional distress was assessed using the validated Malay short version, depression, anxiety, and stress (M-DASS) instrument. In addition, socio-demographic and occupational profiles of the participants were considered. Factors associated with WRMSDs were identified using logistic regression analysis.

Results:

A total of 376 nurses completed the survey (response rate 83.3%). 73.1% of the nursing staffs experienced WRMSDs in at least one anatomical site 12 months prior to the study. 75% of nurses expressed emotional distress. Of these, over half also reported anxiety and stress. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that stress and anxiety significantly increased the risk of WRMSDs by approximately twofold.

Conclusion:

There were significant associations between emotional distress and WRMSDs. Future longitudinal studies are therefore needed to investigate and identify the sources of emotional distress (non-occupational and occupational) to be used to establish preventive strategies to reduce the risk of WRMSDs.

Prevalence and associated factors of foot and ankle pain among nurses at a university hospital in Japan: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

The purposes of this study were to clarify 1) the prevalence of foot and ankle pain and 2) the factors associated with foot and ankle pain among nurses.

METHODS

Nurses working at a university hospital in Japan were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The occurrence of foot and ankle pain in the previous month was assessed by using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index. Subjects also answered questions on footwear-related factors, including using the visual analog scale for shoe comfort. In addition, information on personal factors and psychosocial factors was collected using the Job Content Questionnaire. The relationships between the presence of foot and ankle pain and the associated factors were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Responses of 636 nurses (response rate, 67%) were included for analysis. The prevalence of foot and ankle pain was 23% and 51% when using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index, respectively. The prevalence of pain that prevented the nurses from performing activities of daily living and work was 4% and 17%, respectively. A low level of shoe comfort, personal factors (age and body mass index), and psychosocial factors (low job control and high job strain) was independently associated with the presence of foot and ankle pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot and ankle pain occurred frequently in nurses. Shoe comfort, personal factors, and psychosocial factors were associated with foot and ankle pain.

Musculoskeletal Disorders as Common Problems among Iranian Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study

BACKGROUND

Considering the importance of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) as one of the health consequences of job stress among nurses and significant contradictions in prevalence in different parts of the body, this study was carried out to determine the prevalence of MSDs among Iranian nurses.

METHODS

All published studies from June 2000 until June 2015 were considered in reliable databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Google search, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Persian databases such as SID, Iran Medex, and Magiran. These studies, after quality control, were entered into meta-analysis using the random effects model, a total of 41 papers were assessed between 2004 and 2015.

RESULTS

The prevalence rate of these disorders was 60.98%, 47.76%, 46.53%, 44.64%, 42.8%, 36.8%, 24.61%, and 17.5%, respectively, obtained for the back, neck, knees, upper back, ankles, shoulders, hands, hips, thighs, and elbows. Prevalence of MSDs will lead to high costs of medical, absenteeism from work, or even unemployment.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to high prevalence of these disorders among Iranian nurses, providing effective training in the field of ergonomics and undergoing appropriate exercises are necessary to control it.

Obesity prevalence among healthcare professionals in England: a cross-sectional study using the Health Survey for England

OBJECTIVE

To estimate obesity prevalence among healthcare professionals in England and compare prevalence with those working outside of the health services.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study based on data from 5 years (2008-2012) of the nationally representative Health Survey for England.

SETTING

England.

PARTICIPANTS

20 103 adults aged 17-65 years indicating they were economically active at the time of survey classified into four occupational groups: nurses (n=422), other healthcare professionals (n=412), unregistered care workers (n=736) and individuals employed in non-health-related occupations (n=18 533).

OUTCOME MEASURE

Prevalence of obesity defined as body mass index ≥30.0 with 95% CIs and weighted to reflect the population.

RESULTS

Obesity prevalence was high across all occupational groups including: among nurses (25.1%, 95% CI 20.9% to 29.4%); other healthcare professionals (14.4%, 95% CI 11.0% to 17.8%); non-health-related occupations (23.5%, 95% CI 22.9% to 24.1%); and unregistered care workers who had the highest prevalence of obesity (31.9%, 95% CI 28.4% to 35.3%). A logistic regression model adjusted for sociodemographic composition and survey year indicated that, compared with nurses, the odds of being obese were significantly lower for other healthcare professionals (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.52, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.75) and higher for unregistered care workers (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.93). There was no significant difference in obesity prevalence between nurses and people working in non-health-related occupations (aOR 0.94, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.18).

CONCLUSIONS

High obesity prevalence among nurses and unregistered care workers is concerning as it increases the risks of musculoskeletal conditions and mental health conditions that are the main causes of sickness absence in health services. Further research is required to better understand the reasons for high obesity prevalence among healthcare professionals in England to inform interventions to support individuals to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

A survey of the prevalence of fatigue, its precursors and individual coping mechanisms among U.S. manufacturing workers

Advanced manufacturing has resulted in significant changes on the shop-floor, influencing work demands and the working environment. The corresponding safety-related effects, including fatigue, have not been captured on an industry-wide scale. This paper presents results of a survey of U.S. manufacturing workers for the: prevalence of fatigue, its root causes and significant factors, and adopted individual fatigue coping methods. The responses from 451 manufacturing employees were analyzed using descriptive data analysis, bivariate analysis and Market Basket Analysis. 57.9% of respondents indicated that they were somewhat fatigued during the past week. They reported the ankles/feet, lower back and eyes were frequently affected body parts and a lack of sleep, work stress and shift schedule were top selected root causes for fatigue. In order to respond to fatigue when it is present, respondents reported coping by drinking caffeinated drinks, stretching/doing exercises and talking with coworkers. Frequent combinations of fatigue causes and individual coping methods were identified. These results may inform the design of fatigue monitoring and mitigation strategies and future research related to fatigue development.

Nurses' Perceptions of Their Foot Health: Implications for Occupational Health Care

Nursing practice includes static standing and much walking causing strains to lower extremities. However, little is known about nurses' foot health and particularly their perceptions of their foot health. Therefore, in this study operating room nurses' perceptions of their foot health was investigated and promoting and hindering factors were identified. In total, 14 operating room nurses participated in in-depth interviews. The informants regarded foot health as part of general health and moreover a significant part of work well-being. Promoting factors for foot health were activity in sports and foot self-care as well as varying work conditions and seeing patients with severe foot conditions which served as a motivating factor to care for their own feet. On the contrary, hindering factors were unsuitable footwear, constant standing, and lack of motivation to care for their own feet. Based on this study, nurses' value their foot health which should be promoted. Nurses could benefit from annual foot health assessments and foot self-care education provided by occupational health professionals.

Foot health of nurses-A cross-sectional study

AIM

To analyze the level of nurses' foot health and its associations with work well-being.

METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional study design was applied to a random sample of Finnish nurses (n = 411). The data were collected between May 18 and June 21, 2015 using a self-administered Foot Health Assessment Instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics and parametric tests.

RESULTS

Nurses had a variety of foot problems. Dry skin, foot pain, and corns or calluses were the most prevalent foot problems. Long-term diseases, the need for a physician's appointment due to foot problems, and decreased working ability were all associated with foot health. This finding was also supported by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Foot problems are common among nurses and are associated with individual and work-related factors. Prevention of foot problems in nurses should be prioritized to promote their working ability and predisposing factors identified as potential intervention targets.

Reference values and factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in healthy adolescents and adults

BACKGROUND

Insufficient attention has been given to individuals who report musculoskeletal symptoms yet experience minimal disability.

OBJECTIVES

To examine musculoskeletal symptoms among healthy individuals, and compare demographic, psychological and physical factors between individuals with and without symptoms.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

METHOD

Data were from the 1000 Norms Project which recruited 1000 individuals aged 3-101 years. Participants were healthy by self-report and had no major physical disability. Musculoskeletal symptoms (ache/pain/discomfort, including single-site and multi-site symptoms) were assessed in adolescents (11-17y) and adults (18-101y) using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E). To compare individuals with single-site, multi-site and no symptoms, body mass index, grip strength, 6-min walk, 30-s chair stand and timed up-and-down stairs (all participants), and mental health, sleep difficulties, self-efficacy and physical activity (adults), were collected.

RESULTS

/findings: Socio-demographic characteristics were similar to the Australian population. Twelve-month period prevalence of all symptoms was 69-82%; point prevalence was 23-39%. Adults with single-site symptoms were more likely to be overweight/obese and had lower sit-to-stand and stair-climbing performance (p < 0.05). Adults with multi-site symptoms were more likely to be female and overweight/obese, had lower mental health, greater sleep difficulties and lower grip strength, 6-min walk and sit-to-stand performance (p < 0.05). Differences were only observed among 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and 80-101 year-olds.

CONCLUSIONS

Normative reference data for the NMQ-E have been generated. Musculoskeletal symptoms are common among healthy individuals. In older adults, musculoskeletal symptoms are linked with overweight/obesity, lower mental health, sleep difficulties and lower physical performance, emphasising the importance of multi-dimensional assessments in musculoskeletal disorders.

Understanding perceived determinants of nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour: a theory-informed qualitative interview study

BACKGROUND

Unhealthy eating and physical activity behaviours are common among nurses but little is known about determinants of eating and physical activity behaviour in this population. The present study used a theoretical framework which summarises the many possible determinants of different health behaviours (the Theoretical Domains Framework; TDF) to systematically explore the most salient determinants of unhealthy eating and physical activity behaviour in hospital-based nurses.

METHODS

Semi-structured qualitative interviews based on the TDF were conducted with nurses (n = 16) to explore factors that behavioural theories suggest may influence nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. Important determinants of the target behaviours were identified using both inductive coding (of categories emerging from the data) and deductive coding (of categories derived from the TDF) of the qualitative data.

RESULTS

Thirteen of the fourteen domains in the TDF were found to influence nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. Within these domains, important barriers to engaging in healthy eating and physical activity behaviour were shift work, fatigue, stress, beliefs about negative consequences, the behaviours of family and friends and lack of planning. Important factors reported to enable engagement with healthy eating and physical activity behaviours were beliefs about benefits, the use of self-monitoring strategies, support from work colleagues, confidence, shift work, awareness of useful guidelines and strategies, good mood, future holidays and receiving compliments.

CONCLUSIONS

This study used a theory-informed approach by applying the TDF to identify the key perceived determinants of nurses' eating and physical activity behaviour. The findings suggest that future efforts to change nurses' eating and physical activity behaviours should consider targeting a broad range of environmental, interpersonal and intrapersonal level factors, consistent with a socio-ecological perspective.

OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND DISSATISFACTION WITH QUALITY OF WORK LIFE IN NURSING

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the association between occupational stress, quality of work life and associated factors among nursing workers. Method: 309 nursing workers of a public general hospital participated in this cross-sectional study. The Total Quality of Work Life and the Job Stress Scale instruments were used to evaluate the quality of work life and occupational stress, respectively. Results: associations were estimated using Poisson regression analysis combined with robust variance. We found association between dissatisfaction with quality of work life and smoking (PR=1.53; 95%CI: 1.02-2.31), work at the care units for highly dependent or critically ill patients (PR=2.47; 95%CI: 1.18-5.19), low social support at work (PR=1.76; 95%CI: 1.29-2.40) and the quadrants of the demand-control model "active job" (PR=1.74; 95%CI: 1.04-2.92) and "high-strain job" (PR=2.54; 95%CI: 1.51-4.27) . Conclusion: these results may help the hospital and nursing managers to develop and implement strategies in order to reduce excessive demands and work overload and increase social support among the nursing staff.

Working postures and physical activity among registered nurses

Nurses report a high prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly of the low back and neck/shoulder. This study characterized the full-shift upper arm and trunk postures and movement velocities of registered nurses using inertial measurement units (IMUs). Intensity of occupational physical activity (PA) was also ascertained using a waist-worn PA monitor and using the raw acceleration data from each IMU. Results indicated that nurses spent a relatively small proportion of their work time with the arms or trunk in extreme postures, but had few opportunities for rest and recovery in comparison to several other occupational groups. Comparisons between nurses in different PA groups suggested that using a combination of accelerometers secured to several body locations may provide more representative estimates of physical demands than a single, waist-worn PA monitor. The findings indicate a need for continued field-based research with larger sample sizes to facilitate the development of maximally effective intervention strategies.

The Impact of Arts Activity on Nursing Staff Well-Being: An Intervention in the Workplace

Over 59 million workers are employed in the healthcare sector globally, with a daily risk of being exposed to a complex variety of health and safety hazards. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of arts activity on the well-being of nursing staff. During October-December 2014, 115 nursing staff working in a hospital, took part in this study, which lasted for 10 weeks. The intervention group (n = 56) took part in silk painting activities once a week. Data was collected using socio-demographic questions, the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire, Reeder stress scale, and Multidimensional fatigue inventory (before and after art activities in both groups). Statistical data analysis included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation), non-parametric statistics analysis (Man Whitney U Test; Wilcoxon signed-ranks test), Fisher's exact test and reliability analysis (Cronbach's Alpha). The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. In the intervention group, there was a tendency for participation in arts activity having a positive impact on their general health and mental well-being, reducing stress and fatigue, awaking creativity and increasing a sense of community at work. The control group did not show any improvements. Of the intervention group 93% reported enjoyment, with 75% aspiring to continue arts activity in the future. This research suggests that arts activity, as a workplace intervention, can be used to promote nursing staff well-being at work.

Musculoskeletal Disorders and Health Profile of Continuing Care Aides

The aim was to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and health profile among urban versus rural continuing care aides (CCAs) in Canada. This cross-sectional study of 42 urban and rural CCAs assessed WMSDs and health profiles using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and a health background questionnaire. CCAs were generally unhealthy, with rural CCAs somewhat healthier. Greatest WMSD complaint was reported at the neck. Urban CCAs were more likely to report foot complaints ( p < .05). No other statistically significant differences were found. Back and shoulder scores were correlated with poorer nutrition status, higher body mass index, and more years worked. Workplace wellness programs should address the health issues faced by CCAs through active surveillance and practical interventions to improve CCAs’ health status, prevent and manage WMSDs, and lost workdays.

Lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders in nurses: A narrative literature review

AIMS

The aim of the narrative review was to describe and analyze lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in nurses and to identify factors associated with these disorders. The ultimate goal was to promote lower extremity health in nurses by recognizing factors that could improve their well-being at work.

METHODS

A systematic search on the Medline, CINAHL, and PsychInfo databases was conducted, producing altogether 945 citations, of which 35 were selected for this review. The studies were analyzed by content analysis.

RESULTS

Nurses have different MSDs in their lower extremities, with which the knee, foot, and ankle being most commonly affected. These problems are often correlated, and problems in the ankle can first appear as knee problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Musculoskeletal disorders in lower extremities and their resulting disability are common within the nursing workforce worldwide, representing a major cause of sick leave absence and often leading to long-term absence.

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders for Nurses in Hospitals, Long-Term Care Facilities, and Home Health Care: A Comprehensive Review

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and reported injuries for nurses and nursing aides.

BACKGROUND

Nurses and nursing aides suffer from work-related pain and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Although there have been a plethora of studies on MSDs, an overall understanding of the prevalence of MSDs and pain can lead to better prioritization of research needs with respect to the health care industry.

METHOD

A total of 132 articles on prevalence of MSD pain and injuries were included in the review. All articles were published in peer-reviewed English-speaking journals and subjected to a quality review.

RESULTS

Reported prevalence of MSD pain for nurses and nursing aides was highest in the low back, followed by shoulders and neck. However, the majority of the studies have been concentrated on 12-month pain in the low back and predominantly in hospitals. Few researchers have investigated pain in the upper and lower extremities (less than 27% of the studies). Even fewer researchers have evaluated reported injuries or even subjective lost-time injuries (less than 15% of the studies).

CONCLUSION

MSD pain in the nursing profession has been widely investigated worldwide, with a major focus on low-back pain. Given new directions in health care, such as patients who live longer with more chronic diseases, bariatric patients, early mobility requirements, and those who want to be at home during sickness, higher prevalence levels may shift to different populations--home health care workers, long-term care workers, and physical therapists--as well as shift to different body regions, such as shoulders and upper extremities.