A Study on the Correlations between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work-Related Psychosocial Factors among Nursing Aides in Long-Term Care Facilities

Disclosing Strain: How Psychosocial Risk Factors Influence Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Healthcare Workers Preceding and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare workers, particularly nurses, engage in a daily work routine that takes a toll on their emotional well-being, rendering them vulnerable to psychosocial risk factors. This research seeks to analyse the influence of psychosocial risk factors on the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses. An additional analysis was performed to understand the role of age in work-related musculoskeletal disorders and the perception of psychosocial risk factors. The study was conducted during two separate periods-pre-pandemic and pandemic times-involving a sample of 456 nurses from both public and private hospitals in Portugal. The INSAT-Health and Work Survey-was used as measuring instrument. The primary observations indicated a consistency between psychosocial risk factors and the occurrence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The findings revealed a significant exposure to psychosocial risk factors, with work pace, intensity, work relationships, and emotional demands exhibiting higher global average percentages during both periods, pre-pandemic and pandemic. Nonetheless, we find that the psychosocial risk factors change when we analyse the pre-pandemic and pandemic results. During the period before the pandemic, the psychosocial risk factors that were most commonly reported included the demanding pace of work, long working hours, and emotional demands. Through the pandemic, the most pronounced psychosocial risk factors were work relationships, employment relationships, and ethical and values conflicts. Therefore, research in this domain is essential to understanding psychosocial risk factors and assessing the less obvious links between work and health.

Examining the Predictors of Turnover Behavior in Newly Employed Certified Nurse Aides: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background

The turnover rate of nurse aides in Taiwan is high. However, the predictors of turnover behavior in the newly employed are still unclear.

Objective

To examine the predictors of turnover behavior in newly employed licensed nurse aides.

Methods

A longitudinal study design was used and subjects were newly employed certified nurse aides from a nurse aid training association in Taiwan. A total of five questionnaire surveys were conducted. The questionnaire was mainly used to collect information on turnover behavior, personal socioeconomic background, workplace psychosocial hazards, worker health hazards, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Results

A total of 300 participants were recruited in the study. Cox regression analysis results showed that short working experience (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.21, p < 0.01), work as non-home nurse aides (HR = 0.58, p = 0.01), low monthly salary (HR = 0.68, p < 0.01), high work mental load (HR = 1.01, p = 0.01), low workplace justice (HR = 0.97, p < 0.01), high workplace violence (HR = 1.60, p < 0.01), high burnout (HR = 1.01, p = 0.04), poor mental health (HR = 1.06, p = 0.04), and high total number of musculoskeletal disorder sites (HR = 1.08, p = 0.01) contribute to a higher risk of turnover.

Conclusion

The results indicated that employment period, work as a home nurse aide, monthly salary, work mental load, workplace justice, workplace violence, work-related burnout, mental health, and total number of musculoskeletal disorder sites are predictors of turnover behavior in newly employed certified nurse aides.

Influence of Job Insecurity on Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Mediation Model with Nursing Aides

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are some of the most prevalent diseases in the world. They have a multifactorial aetiology encompassing ergonomic and psychosocial risk factors. The aim of this study is to analyse the way job insecurity and physical workload are linked to musculoskeletal disorders, as well as the mediating role other psychosocial work risks can have on this potential relationship. A parallel mediation path regression analysis was designed using a sample of 457 nursing aides. The influence job insecurity and physical workload has on the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms together with the variables which mediate this relationship were examined. The results prove that both independent variables explain the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms in these professionals. The influence exerted by job insecurity is mediated by the social support received at work and the demands of the job. However, when analysing the physical workload, the social support received at work is not relevant as a mediator in this relationship. Job insecurity and physical workload are significant variables on the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The data obtained supports the need to focus on physical and psychosocial factors in order to prevent these disorders.

The Role of Job Resources in the Relationship between Job Demands and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Hospital Nurses in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam

(1) Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the moderating effect of job resources (JR) in the relationship between job demands (JD) and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) among hospital nurses in the Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. (2) Methods: Data were collected via a self-reporting questionnaire administrated to 225 nurses from two hospitals in the Thua Thien Hue province of Vietnam from August to September 2020. The questionnaire included information on musculoskeletal symptoms, JD and JR, and the demographics and job characteristics of participants. The simple moderation analysis was used for data analysis. (3) Results: The findings indicated that 87.6% of nurses had experienced WRMSDs in at least one body region during the previous 12 months, with lower back (65.3%), neck (61.8%), and shoulders (61.8%) being the three most common sites. Physical workloads (PW) and psychological demands (PDs) were significantly correlated with WRMSDs severity (p < 0.05). This study further underlined the moderating role of coworker support (CS) on the relationship between PW and WRMSD severity. WRMSDs severity significantly increased when PW was high alongside a low level of CS. (4) Conclusions: The current study indicated that nurses should be provided with appropriate CS to minimize WRMSDs severity. Furthermore, an intervention program for managing WRMSDs in nurses may involve minimizing physical risk factors and PDs.