Relationship Between Low Back Pain And Work-Place Functioning Of Nurses At A Tertiary Hospital In North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among nurses and the relationship between LBP and work place performance, as measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI), of nurses at a tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital based study was carried out with structured questionnaires administered to 204 randomly selected, eligible, consenting nurses between August-November 2011. The questionnaires sought sociodemographic data and the Work Ability Index (WAI). Results: Results were analysed with Epi info version 3.3.2 statistical software. The prevalence of low back pain among nurses was 70.1%. Nurses without low back pain had better WAI score than nurses with back pain (Mean WAI score: 43.6±4.55 vs 41.2±4.65, p = 0.0007). The duration of low back pain was inversely related to the mean WAI scores (r = –0.84, p= 0.0004). The regression relationship derived showed that for every unit change in the duration of low back pain, the mean WAI changed by 6.45 units (y = 39.78 + 6.453x; R2 = 0.761). The duration of LBP accounted for 76% of variability in the mean WAI score. Conclusion: Physicians attending to hospital staff in outpatient departments need to be aware of the high prevalence of low back pain among nurses and the negative impact on their workplace performance.