Factors associated with disabling low back pain among nursing personnel at a medical centre in Japan: a comparative cross-sectional survey

Takahiko Yoshimoto; Hiroyuki Oka; Shuhei Ishikawa; Akatsuki Kokaze; Shingo Muranaga; Ko Matsudaira

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032297

Factors associated with disabling low back pain among nursing personnel at a medical centre in Japan: a comparative cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open. 2019 Sep 27;9(9):e032297. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032297.

Authors

Takahiko Yoshimoto¹, Hiroyuki Oka², Shuhei Ishikawa³, Akatsuki Kokaze⁴, Shingo Muranaga³, Ko Matsudaira²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Hygiene, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Japan yoshimotota@gmail.com.
² Department of Medical Research and Management for Musculoskeletal Pain, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan.
³ Department of Rehabilitation, Kameda Medical Centre, Kamogawa, Japan.
⁴ Department of Hygiene, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Shinagawa-ku, Japan.

Abstract

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability among nursing personnel. Although many studies regarding the risk factors for LBP among nursing staff have focused on the physical load at work, multidimensional assessments of risk factors are essential to identify appropriate preventive strategies. We aimed to investigate the association of multidimensional factors (individual, physical, psychological and occupational) with disabling LBP among nursing personnel in Japan.

Design: Observational study with comparative cross-sectional design.

Setting: Data were collected using the self-administered questionnaire at a tertiary medical centre.

Participants: After excluding participants with missing variables, 718 nursing personnel were included in the analysis.

Outcome measures: A self-administered questionnaire assessed individual characteristics, rotating night shift data, severity of LBP, previous episode of LBP, sleep problem, kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia), depressive condition (K6), physical flexibility and frequency of lifting at work. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the factors associated with disabling LBP (LBP interfering with work) among nursing personnel.

Results: Of all participants, 110 (15.3%) reported having disabling LBP. The multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjustment for several confounding factors showed that kinesiophobia (highest tertile, adjusted OR (aOR): 6.13, 95% CI : 3.34 to 11.27), previous episode of LBP (aOR: 4.31, 95% CI: 1.50 to 12.41) and insomnia (aOR: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.05 to 2.62) were significantly associated with disabling LBP.

Conclusions: The present study indicated that kinesiophobia, a previous episode of LBP, and sleep problems were associated with disabling LBP among nursing personnel. In the future, workplace interventions considering assessments of these factors may reduce the incidence of disabling LBP in nursing staff, although further prospective studies are needed.

Keywords: kinesiophobia; low back pain; nurse; sleep.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disabled Persons / statistics & numerical data
Fear
Female
Humans
Japan
Low Back Pain / complications
Low Back Pain / epidemiology*
Low Back Pain / psychology
Male
Nursing Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
Occupational Injuries / complications
Occupational Injuries / epidemiology*
Occupational Injuries / psychology
Severity of Illness Index
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / complications
Surveys and Questionnaires