The experience of occupational back pain by the Maltese nursing workforce

Abstract

This study was motivated both by the high occurrence of occupational back pain within the nursing workforce, and the far reaching effects that this problem is known to have on this particular category of workers. A questionnaire was used to obtain demographic data about the nurses participating in the study, and information about particular attributes pertaining to these workers, including their disposition to use a hoist on a routine basis. An attempt was then made to establish whether a correlation existed between these attributes and the back pain experienced by these nurses, as revealed by the same questionnaire.

Results of the study indicate that Maltese nurses demonstrate a high occurrence of back pain (77% ), and, in conformity with the general trend, their commonest site of pain is the lower back. The fact that nursing courses have been raised to university level does not seem to have ameliorated the situation. Unfortunately, as many as three quarters of all participating nurses either Jo not have an available hoist by which to move and lift patients, or are not making routine use of such hoist, mainly because of the time required to operate it. It also results quite clearly, that the number of nurses experiencing back pain at a particular workplace is generally inversely proportional to the number of care givers at the same workplace. All this testifies to the urgent need of taking appropriate measures to ease the strain on the nurses' backs caused by the existing shortage of nurses, and investing in educational programmes for nurses that give due importance to skills training in handling and lifting. Furthermore, it is imperative that the risks of manual handling are assessed and controlled through the effective use of ergonomics, with the legal backing of regulations.