Prevalence and Risk Factors of Low Back Pain Among Nurses in Operating Rooms, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal disorder related to work status and condition. Low back pain is a complex condition with several factors contributing to its occurrence.

To estimate the prevalence, to identify risk factors, pattern and course of illness of LBP among nurses in operating rooms in Taif city, KSA.

Across-sectional followed by a nested case-control study was applied including nurses in operating rooms in Taif city, Saudi Arabia throughout the period January-June, 2011. Participants were divided into two groups: those with and without LBP. LBP was defined based on the following criteria: Experience pain, ache, or discomfort in his/her low back. Sample was chosen by using simple randomization technique. A pre-designed questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire included demographic data, work-related factors as well as experience of LBP.

The study included 126 health care workers in operating rooms, out of 200 invited to participate in the study, giving a response rate of 63%. The mean age was 34.03±8.02 years. Females represented 78.6% of the participants. Almost three-quarters of them were nurses (74.6%) while the remaining 25.4% were technicians. Almost half of the participants (n=61, 48.41%) in the current study complained of low back pain. Female participants complaining of low back pain were significantly more than male participants (p=0.002). There were no statistical significant differences between severity of pain score and variables of age, gender, work type, smoking, body mass index, duration of work and duration of pain (p >0.05).

LBP is a common health problem among health care workers working in operating room in Taif city. Back pain is a major cause of temporary disability. Low back pain is not a major cause of sickness absence in the workplace.