Epidemiology of low back pain in the nurses of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Low back pain (LBP) caused by heavy workload or unsuitable work postures not only bothers a great number of persons but also presents a great challenge to the medical profession. This study attempts to analyze the related factors of LBP in nurses from the view of epidemiology, so as to offer a reference in the designing/redesigning of nurses' work and training programs. In this study, 3,212 nurses were surveyed in November 1991. Only 3,159 copies of the questionnaire were valid for investigation; of these, 89.8% were from registered nurses, 6% were from nursing assistants, and 4.2% were from head nurses. Among them, 82.2% were still single, 17.8% were married. Their average age was 25.2 +/- 3.9 years, and they had worked in nursing for an average of 3.9 +/- 3.6 years. Those who worked in the Taipei area and the neurological department were more aware of "low back health care," as well as those who were head nurses and those who had graduated from university. Head nurses had better postures in their daily activities than staff nurses. Head nurses and nurses working in ICUs, and those who were married and had borne children or had a history of abortion had higher incidence of LBP. The risk factors of LBP were related to the age, height, body weight, duration of work, working habits and sitting posture. LBP occurs as frequently as 77.9% in the nursing profession. The causes of LBP were mostly induced by lifting heavy objects (65%) and prolonged sitting (39%). For LBP treatment, physical therapy was the nurses' first choice, and operation was the last choice.