Sontis Nikolaos, Korompilias Anastasios, Pakos Aimilios, Gkiatas Ioannis, Gelalis Ioannis D
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, GRC.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 14;17(6):e86022. doi: 10.7759/cureus.86022. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WrMSDs) among nursing personnel have been recognized as one of the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of WrMSDs in a sample of nursing personnel, identify predictors of WrMSDs, and examine their effects on quality of life (QoL).
A cross-sectional design was adopted, and participants were full-time nursing personnel at five hospitals in northwestern Greece. Data included demographics, the RAND Short Form health survey (RAND SF-36) to measure the physical (Physical Component Score, PCS) and mental (Mental Component Score, MCS) components of QoL, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess WrMSDs. Data were analyzed descriptively to summarize main outcome measures, and linear models were used to estimate the effect of WrMSDs on QoL.
A total of 402 participants (n = 350 females) were included. WrMSDs were prevalent in 49.5% of participants (n = 199), with the lumbar spine being the most frequently affected site (56%). WrMSDs were most strongly associated with moving patients (p < 0.001), lifting or carrying objects from the ground (p < 0.001), and the degree or intensity of heavy object lifting (p = 0.002). Nursing personnel with a WrMSD diagnosis had an average PCS score that was 5.7 points lower (95% CI: -7.4 to -4.1; p < 0.001) than those without a WrMSD diagnosis. Participants with 20-24 and >25 years of working experience had PCS scores 5.9 (95% CI: -9.1 to -2.6; p < 0.001) and 6.6 (95% CI: -9.7 to -3.5; p < 0.001) points lower, respectively, than those with <5 years of experience. Nurses and nursing supervisors/assistant supervisors had PCS scores 3.1 (95% CI: 1.3 to 4.9; p < 0.001) and 4.1 (95% CI: 0.9 to 7.3; p < 0.001) points higher, respectively, than nursing assistants. Participants with a 20-minute break had an MCS score 4.3 points higher (95% CI: 0.4 to 8.2; p = 0.032) than those with no break. Participants from GHF hospital had MCS scores 5.8 points lower (95% CI: -9.2 to -2.3; p < 0.001) than those from the University Hospital of Ioannina (UHI).
Nearly half of the participants were diagnosed with WrMSDs, with the lumbar spine being the most commonly affected area. Several nursing tasks were significantly associated with the occurrence of WrMSDs. The physical component of QoL was negatively affected by the presence of WrMSDs, as well as by seniority and job position. In contrast, WrMSDs did not impact the mental component of QoL. Interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of WrMSDs may improve physical health in nursing personnel; however, improving mental well-being may require additional targeted strategies.
护理人员中与工作相关的肌肉骨骼疾病（WrMSDs）已被公认为最常见的肌肉骨骼损伤之一。本研究的目的是估计护理人员样本中WrMSDs的发病率，确定WrMSDs的预测因素，并研究它们对生活质量（QoL）的影响。
采用横断面设计，参与者为希腊西北部五家医院的全职护理人员。数据包括人口统计学信息、用于测量生活质量身体（身体成分得分，PCS）和心理（心理成分得分，MCS）成分的兰德简短健康调查问卷（RAND SF-36），以及用于评估WrMSDs的北欧肌肉骨骼问卷（NMQ）。对数据进行描述性分析以总结主要结局指标，并使用线性模型估计WrMSDs对生活质量的影响。
共纳入402名参与者（n = 350名女性）。49.5%的参与者（n = 199）患有WrMSDs，其中腰椎是最常受影响的部位（56%）。WrMSDs与移动患者（p < 0.001）、从地面提起或搬运物品（p < 0.001）以及重物提起的程度或强度（p = 0.002）密切相关。被诊断患有WrMSDs的护理人员的平均PCS得分比未被诊断患有WrMSDs 的人员低5.7分（95%CI：-7.4至-4.1；p < 0.001）。工作经验为20 - 24年和超过25年的参与者的PCS得分分别比工作经验少于5年的参与者低5.9分（95%CI：-9.1至-2.6；p < 0.001）和6.6分（95%CI：-9.7至-3.5；p < 0.001）。护士和护理主管/助理主管的PCS得分分别比护理助理高3.1分（95%CI：1.3至4.9；p < 0.001）和4.1分（95%CI：0.9至7.3；p < 0.001）。有20分钟休息时间的参与者的MCS得分比没有休息时间的参与者高4.3分（95%CI：0.4至8.2；p = 0.032）。来自GHF医院的参与者的MCS得分比约阿尼纳大学医院（UHI）的参与者低5.8分（95%CI：-9.2至-2.3；p < 0.001）。
近一半的参与者被诊断患有WrMSDs，腰椎是最常受影响的区域。多项护理任务与WrMSDs的发生显著相关。WrMSDs的存在以及资历和工作岗位对生活质量的身体成分产生负面影响。相比之下，WrMSDs并未影响生活质量的心理成分。旨在降低WrMSDs发病率的干预措施可能会改善护理人员的身体健康；然而，改善心理健康可能需要额外的针对性策略。
