Musculoskeletal disorder: Risk factors and coping strategies among nurses

Abstract

Background: It is established that nurses suffer from varying degrees of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD) at different regions of their body, which results in frequent loss of work days. Aim of study is to identify the risk factors for developing musculoskeletal disorder and to determine the coping strategies to reduce their frequency.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Outpatient Departments (OPDs), intensive care units of University Hospital and also from the nursing schoolof the Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria, Egypt.

Results: A high proportion of nurses reported MSD (99.0%) during the last year. Also during their whole careers at one or the other body regions, with the shoulder (97.0%) and Neck (95.0%) being the most commonly affected. Nurses with more than two pregnancies and usage of computer for more than two years were those with the most perceived risk factors for MSD. The usage of different part of body by the nurses as a coping mechanism during the nursing procedures (34.0%) and change of posture (30.0%) were the top two statistically significant coping strategies.

Conclusions: The study confirms very high prevalence of MSD among the nursing staff and it was prominent at some specific body parts, of which neck and shoulder were the most affected.