Prevalence and Related Risk Factors of Low Back Pain among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units

Studies have shown that low back pain is a common health problem among hospital nurses especially those working in IntensiveCare Units. However, prevalence and the related risk factors in intensive care units needs to be widely investigated.The aims: of this study were to identify prevalence of low back pain and determine its related risk factors among nurses workingin Intensive Care Units.Subjects: A purposive sample of all nurses who worked in intensive care units and meet the inclusion criteria.Setting: The study was conducted at four intensive care units of Menoufia University hospital.Tools of the study: Two tools were utilized for data collection as follow; Tool I: Interviewing questionnaire and Tool II: Observationalchecklist.Results: The prevalence of low back pain among studied nurses was 85%. The most important and preventable risk factors forlow back pain among studied nurses were higher body mass index, more average working hours/day, not enough working space,lower compliance of nurses with proper body mechanics and range of motion exercises during work.Conclusion: prevalence of low back pain among nurses working in intensive care units was high. There were multi interrlatrelatederisk factors for low back pain among studied nurses: work, patients and personnel related factors.Recommendations: Periodic and continuous in-services training for nurses working in intensive care units on preventing andcoping strategies for low back pain should be implemented.