Epidemiology of musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean hospital nurses.

We investigated the epidemiology of musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) among a complete cross-section of 330 nurses from a large Korean hospital, by means of a questionnaire survey (response rate: 97.9%). The prevalence of MSS at any body site was 93.6%, with symptoms most commonly reported at the shoulder (74.5%), lower back (72.4%), neck (62.7%), lower legs (52.1%) and hand/wrist (46.7%). Logistic regression indicated that nurses who undertook manual handling of patients were 7.2 times as likely to report MSS (OR 7.2, 95%CI 1.2-42.3, P = .0275), while nurses suffering from periodic depression experienced a 3.3-fold MSS risk (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.3-8.3, P = .0104). Overall, our study suggests that Korean nurses incur a very high MSS burden when compared internationally. A greater commitment is needed to improve physical conditions, occupational tasks and psychosocial work issues among nurses in this country.     

Association between psychosocial,organizational and personal factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in office workers

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between organizational and personal (individual) factors with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in office workers of the Iranian Gas Transmission Company. The participants rated two questionnaires – the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire to measure the prevalence of MSDs, and the Veterans Healthcare Administration All Employee Survey questionnaire (2004 version) – to measure psychosocial, organizational and individual aspects of job satisfaction and workplace climate. The highest prevalence of MSDs was found in the lower back (49.7%) and neck (49.0%) regions. Results of the logistic regression models showed that some psychosocial and organizational factors and also some individual factors were associated with prevalence of MSDs (p < 0.05).These ?ndings illustrate the need to consider all elements of the work system as a whole in future studies and in organizational planning.     

The relationship between protective and risk characteristics of acting and experienced workload, and musculoskeletal disorder cases among nurses

PROBLEMS: Limited research is available on the acting (work characteristics) and experienced (perceived stress) workload of nurses. The relationship between risk and protective characteristics of work-related factors and the prevalence of musculoskletal symptoms in different body regions is also unclear. METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional design with 97 female registered nurses working in a hospital setting. Two surveys were used to document the workload exposure of the nurses. One survey consisted of 148 items aimed to measure the acting workload variables from the environment; the other survey included 33 items that were aimed to measure the nurses' experienced workload. The musculoskeletal outcomes were documented with a modified version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptom Survey. RESULTS: Factor analyses revealed three factors that accounted for 56% of the total variance. Factor 1 (i.e., integrated experienced energy replenishment/expenditure) represented the psychological effects of work characteristics, effort, perceived risk, and performance. Factor 2 (i.e., acting energy replenishment/expenditure) consisted of non-physical variables of the work characteristics, while Factor 3 (i.e., acting energy expenditure) included both acting and experienced workload. Logistic regression analyses indicated that Factor 3 was significantly associated with the musculoskeletal symptoms of lower and upper back, hands/wrists, and knees/lower legs (odds ratios > 1.0). Factor 2 was significantly associated with the musculoskeletal symptoms of the upper back and knees/lower legs (odds ratios < 1.0). SUMMARY: Both the acting and experienced workloads exhibited associations with musculoskeletal outcomes in the lower back, upper back, hands/wrists, and knees/lower legs in terms of risk and protective effects.     

某大型综合医院护理人员针刺及其他锐器损伤状况调查

了解医院护理人员针刺及其他锐器损伤流行现状,为进一步开展干预研究提供线索,并为干预措施效果评价提供基线数据.采用自填式调查问卷对某大型综合医院787名临床一线护理人员在2009年1月1日至2009年12月31日期间所发生的针刺及其他锐器损伤状况进行回顾性调查.护理人员在过去一年中发生针刺及其他锐器损伤共3258人次,针刺及其他锐器损伤年人均发生次数为4.14人次/人,接触发生率(％,人/100人)为88.31.发生针刺及其他锐器损伤的高风险人群为妇产科、重症监护室、外科、急诊科护理人员,其接触发生率(％,人/100人)和年人均发生次数(人次/人)分别为95.56和5.04、95.18和3.64、92.95和4.37、84.13和5.32;引起护理人员针刺及其他锐器损伤的主要医疗操作是掰安瓿、输液结束拔针、整理用毕的锐器、静脉穿刺(采血、加药、输液)和回套针帽,其接触发生率(％,人/100人)分别为67.85、46.89、37.99、14.61和9.28.护理人员针刺及其他锐器损伤主要是由安瓿瓶、头皮针、皮下注射针、缝合针和手术刀片,其损伤接触发生率(％,人/100人)分别为67.98、56.42、37.74、6.73和2.92.护理人员仍然面临较大的针刺及其他锐器损伤风险,不同科室护理人员在不同医疗操作及医疗操作的不同阶段、使用不同医疗锐器、使用锐器的用途不同发生针刺及其他锐器损伤的风险不同,应积极采取有针对性的综合性预防控制措施,全面贯彻落实《血源性病原体职业接触防护导则》(GBZ/T 213-2008).     

Harmful postures and musculoskeletal symptoms among sanitation workers of a fish processing factory in ghana: a preliminary investigation.

This study investigated musculoskeletal symptoms among sanitation workers of a fish-processing factory. The methods used included administration of a questionnaire, walk through observation, interview, task analysis and future workshop. All 27 male participants answered and submitted their questionnaires. Of the 11 operations identified, all except one was considered safe. Bent back, bent legs, and heavy manual handling were observed to impose intolerable health risk on participants. This corresponds with questionnaire results in which musculoskeletal symptoms were mostly prevalent in the neck, the shoulder, the low back, the wrists/hands and the upper back regions. Poor psychosocial complaints were also made on the job. There was no significant correlation (p < .05) between musculoskeletal symptoms and age, working hours and length of service. Neither was any significant correlation observed (p < .05) between psychosocial work factors and musculoskeletal symptoms. Recommendations such as task redesign to eliminate high-risk elements in operations, workplace changes and worker training were suggested.     

Harmful postures and musculoskeletal symptoms among fish trimmers of a fish processing factory in ghana: a preliminary investigation.

This study investigated musculoskeletal symptoms among fish trimmers (skinners and polishers) in a fish processing factory in Ghana. The methods used included administration of questionnaire, walk through observation, interview, task analysis and future workshop. All 50 female participants answered and submitted their questionnaires. Of the 11 operations performed by skinners only 1 was rated as low risk. Also of the 12 operations performed by polishers only 2 were rated as low risk. Neck side bending, neck flexion, prolonged standing, shoulder elevation, abducted arms, repetitious reaching forward and wrist deviation were observed in most operations. This corresponds with questionnaire results in which musculoskeletal symptoms were mostly prevalent in the neck, the shoulder, the low back, the wrist/hand and the knee regions. There was no significant correlation (p < .05) between musculoskeletal symptoms and age, working hours and length of service. Task redesign, workplace changes and worker training were suggested to improve the work.