Overall studies showed that nursing activities conferred increased risk for , and were associated with back disorders regardless of nursing technique , personal characteristics , and non-work-related factors .
Patient h and ling appears to confer the highest risk , but other nursing duties are also associated with elevated risk , and confound dose – response assessment s related to patient h and ling alone .
A threshold of nursing activities below which the risk of back disorders is not elevated has not been established .
Abstract Background : Although non-specific low back pain ( LBP ) is known to be multifactorial , studies from across the globe have documented their higher prevalence in nurses .
This systematic review was conducted to ascertain whether this much-documented association constitutes a causal relationship , and whether there is a discernible threshold of exposures associated with this elevated risk .
Risk Factors for Work-Related Low Back Pain in Registered Nurses, and Potential Obstacles in Using Mechanical Lifting Devices
Back pain disability is a serious and costly problem affecting the nursing profession . The purpose s of this study were to determine risk factors for  work-related low back pain ( WRLBP ) in registered nurses and to record the reported use or reasons for nonuse of mechanical lifts . Our hypothesis was that workers who attributed the cause of WRLBP to their own actions would be knowledgeable about back safety , would be more likely to use lifts , and would report less WRLBP . A r and om sample of 270 registered nurses was selected from two acute care hospitals in central Illinois to identify WRLBP risk factors . This cross-sectional study gathered information on individual , physical workload , psychological , and organizational factors that may present a risk for WRLBP . Information was also collected on the use of  safety devices and back pain symptoms . The response rate was 50.4 % . Nearly 84 % of respondents had  WRLBP  in the past , and 36.2 % had WRLBP in the past year that limited movement or interfered with routine activities . Among the risk factors significantly associated with WRLBP were more years worked in nursing , frequent lifting , and low social support . Only 11 % reported that they routinely used mechanical lifting devices , and the primary reason given for failure to use lifting equipment was unavailability of equipment . The reasons for the lack of use of mechanical lifts should be investigated and addressed
Overall studies showed that nursing activities conferred increased risk for , and were associated with back disorders regardless of nursing technique , personal characteristics , and non-work-related factors .
Patient h and ling appears to confer the highest risk , but other nursing duties are also associated with elevated risk , and confound dose – response assessment s related to patient h and ling alone .
A threshold of nursing activities below which the risk of back disorders is not elevated has not been established .
Abstract Background : Although non-specific low back pain ( LBP ) is known to be multifactorial , studies from across the globe have documented their higher prevalence in nurses .
This systematic review was conducted to ascertain whether this much-documented association constitutes a causal relationship , and whether there is a discernible threshold of exposures associated with this elevated risk .