Frequency of Spinal Pain Symptoms Among Nursing Staff

Introduction. Individuals working in the nursing profession are particularly prone to experiencing spinal discomfort. This is due to the nature of their work, which involves lifting and carrying heavy loads, as well as working in constrained positions. Furthermore, nurses are also exposed to stress and excessive mental health strain. All of these factors can contribute to the occurrence of overloads and injuries to the spine. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of spinal pain symptoms among nursing staff. Material and Methods. The study group consisted of 155 individuals actively practicing the nursing profession. The Polish version of the Revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale (OLBPDS-PL) and own questions were used to conduct the study. Results. The frequency of spinal pain symptoms among nursing staff was 96.64%. 55.6% of the respondents reported mild disability, while 16.6% reported severe disability. A correlation was established between gender (p=0.026), the number of hours spent at work (p=0.049), BMI index (p=0.020), and the frequency of spinal pain symptoms. Age was borderline to statistically significant (0.050). Conclusions. Spinal pain symptoms affect a significant portion of the studied group. Lower back pain worsens the daily functioning of nurses, primarily in terms of pain intensity, lifting objects, standing, and social life. Mild disability was observed in over half of the respondents with lower back pain symptoms. (JNNN 2024;13(1):3–8)