Abstract Background Low Back Pain (LBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition among office professionals, particularly bankers, who often experience prolonged sitting and poor ergonomic conditions. Globally, LBP is the leading cause of disability for both sexes and across all age groups. However, research on occupational and psychosocial determinants among banking professionals in Nepal remains limited. This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of LBP among bankers in Pokhara, Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2023 among 334 systematically selected bank workers from 27 banks within Pokhara Metropolitan, Kaski District. Participants with at least three months of work experience were included in the study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. LBP-related information was assessed using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ-E). Stepwise logistic regression modeling was employed to identify the associated factors. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and p -values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Furthermore, the random forest technique was employed to identify the major variables. Results Of the 334 employees, on average, they were 31 years old, and more than half (55.1%) were female. The one-year prevalence of LBP was found to be 56.3% (95% CI: 51.2–61.7). LBP was positively associated with female employees (AOR: 2.62, 95% CI: 1.61–4.27), employees having higher education (AOR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.22–12.45), and employees experiencing work-related stress (AOR: 3.68, 95% CI: 3.68, 95% CI: 2.16–6.29). While married employees (AOR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21–0.59) and private bank employees (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.15–0.65) were less likely to have LBP. The major variables explaining LBP, as identified by the random forest technique, in order, are: work-related stress, marital status, gender, type of bank, and education level. Conclusions The prevalence of LBP among bank workers in Pokhara was 56.3%, indicating a substantial burden of musculoskeletal conditions among bank workers. Preventive measures to address work-related stress, along with consideration of gender and marital status while designing ergonomic interventions, are crucial for lowering LBP among bank employees.
Nagarkoti et al. (Wed,) studied this question.