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THE PREVALENCE OF LOW BACK PAIN IN NURSES AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN THE EASTERN AREA OF SÃO PAULO

PREVALÊNCIA DE DOR LOMBAR EM ENFERMEIROS EM UM HOSPITAL UNIVERSITÁRIO DA ZONA LESTE DE SÃO PAULO

PREVALENCIA DE DOLOR DE LA REGIÓN LUMBAR EN ENFERMEROS DE UN HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO DE LA ZONA ESTE DE SÃO PAULO

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To evaluate the prevalence of low back pain in nurses at a university hospital in São Paulo and establish a relationship with social aspects.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out, through the application of a questionnaire containing social questions(weight, age, height, work sector, working hours, physical activity, presence and frequency of low back pain) in addition to the Oswestry questionnaire.

Results:

One hundred fifty-three nurses participated in the study. Of these, 92.30% of the women and 73.91% of the men presented low back pain, with a third classifying the pain as sporadic. In relation to BMI, pain is lower in those who are underweight (60%) and higher among those who are overweight (96.77%). Most of the sample was sedentary (66%), and of these, 96% had low back pain. There was no difference in the comparison by working hours, in relation to work sector, pain was more present in the following sectors: coordination (100%); children’s ward (92%); adult emergency room (90%) and adult ICU (31%). Thirty nurses worked double shifts, and of these, 90% reported low back pain, while among those who worked only at the university hospital, 89.4% reported pain. In relation to working hours, the longer the working day, the greater the pain. In the function assessment (Oswestry), 99 participants obtained a value of up to 30% disability.

Conclusion:

Based on the results of this work, it is concluded that there is a high prevalence of low back pain in nurses at the Hospital Universitário; however, it was not possible to determine a direct risk factor associated with this high prevalence. Level of Evidence IV; Cross-sectional study.

Keywords:
Low Back Pain; Nurses; Cross-Sectional Studies

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