Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work Stress among Emergency Nurses at the Regional Hospitals in the Northeast of Thailand

Abstract

Background and objective: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work stress were common health problems among nurses. This study aimed to investigate  the prevalence of MSDs and work stress among emergency nurses at the regional hospitals in the northeast of  Thailand.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study and subjects were 240 emergency nurses. Data were collected during June to August 2014 by using self-administered questionnaires with good validity and reliability. The questionnaires were divided into three parts to measure demographic characteristics, work stress and  MSDs. The prevalence rate of MSDs  was calculated for the last 7- days and  12- months periods.

Results: The results showed that most subjects were female (82.5%), ages ranged  between 23-60 years and 42.5% were 23-30 years. Work experience ranged from 1-34 years and 64.6% were 1-10 years, job position in practitioner level was 52.5%. The prevalence rate  of  MSDs during the  last 7- days period was 70.4% (95%CI 64.6-76.2) and during the last 12 –months  period was  73.3 % (95%CI 67.7-78.9). The top three prevalence was predominantly located on areas of shoulder (64.6%), neck (59.2%),  upper back  and lower back with the same rate (48.8%),  respectively. Another significant finding was that  emergency nurses had the high level of work stress (SWI ≥ 3)  for 75.9% as serious problems.

Conclusions:  The findings of this study showed that the high prevalence of  neck/shoulder pain and back pain  among emergency nurses and high work stress was identified as well, therefore the further study should be investigated of the risk factors associated with MSDs in order to protect emergency nurses from these health problems.