Affiliations: [a] Division of Cerebrovascular Diseases, Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| [b] Long-term Care Service Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| [c] School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| [d] Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| [e] Exercise and Health Science Research Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| [f] Department of Occupational Therapy and Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine,
Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| [g] Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| [h] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| [i] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Dr. Ching-Yi Wu, ScD, OTR, Department of Occupational Therapy and Graduate Institute of Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-hwa 1st Rd, Taoyuan City, 333, Taiwan. Tel.:+886 3 211 8800 #5761; Fax:+886 3 211 8700; E-mail: cywu@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Low back pain (LBP) is common in personal care attendants because this profession requires much physical work. Information about the prevalence of LBP and LBP-associated risk factors in this group is limited. OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the 1-year prevalence of LBP and identify LBP-associated factors in female hospital-based personal care attendants. METHODS:Forty-seven female hospital-based personal care attendants were recruited. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to investigate the prevalence of LBP during the recent 12 months. Participants completed a personal traits and associated factors questionnaire. Physical fitness and the knowledge test of body mechanics were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore LBP-associated factors. RESULTS:The 1-year prevalence of LBP was 46.8%. The strongest LBP-associated risk factor was poor abdominal muscle endurance, followed by insufficient knowledge on the test of body mechanics and higher psychological stress. CONCLUSIONS:The results demonstrate that the prevalence of LBP in female hospital-based personal care attendants appears to be high. Preventive programs should be initiated to reduce LBP-associated risk factors, such as improving abdominal muscle endurance, providing education in the proper use of body mechanics, and providing psychological intervention services for female hospital-based personal care attendants.
Keywords: Physical fitness, knowledge of body mechanics, psychological stress
