Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in nurses at a hospital in the central region of Portugal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33194/rper.2025.39834Keywords:
Nurses, Musculoskeletal Pain, Cumulative Trauma DisordersAbstract
Introduction: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMDs) are one of the main causes of absenteeism and work disability, being a problem that affects nurses.
Objective: To identify the prevalence of WRMSDs among nurses in a hospital in the central region of Portugal.
Methodology: A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample. Data collection was carried out using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire during the first quarter of 2023. Data processing and analysis were performed using SPSS, version 28 (p< 0.05). Ethical principles were ensured.
Results: A total of 837 responses were obtained, corresponding to 26.1% of the population, with a mean age of 43.8 ± 10.23.A high prevalence of symptoms was observed, with an emphasis in the lower back region (77.5% in the last 12 months, 49.6% in the last 7 days), with 55% reporting activity limitations in the last 12 months. Over the past 7 days, 55.7% of participants reported a mean pain intensity of 3.95 ± 1.88. Statistically significant associations were found between the prevalence of symptoms by anatomical location in the last 12 months and: i) age; ii) professional activity duration; iii) nursing activities/body postures adopted during shifts.
Conclusion: The results align with several national and international studies, revealing a high prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses, which negatively impacts their health and quality of life as well as the sustainability of the national healthcare system. This highlights the need to develop, implement, and evaluate WMSD prevention programs to mitigate the issue.
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