Effects of Working Behavior Modification Program on Low Back Pain Prevention Behaviors and Back Muscle Endurance Among Farmers

Abstract

Low back pain is an important health problem among workers. Thai farmers also suffer this debilitating condition. Having proper working postures and back muscle endurance can prevent back pain among farmers. This quasi-experimental study utilized a two group pretest-posttest design to examine the effects of the newly developed Working Behavior Modification Program for low back pain prevention behaviors and back muscle endurance among farmers. This consists of an education program and stabilization back exercise program. Multi-stage sampling was used to recruit farmers residing in one province in central Thailand. Two villages were randomly assigned as experimental and control groups and 40 participants were purposively selected into each group. The experimental group received the Program based on Protection Motivation Theory. The control group received information as usual. Data were collected using the Low Back Pain Prevention Behaviors Questionnaire and the Prone Double Straight-leg Raise Test at baseline as well as six weeks and nine weeks after completion of the program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
The findings were that the experimental group had significantly better LBP prevention behaviors and back muscle endurance at 6 and 9 weeks than the control group (p < .01). Results indicate that this Program can enhance low back pain prevention behaviors and back muscle endurance of Thai farmers. Nurses and health care personnel can use it as a guide for effectively preventing low back pain among farmers. However, it should be tested among more farmer populations.