Prevalence and Factors Associated with Low Back Pain among Health Personnel in Khon Kaen Provincial Health Office

Abstract

          This cross sectional analytical research aimed to identify the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and factors associated with low back pain among health personnel in Khon Kaen Provincial Health Office. Samples were 135 health personnel selected by applying stratified random sampling. Data were collected by questionnaire and ergonomics risk assessment in terms of rapid office strain assessment (ROSA) and analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression at 0.05 level of significance, the adjusted odds ratio presented, 95 % confidence interval and p-value.

         The results indicated that most of the samples were females (75.56%) with the average age of 43.30 years olds (S.D.=10.12), finished bachelor's degree (53.33%) and had working experience more than 10 years (55.56%).  The prevalence of low back pain among health personnel was 54.07% (95 %CI=45.52–62.39). The factors significantly associated with low back pain (p–value<0.05) were: (1) working with computer for more than 6 hours per day (Adjusted OR=2.45, 95%CI:1.10-5.95; p-value=0.047); (2) sitting with a rounded back (Adjusted OR=2.87, 95%CI:1.24-6.58;       p-value=0.013); (3)working environment (ergonomics risk) (Adjusted OR=3.88, 95%CI: 1.10-13.97; p-value=0.038); and (4) having stress (Adjusted OR=3.10, 95%CI: 1.27-7.35; p-value=0.012). This study showed that most of health personnel had low back pain. Therefore, recommendations are made for the prevention of LBP of health personnel including adjusting working behaviors and working stations to be proper based on the principles of ergonomics.