Physical workload and its relationship with the incidence of low back pain among nurses at Mitra Sehat Hospital

Abstract

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders experienced by nurses due to physically demanding work activities. High physical workload can increase the risk of LBP and affect nurses’ health and performance in providing healthcare services.

Method: This study used a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. A total of 46 nurses working in the inpatient ward of Mitra Sehat Hospital were included as respondents. The independent variable was physical workload, while the dependent variable was the incidence of LBP. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test to determine the relationship between physical workload and the incidence of LBP among nurses.

Results: The results showed that most nurses experienced LBP. Nurses with moderate and heavy physical workloads were more likely to experience LBP compared to those with lighter workloads. The Chi-square test showed a p-value of 0.036 (p<0.05), indicating a significant relationship between physical workload and the incidence of LBP.

Conclusion: Physical workload is significantly associated with the incidence of Low Back Pain among nurses. Preventive efforts are needed through workload management and the application of ergonomic principles in the workplace.