The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in Norwegian nurses' aides

To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in Norwegian nurses' aides and how it varies with demographic factors, number of working hours per week, and service sector.

A random sample of nurses' aides, represented by the Norwegian Union of Health and Social Workers, was mailed a questionnaire in 1999. The 6,485 vocationally active respondents who were not on leave because of illness or pregnancy comprised the sample of the present study.

The prevalence (previous 14 days) of musculoskeletal pain was 88.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 88.0-89.6%]. The prevalence of intense musculoskeletal pain was 51.1% (CI 49.9-52.3%). The prevalence of widespread pain was 26.6% (CI 25.5-27.7%). The prevalence of pain in the extremities increased with increasing age, whereas the prevalence of headache decreased with increasing age. Neck, shoulder, elbow, high back, and hip pains were more prevalent in women than in men. The prevalence of neck pain increased with increasing working hours per week. Low back pain was most prevalent in persons working in nursing homes. Pain in the extremities was most prevalent in persons working in nursing homes and in those who were working in somatic hospital departments for adults. Headache was most prevalent in persons working in institutions for mentally handicapped people. The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was lowest in persons working in psychiatric and paediatric departments and the community-nursing service.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in Norwegian nurses' aides is very high. Not only the lower back but also several other regions of the body are frequently affected. The prevalence rates vary with age, gender, working hours per week, and the service sector in which the aides are working.