Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Productivity Loss Among Hospital Nurses: An Analytical...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant concern in healthcare settings.
• Hospital nurses face high physical demands, increasing their risk of MSDs.
• The impact of MSDs on nurse productivity and patient care quality requires thorough investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of MSDs among hospital nurses.
• To analyze the association between MSDs and productivity loss indicators, including absenteeism, presenteeism, perceived productivity loss, and work limitations.

Main Methods:

• An analytical cross-sectional study utilizing secondary data analysis.
• Online survey data collected from 607 registered nurses in South Korean general and tertiary hospitals.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between MSDs and productivity loss metrics.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of MSDs reported by 83.9% of nurses in the past week, with lower back complaints being most common.
• Nurses with MSDs were significantly more likely to experience presenteeism (3.74 times), perceived productivity loss (3.00 times), and work limitations (2.24 times).
• No significant association was found between MSDs and absenteeism.

Conclusions:

• MSDs substantially contribute to presenteeism, productivity loss, and work limitations among hospital nurses.
• Targeted interventions, including ergonomic modifications and early management, are essential to mitigate productivity losses and enhance nurse well-being.
• Addressing MSDs is critical for improving nurse productivity, ensuring high-quality patient care, and safeguarding healthcare professionals' health.