Social and occupational aspects related to persistent low back pain in women geriatric nursing assistants

Geriatric nursing assistants often experience low back pain (LBP), which may become persistent and impair daily and occupational functioning. Social determinants of health play a key role in its development. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of persistent LBP and its associated social and working conditions among women working as geriatric nursing assistants in Spain.

The cross-sectional study included women working as geriatric nursing assistants in Spain. A total of 480 participants were recruited through snowball sampling and completed self-reported questionnaires. The outcome variable was persistent LBP, and predictor variables included sociodemographic factors and work-related conditions. Prevalence of persistent LBP and Poisson regression models were calculated.

The prevalence of persistent LBP was 44.2% (95% confidence interval [39.77, 48.65]), and was associated with older age, low monthly income, living in a region with a low Human Development Index, holding a permanent contract, limited work experience, absence of multiple jobs, high physical demands at work, time pressure and work-home conflict.

Nearly half of the geriatric nursing assistants reported persistent LBP. The condition was linked to work conditions and socioeconomic factors, highlighting the need for interventions addressing both physical and psychosocial stressors.