Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Quality of Life in Nursing Personnel Across Northwestern Greece

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WrMSDs) among nursing personnel have been recognized as one of the most frequent musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of WrMSDs in a sample of nursing personnel, identify predictors of WrMSDs, and examine their effects on quality of life (QoL).

A cross-sectional design was adopted, and participants were full-time nursing personnel at five hospitals in northwestern Greece. Data included demographics, the RAND Short Form health survey (RAND SF-36) to measure the physical (Physical Component Score, PCS) and mental (Mental Component Score, MCS) components of QoL, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) to assess WrMSDs. Data were analyzed descriptively to summarize main outcome measures, and linear models were used to estimate the effect of WrMSDs on QoL.

A total of 402 participants (n = 350 females) were included. WrMSDs were prevalent in 49.5% of participants (n = 199), with the lumbar spine being the most frequently affected site (56%). WrMSDs were most strongly associated with moving patients (p < 0.001), lifting or carrying objects from the ground (p < 0.001), and the degree or intensity of heavy object lifting (p = 0.002). Nursing personnel with a WrMSD diagnosis had an average PCS score that was 5.7 points lower (95% CI: -7.4 to -4.1; p < 0.001) than those without a WrMSD diagnosis. Participants with 20-24 and >25 years of working experience had PCS scores 5.9 (95% CI: -9.1 to -2.6; p < 0.001) and 6.6 (95% CI: -9.7 to -3.5; p < 0.001) points lower, respectively, than those with <5 years of experience. Nurses and nursing supervisors/assistant supervisors had PCS scores 3.1 (95% CI: 1.3 to 4.9; p < 0.001) and 4.1 (95% CI: 0.9 to 7.3; p < 0.001) points higher, respectively, than nursing assistants. Participants with a 20-minute break had an MCS score 4.3 points higher (95% CI: 0.4 to 8.2; p = 0.032) than those with no break. Participants from GHF hospital had MCS scores 5.8 points lower (95% CI: -9.2 to -2.3; p < 0.001) than those from the University Hospital of Ioannina (UHI).

Nearly half of the participants were diagnosed with WrMSDs, with the lumbar spine being the most commonly affected area. Several nursing tasks were significantly associated with the occurrence of WrMSDs. The physical component of QoL was negatively affected by the presence of WrMSDs, as well as by seniority and job position. In contrast, WrMSDs did not impact the mental component of QoL. Interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of WrMSDs may improve physical health in nursing personnel; however, improving mental well-being may require additional targeted strategies.