Occupational Risk for Headache Disorders in Female Registered Nurses. A Retrospective Study

Prevention of headache disorders (HDs) among healthcare workers in hospital settings remains a challenge for organizations and employees worldwide. The goals of the present retrospective study were both to analyze the 1-year prevalence of any primary HDs among female registered nurses (RNs) employed in hospital settings and to investigate the relationship between occupational risk factors and HDs.

We analyzed the occupational medicine database of RNs employed in a large hospital. The sample included 975 female RNs; the diagnostic criteria were based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (beta version).

One-year prevalence of any HD was 45.9%; tension-type headache (TTH) was the most commonly reported headache type (by 25.6% of participants), followed by migraine (17.5%). No association was found between the different headache types and work schedules; TTH was linked to age ≥40 years (OR=1.91; 95% CI=1.41-2.72), duration of service ≥15 years (OR=1.61; 95% CI=1.24-2.38), and number of night shifts >5 per month (OR=1.71; 95% CI=1.09-2.68). A high level of WRS was a significant predictor of TTH.

We found a link between TTH and modifiable risk factors at both the individual and organizational levels. These findings suggest interventions in occupational settings to minimize the occurrence of TTH among RNs. Policy-makers and employers should implement preventive measures to reduce the incidence of HDs among RNs by minimizing modifiable risk factors associated with increased occupational risk.