Ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal disorders: A descriptive study on nurses

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Research
• Ergonomics

Background:

• Workplaces present ergonomic hazards contributing to musculoskeletal problems.
• Nurses are particularly vulnerable to these risks due to their demanding work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal disorders among nurses.
• To identify factors contributing to these risks in the nursing profession.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study was conducted from January to May 2023 with 537 nurses.
• Data collected via personal information form, ErgoEnf-TR, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ).

Main Results:

• High mean scores were observed for biomechanical, environmental, and organizational/psychosocial factors.
• Night shifts, inability to take breaks, poor body mechanics adherence, and lack of regular exercise correlated with higher ergonomic risk.
• Common musculoskeletal disorders affected the lower back, back, neck, and shoulders.

Conclusions:

• Individual and workplace factors increase nurses' risk of musculoskeletal problems.
• Working style, rest, stress, body mechanics, exercise, and pain status influence ergonomic risk scores.