Prevalence of Low Back Pain and Associated Factors Among Family Caregivers of Patients With Disabilities in Shenzhen,...

To examine the prevalence of low back pain among family caregivers of patients with disabilities and identify its associated factors.

Cross-sectional study.

From May to August 2023, 209 family caregivers of patients with disabilities were recruited from four tertiary hospitals using convenience sampling. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the modified Barthel Index, the Chinese version of the Safe Work Behaviour related to Patient Handling Scale, and the Chinese version of the Perceived Social Support Scale. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used. Gender, age and regular exercise were included as adjustment variables based on prior evidence and clinical relevance.

LBP was reported by 117 family caregivers, corresponding to a prevalence of 55.98%. In the adjusted model, family caregivers who repositioned patients 4 to 7 times per day had higher odds of LBP than those who repositioned patients no more than 3 times per day (adjusted OR = 3.444, 95% CI = 1.279 to 9.270). Family caregivers who repositioned patients at least 8 times per day also had higher odds of LBP (adjusted OR = 4.821, 95% CI = 1.984 to 11.714). Each additional year of caregiving was associated with higher odds of LBP (adjusted OR = 1.119, 95% CI = 1.036 to 1.209). High patient handling safety behaviour was associated with lower odds of LBP (adjusted OR = 0.254, 95% CI = 0.120 to 0.536). Higher perceived social support was also associated with lower odds of LBP (adjusted OR = 0.949, 95% CI = 0.925 to 0.974). The model had a Nagelkerke R² of 0.472.

LBP was common among family caregivers of patients with disabilities. Longer caregiving duration, more frequent patient repositioning, lower patient-handling safety behaviour and lower perceived social support were associated with LBP. Healthcare professionals should consider these factors when assessing family caregivers and provide appropriate patient-handling training and supportive resources; however, longitudinal and interventional studies are needed before causal or preventive effects can be established.

Nurses should assess caregiving duration, patient repositioning frequency, patient handling safety behaviour and perceived social support during discharge planning and community follow up. Family caregivers who may require additional support should receive individualized safe handling training and referral to appropriate resources.

No Patient or Public Contribution.