Nurses' Perceptions of Their Foot Health: Implications for Occupational Health Care

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Ankle-Foot Pain Among Nurses Working in Surgical Units of Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022

Background

Ankle-foot pain is a serious public health concern among nurses and has a significant impact on the quality of the health care service delivery system. However, little is known about the prevalence and factors associated with ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units in Ethiopia.

Purpose

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units of comprehensive specialized hospitals in Amhara regional state, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022.

Participants and Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 409 nurses working in surgical units of comprehensive specialized hospitals, from May 15 to June 7, 2022. A simple random sampling technique was employed. Data were collected by five BSc nurses using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. The descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were computed. Finally, variables were declared as statistically significant at P < 0.05 using the odds ratio and 95% CI.

Results

The prevalence of ankle-foot pain among nurses working in surgical units was 51.8% (95% CI = 46.9-57.5). More than 10 years of working experience [AOR = 3.48, 95% CI = 1.35-8.92], working 48 or more hours per week [AOR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.27-6.00], prolonged standing [AOR = 5.72, 95% CI = 3.20-10.25], high physical job demand [AOR = 2.41, 95% CI = 1.53-3.80], and low job control [AOR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.47-3.71] had statistically significant association with ankle-foot pain.

Conclusion

This study found that ankle-foot pain was common among nurses working in surgical units. Having more years of work experience, working more hours per week, prolonged standing, high physical job demand, and low job control were statistically associated with ankle-foot pain.

Foot and Ankle Disorders in Nurses Exposed to Prolonged Standing Environments: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Prolonged standing environments constitute an occupational risk factor for nurses, particularly for developing foot and ankle disorders. The definitions and potential relationship to hours spent walking or standing are poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the main disorders found on nurses' ankles and feet, their prevalence, the influence of hours spent walking or standing, and gender differences.

METHODS

This review followed a previously published protocol. Primary and secondary studies were retrieved from relevant databases from December 2020 to March 2021. Potential articles were collated to Mendeley, and two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstracts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included. Two researchers retrieved and reviewed the full text of these studies independently. A predetermined extraction tool was used to retrieve relevant data, summarized in a tabular and narrative format.

FINDINGS

The most common disorder was pain, followed by numbness, burning feet, bunions, structural deformities, and calluses. Prevalence differed among studies, depending on settings and specific local policies. Discussion: Various foot and ankle disorders and related variables have been found, with clear gaps that may be addressed in the future.

CONCLUSION/APPLICATIONS TO PRACTICE:

Few studies have focused on nurses' foot and ankle disorders. Mapping signs and symptoms may contribute to the future development of preventive interventions for nurses' workplaces.

Nurses’ experience with chronic foot pain and their job-the national science foundation foot health survey

Background

Chronic foot pain (CFP) impacts nurses' ability to provide care at the bedside. Treatment options for CFP were insufficient to address foot pain for nurses who stand or walk for prolonged periods while providing care to patients.

Aims

This study aimed to explore nurses' experience with CFP, current treatment options for foot pain, and the impact of foot pain on nurses' job performance.

Methods

This is secondary data from Individual interviews (n = 122) involving open-ended questions. Data were collected between April 2019-September 2020 while attending the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps program comprising faculty and students among others in the United States. Multiple linear regression and multinomial/binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess what factors were associated with the pain and pain relief solutions.

Results

Nurses who worked at the bedside predominantly switched jobs and reported higher levels of foot pain than those who did not switch jobs (β = 0.19, p = .044). Longer working hours (β = 0.35, p < .001) were associated with higher levels of pain. Nurses who worked longer time were more likely to purchase new work shoes and socks (OR = 1.177, p = .025) to alleviate foot pain than changing shoes only.

Conclusions

Most nurses expressed interest in new products to relieve their CFP. Innovations are urgently needed to address CFP. Future longitudinal studies are required to further elucidate appropriate preventative strategies to prevent and treat CFP in nurses.

Baropodometric Assessment of the Podiatric Profile of Nursing Students in Clinical Settings: A Study Protocol

Introduction

Nursing students are exposed to increased risks of developing foot and ankle disorders due to prolonged standing and walking positions during clinical settings. This can lead to high dropout rates from nursing degree, thus contributing to a future shortage in nursing professionals. This protocol aims to develop a study to understand the influence of prolonged standing and walking positions on nursing students' foot health, and specifically to study the relationship between the podiatric profile (regional force and pressure exerted on the foot) and related signs and symptoms.

Methods and Analysis

A prospective observational cohort study will be conducted with 194 nursing students. Participants will be asked to walk through a baropodometric platform before and after a 5-month clinical training session. Assessment will focus on the change in podiatric profile, namely foot posture and foot function, at 5 months, and changes in foot health at 5 months. The study will start in January 2022 and it's expected to end by June 2022.

Discussion

The study aims to perform an innovative assessment of nursing students' podiatric profile, which will allow for a comprehensive description of foot/ankle changes and their relationship with prolonged standing and walking contexts.

Ethics and Dissemination

The study was approved by The Ethical Committee of the Health Sciences Research Unit: Nursing (UICISA: E), of the Nursing School of Coimbra (ESEnfC), with the approval code nr. P799_07_2021. The study was also recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov on the number NCT05197166. Findings will be used to publish articles in peer-review scientific journals and oral communications and posters at scientific meetings.

Ankle and Foot Pain and Associated Factors Among Nurses at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Mekelle, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Ankle–foot pain is a significant public health problem in nurse professionals and has great burdens to the individuals, healthcare systems, and community at large. However, there is limited evidence on the prevalence of ankle–foot pain and its associated factors among nurses in Ethiopia. Thus, the finding of this study will help to address health problems resulting from ankle–foot pain among nurses.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of ankle–s–foot pain among nurse working in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Patients and Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 366 nurses, and a simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. Data were collected by using a self-administered adapted standardized Nordic questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a bivariate logistic regression model were done to identify factors associated with ankle–foot pain. Those variables with a P-value less than 0.05 with 95% CI in multivariate model were taken as statistically significant. Finally, AOR with 95% confidence interval at a P-value of <0.05 was reported.

Results

The prevalence of self-reported ankle–foot pain among nurses was 43.7% (95% CI=38.5–49.1). Older age (AOR=7.669, 95% CI=2.316−25.390), low shoe comfort (AOR=4.215, 95% CI=2.031–8.745), multiple foot conditions (AOR=6.102 95% CI=1.959–19.008), working night shifts (AOR=2.047, 95% CI=1.098−3.816), high physical demand (AOR=3.487, 95% CI=1.988–6.116), and nurses working in the intensive care unit (AOR=2.402, 95% CI=1.219–4.732) showed a statistically significant association with ankle–foot pain.

Conclusion

This study indicated that the prevalence of ankle–foot pain is commonly reported among nurses working in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Therefore, awareness and prevention of ankle and foot pain in nurses should be prioritized to reducing risk factors. Nurses should give attention to comfortable footwear, and further longitudinal research is recommended.

A framework for studying risk factors for lower extremity musculoskeletal discomfort in nurses

Lower extremity musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD) is prevalent, but understudied, in nurses. A comprehensive, theoretical, aetiological model of lower extremity work-related MSD in hospital in-patient staff nurses was developed through a review of the literature to provide a framework for aetiological and intervention research. The framework informed the design of a survey of 502 hospital staff nurses. Symptom prevalence ranged from 32% in hip/thigh to 59% in ankle/foot regions. Logistic regression modelling using survey data showed that different work and personal factors were associated with discomfort in different regions of the lower extremity. Individual factors (e.g. older age, higher BMI or having any foot condition), physical factors (e.g. higher frequency of patient handling), psychosocial factors (e.g. lower job satisfaction) were associated with discomfort in one or more parts of the lower extremity. Future research should target these factors for intervention, to attempt to reduce occurrence of lower extremity discomfort in nurses. Practitioner Summary: Practitioners may find useful the illustrated, theoretical aetiological model of factors that could influence the prevalence of lower extremity discomfort in nurses. The model could guide conversations with nurses and observational analyses of nursing work. The model and survey results may provide ideas for intervention exploration. Abbreviations: MSD: musculoskeletal discomfort; BMI: body mass index; MSK: musculoskeletal; ICU: intensive care unit; NLERF: nurses' lower extremity MSD risk factor; NASA-TLX: NASA-task load index.

Development and testing of a new electronic foot health promotion programme on nurses' foot self-care

Background

Nurses form the largest professional group in health care, and they spend most of their working day on their feet. From the perspective of work well-being, healthy feet are important to tolerate the physical demands of nursing work. However, little is known about how nurses’ foot self-care practices can be promoted with computerised interventions. The aim of this study was two-fold: to explore the preliminary effects of the electronic Foot Health Promotion Programme (FHPP) on foot self-care in nurses and to examine the usability of the programme.

Methods

A single group pretest-posttest design was used. The FHPP was targeted at nurses working in the operating theatre. The FHPP lasted for 4 weeks and focused on improving nurses’ knowledge and awareness of foot self-care through self-directed learning tasks. The primary outcome was knowledge of foot self-care. The secondary outcomes were foot health and work ability. Thirty-seven participants completed the study. The outcomes were assessed at baseline (April–June 2017) and 4 weeks (August–September 2017) after the intervention ended. The data were analysed statistically.

Results

Participants’ knowledge of foot self-care and foot health improved; however, the changes were not statistically significant. The FHPP was considered to be usable and has potential as a tool to increase knowledge of foot self-care among nurses.

Conclusions

The FHPP developed in this study is a newly developed potential tool to increase nurses’ knowledge of foot self-care. Application of the FHPP as part of occupational health care may enhance nursing personnel’s foot self-care and lower extremity health.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03116451, 17.4.2017.