The Back College for nurses - an evaluation of intermediate effects

Nurses’ beliefs about back pain, their coping strategies and participant activation for self-management

Background

Back pain affects nurses’ physical, social and emotional well-being, as they encounter difficulties in executing their social and occupational duties.

Objectives

Our study investigated the impact of a cross-cultural back pain campaign on nurses’ beliefs about back pain; activating the participants to self-manage; coping strategies; sick leave claimed; and frequency of doctor visits.

Method

A single sample pre- and post-test design was used. The intervention was a 12-week educational campaign based on evidence-based back pain messages. Primary outcomes were measured by their beliefs about back pain and their activation to self-manage. Analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27.0 software, and significant differences from before and after the campaign were analysed using the Chi-square test at a 0.05 significance level.

Results

There were no significant differences in the age, gender and work hours of the nurses who participated before and after the campaign, except for their professional work settings (< 0.05). All secondary outcomes improved significantly after the campaign, and outcomes on beliefs about back pain showed significantly positive changes in six of the 14 items, while all questions pertaining to patient activation improved significantly.

Conclusion

The 12-week back pain campaign, based on contextualised, evidence-based back pain messages for Zambian nurses, motivated the participants to self-manage their back pain. However, not all beliefs about back pain changed positively after the campaign.

Clinical implications

The findings of this back pain education campaign show promise as a strategy to improve knowledge, behaviours and beliefs about back pain in African settings.

Health Promotion for Outpatient Careworkers in Germany

Due to ongoing demographic changes, the need for care is increasing in Germany. The number of outpatient care services is also rising, and with it, the number of employees in outpatient care, who are also continuously becoming older. Workplace health promotion (WHP) becomes relevant in this context, as it can reduce negative strain reactions and promote employees’ health. The aim of this study was (1) to reveal implemented WHP interventions in German outpatient care services; (2) to examine the potential challenges regarding a successful implementation of WHP measures; and (3) to illuminate further requests and needs experienced by outpatient careworkers. In qualitative field research, 30 semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with German caregivers, using the problem-centered interview method. The collected data were deductively and inductively evaluated and interpreted, using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Outpatient caregivers reported various WHP measures known from their workplaces, such as the provision of fruit baskets, programmes to increase physical activity, or a subsidy for a personal gym. They further reported WHP, such as back training, known from other care services. However, the respondents spoke of the challenges regarding the implementation or the use of WHP interventions in general. The most frequently named barriers were a lack of time after work and interventions that were only offered in their leisure time. In the same course, the participants still needed offers to increase physical activity, joint activities, or relaxation techniques. However, respondents highlighted that they preferred the interventions to take place during working hours. This way, they would also be more likely to take advantage of the interventions. The results of this study provide an insight into various WHP measures that already exist, or that are desirable for implementation with regard to caregivers’ needs. Subjectively perceived challenges for a successful implementation of WHP measures represent the importance of adjustments in the work organization of caregivers. It becomes clear that WHP is not yet established in the ambulant care sector, although it appears to be imperative for keeping caregivers healthy. Considering the different needs of employees, the results can provide a basis for the development of needs-based health promotion measures for caregivers.

The prevalence of upper quadrants work-related musculoskeletal disorders and their predictors among registered nurses

BACKGROUND

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a significant health challenge facing nurses. However, very few studies investigated the prevalence of WMSDs among nurses and their predictors comprehensively using a valid and reliable set of standardized outcome measures.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence WMSDs of upper quadrants and their predictors among registered nurses in Jordanian hospitals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study recruited 597 registered nurses from different hospitals in Jordan. A self-administered survey distributed in targeted hospitals wards. Outcome measures included Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), sociodemographic data, and manual handling and work habits. Prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints was reported using descriptive analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictors of WMSDs at each upper quadrant body site.

RESULTS

Twelve-month WMSDs prevalence was the highest at the neck (61.1%), followed by the upper back (47.2%), shoulders (46.7%), wrist and hands (27.3%), and finally at the elbow (13.9%). Being a female, poor sleep quality, high physical activity level, poor ergonomics, increased workload, and mental stress were significant predictors of increased upper quadrant WMSDs among nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

Upper quadrant WMSDs among nurses in Jordan are highly prevalent. Identified significant predictors of these WMSDs should be given full consideration by clinicians and health policymakers. Future studies are needed to reveal the progressive nature of upper quadrant WMSDs and strategies to modify their risk factors.

Nurses back pain beliefs, coping strategies and factors associated with participant activation for self-management of back pain

AIMS

To determine the back pain beliefs, coping strategies and factors associated with participant activation for self-management of back pain amongst nurses working in peri-urban district healthcare centres.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study design.

METHODS

Data were collected between February and March 2020 using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was done in Stata version 20.0. Back pain beliefs, participant activation and coping strategies were presented using relative frequencies and percentages. Odds ratios at 5% significance level were used to test association of factors for participant activation for self-management of back pain.

RESULTS

Majority of the participants had experienced back pain which lasted 3 days for half of the participants. Further, pain medication was commonly used to cope with back pain. In addition, age, gender and work-setting were significantly associated with participant activation for self-management of back pain.

CONCLUSION

Participants' coping strategies for back pain were linked to the conveyed back pain beliefs which demonstrate that participants believed in rest and lengthy periods of time off work for back pain. However, participants acknowledged that taking an active role in determining one's health and function is vital. This highlights the importance of self-management support for health behaviour change amongst nurses.

IMPACT

The study addressed back pain beliefs, coping strategies and participant activation for self-management of back pain amongst nurses in peri-urban healthcare centres. Majority of the participants experienced back pain which lasted 3 days. Pain medication was commonly used to cope with back pain. Age, gender and work-setting were significantly associated with participant activation for self-management of back pain. Although this study was conducted in Zambia, outcomes from this study may be of benefit to nurses in similar settings. Further, the research provides insight to the international body of knowledge on the process and appropriateness of international research in resource-constrained settings.