Musculoskeletal disorders among rural Australian nursing students

Australian Journal of Rural Health - Tập 12 Số 6 - Trang 241-245 - 2004
Derek Smith1, Peter A. Leggat
1School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. [email protected]

Tóm tắt

AbstractAim:  To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among rural Australian nursing students and compare the results with other international studies. Method and analysis:  A self‐reporting questionnaire adapted from previous research, was administered to 260 students from all three grades of a major nursing school in regional north Queensland, Australia. Results:  A high proportion of students reported an MSD at some body site (80.0%), with low back pain being the most common condition (59.2%). This was followed by MSD of the neck (34.6%), knee (25.0%), shoulder (23.8%), feet (16.5%), wrist (12.7%) and legs (11.9%). MSD of the shoulder was slightly more common among males when compared to females (39.3% vs 22.0%, P = 0.0424). Previous paid employment as a nurse or nursing assistant was found to increase the risk of upper arm MSD by a factor of 10.8 (odds ratio 10.8, 95% confidence interval 1.9–205.8, P = 0.0276).Conclusion:  Overall, this investigation suggests that MSD is more frequent among rural Australian nursing students, when compared to their counterparts around the world. Their high rate of MSD is also comparable to that reported by hospital nurses in other countries. What is already known and why the study was done:  Although musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are known to affect nursing students at reasonably high rates, few studies have been undertaken in rural Australia. Therefore, it was considered necessary to investigate MSD among a complete cross‐section of rural Australian nursing students, using a questionnaire adapted from previous research. Findings were then compared with similar international studies. What this study adds to the published literature:  A high proportion of students reported an MSD at some body site, with low back pain being the most common condition. Overall, this investigation suggests that MSD is more frequent among rural Australian nursing students, when compared to their counterparts around the world. Their high rate of MSD is also comparable to that reported by hospital nurses in other countries.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.1002/ajim.10048

10.1136/oem.57.3.211

10.1136/bmj.314.7089.1225

10.1080/00140139608964450

10.1007/BF01831630

10.1080/00140138708969705

10.1016/0020-7489(93)90031-O

10.1136/oem.57.2.116

Smith DR, 2002, Hand dermatitis and musculoskeletal disorders among female nursing students in Japan, Yamanashi Medical Journal, 17, 63

10.1016/S0020-7489(03)00012-9

Smith DR, 2004, Musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese nursing students, Ergonomics Australia, 18, 18

Holmström E, 1991, Low back pain – correspondence between questionnaire, interview and clinical examination, Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 23, 119, 10.2340/165019779123119125

10.1080/00140139408963698

10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00261-X

10.2739/kurumemedj.44.281

Kim MS, 2000, A descriptive study of the way of life and health status of nursing students, Journal of Korean Community Nursing, 11, 358

10.1002/(SICI)1097-0274(200001)37:1<94::AID-AJIM8>3.0.CO;2-X

10.1054/math.2001.0410

10.1080/00140139508925163

10.1016/S0002-9343(00)00538-6

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Australian Journal of Rural Health

Tập 12 Số 6

241-245

Thông tin tác giả