LOW BACK PAIN PREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED SICK LEAVE AND ATTRIBUTED CAUSE AMONG HEALTH SERVICE WORKERS IN IRELAND – DOES OCCUPATION MATTER ?

Abstract

Background: Most research regarding low back pain (LBP) amongst health service workers has tended to focus on single occupational groups rather than conducting occupational group comparisons.

Purpose: This study aims to compare the prevalence of LBP, associated sick leave and the proportion of LBP attributed to a work incident between various subgroups of workers in the Irish health service.

Methods: Hospital employees (n=2237) were stratified according to the five Department of Health and Children occupational clusters (Administration, Medical, General Support, Nursing and Professionals). A disproportional stratified sample (n=400) of employees was taken. Postal questionnaires and subsequent reminders were administered.

Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Subgroup comparisons were made using chi square tests.

Results: A response rate of 61.5% (n=246) was achieved of whom 52% (n=128) had experienced LBP. There was no significant difference in lifetime prevalence between groups (χ² = 3.874, p= 0.423). However, the difference, between groups, in the proportion of staff with LBP who had taken sick leave in the previous year was significant (χ² =12.070, p=0.017) with the highest level of sick leave among nursing staff ( 57%) and the lowest level among medical staff (14%). The proportion of staff attributing LBP onset to a work incident was no different between groups (χ² = 6.551, p= 0.586).

Conclusions: While no difference in LBP prevalence or attribution of LBP onset to work was found between the occupational groups, the variance in LBP related sick leave suggests that occupation specific factors influence back related work loss.