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The impact of low back pain on mental health among healthcare workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

I. Sellami ,
A. Feki ,
A. Abbes ,
M. L. Masmoudi ,
K. Jmal Hammami  and
M. Hajjaji
I. Sellami*
Affiliation:
Occupational medecine
A. Feki
Affiliation:
Rheumatology, Hedi Chaker hospital, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
A. Abbes
Affiliation:
Occupational medecine
M. L. Masmoudi
Affiliation:
Occupational medecine
K. Jmal Hammami
Affiliation:
Occupational medecine
M. Hajjaji
Affiliation:
Occupational medecine
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Low back pain (LBP) is common among healthcare workers (HCWs) caused by providing patient care by bending forward for long durations. Even when symptoms are short-term and not medically serious, LBP can be associated with psychological distress.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the impact of low back pain on mental health among HCWs.

Methods

The study was conducted in a group of HCWs from Hedi Chaker hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Data were gathered between March-August 2022 using a self-administered questionnaire including socio-professional characteristics, the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6).

Results

Our study included 74 HCWs. The mean age was 39,3 ± 10,5 years. The average job tenure was 15,5 ± 11,2 years. According to the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, 29.7% of participants had low back pain during the last 12 months. Thirty participants (17.6%) had low back pain during the last 7 days. The mean score of K6 was 5,4±4,8 (range = 0–22). The proportion of respondents with high levels of psychological distress (K6 score of 13 or greater) was 9.5 %. The presence of low back pain during the last 12 months and the last 7 days was significantly associated with a high score of K6 (p = 0.008 and p = 0.01 respectively).

Conclusions

Low back pain was associated with psychological distress. Occupational health and safety programs should focus on building ergonomically safe working conditions to enhance the mental health of the HCWs.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S434
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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