Authors: Ogbutor Udoji Godsday, Orukpe Trust, Nkemakonam Ezeonu, Ephraim Chukwuemeka, Chinenye Chiegboka, Ezunu Emmanuel, Ruth Kikachukwu Chibuzor, Collins Ogbeivor, Ogbutor Emeka Godson.
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are painful anatomical defects that are characterized by inflammatory and degenerative conditions in muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves, and supporting blood vessels. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are associated with absenteeism, lost productivity, increased health care, disability, and worker’s compensation costs. Healthcare professionals are known to be at high risk for WRMSDs. Though several studies on WRMSDs among healthcare professionals have been conducted, the majority of these studies have been limited to certain professional groups such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and others. Therefore, this study aims to determine the prevalence and distribution of WRMSDs among seven different groups of healthcare professionals and to evaluate the multiple risk factors that contribute to the development of WRMSDs.
Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted among physicians, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, and radiographers of various clinical departments in the Federal Medical Centre Asaba. Different combinations of validated and standardized questionnaires were used for collecting data on the pattern of WRMSDs and the multiple job risk factors among healthcare professionals. Descriptive (frequency, mean, standard deviation, and percentages) and inferential (Chi-square test) statistics were used to analyze data. Alpha level was set at P < 0.05.
Results: A total of 278 questionnaires were completed, returned, and used for data analysis. The patterns of WRMSDs showed higher occurrence among nurses (100%), dentists (100%), and medical laboratory scientists (100%). Low back pain was the most complaint (79.8%) among health care professionals followed by shoulder (45.4%) and then neck (41.2%). The elbow (5.3%) and the ankle/feet (10.7%) were the least affected. Work-relatedness of musculoskeletal disorders was highest among nurses. Performing the same task over and over again, working with a large number of patients, and working overtime was the most commonly reported job risk factors for the development of WRMSDs.
Conclusion: As shown by the study, a large percentage of healthcare professionals have WRMSDs. As a result, a hospital workplace safety, continuous education, and skill development system that is based on the best available evidence of quality and safety best practices, as well as communication of behaviour change, is recommended.
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