Effectiveness of Theory-based Educational Intervention on Low Back Pain Preventive Behaviors in Nursing Aid Staff

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are mainly associated with nurseschr(chr('39')39chr('39')) high physical demands. Training healthy behavior can reduce these disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of educational intervention based on social cognitive theory on changing unhealthy behaviors leading to low back pain in nursing aid staff working in Qom hospitals.

A quasi-experimental study was conducted from 2017 to 2018 with educational intervention based on social cognitive theory was performed on 452 nursing aid. Data collection tools were the questionnaire of social cognitive theory constructs, the Low Back Pain Prevention Behavior Questionnaire, the Quebec back pain disability scale, and the Visual Analog Scale for low back pain. The training was based on the four structures of self-efficacy, self-regulation, outcome expectation, and moral disengagement in groups of 20 to 30 individuals. Then the results of the statistical tests were compared pre-and post-intervention.

After the intervention, social cognitive theory structures were increased significantly. The mean score of lumbar health behavior after training showed a significant increase from 32.59 to 32.57. The mean score of low back pain after training decreased significantly from 5.17 to 3.98 and the mean score of physical disability of low back pain decreased significantly after training.

Educational intervention based on social cognitive theory reduces the severity of low back pain and the consequent disability.