Assessment of the musculoskeletal complaints of Kashan university hospitals staffs in 2006

Work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most important occupational problems and one at the top of the problems is low back pain (LBP). LBP can cause diverse disabilities in people. Of the susceptible people for MSDs are the medical staffs. Factors such as handling and transportation of the patients, awkward body postures during the medical procedures, prolonged standing and mental work-related stress are effective in the occurrence of the MSDs. Considering the importance of the problem, the aim of the present study was to assess the musculoskeletal complaints of Kashan university hospitals staffs, 2006. This cross–sectional study was carried out on 278 staff (212 female and 66 male) consists on nurses, nurse assistance, midwives, anesthesia and operating theater technicians categorically randomized from 5 hospitals. After the selection of qualified subjects, the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) was used for the study and its validity was evaluated through test and retest as a screening instrument. The obtained data was analyzed using the�X2,�Fisher exact test, logistic regression for removing confounding factors. Two-hundred forty one out of 278 subjects (87.7%) had discomfort and pain in at least one bodily organ and the related percents in female and male were 86.8% and 86.4% respectively. Also it was seen that the highest frequency of MSDs among the age range (30-34) was 91.2% and the least frequency of 78.7% was seen below the age of 30. A significant correlation was seen between musculoskeletal and the years of work (p<0/05). Considering the results of statistical tests no significant difference was seen between MSDs and all bodily organs whit age and gender. The occurrence of MSDs among all levels of medical staff was the greatest, because of the heavy duties of this group. for the similar reason whit removal the effect of age and the increment of the years of the work a significant difference was seen in MSDs of the lower part of the back. The lack of the effect of age on MSDs in other parts of the body possibly is that with the advancing age the work-related activities of the staff have been increased and also the type or severity of physical work have been changed.