The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Health-Treatment Employees at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2008

Background and

Musculoskeletal disorders among the most important occupational health issues nowadays. As the ministry of health is responsible for the community health and providing better services requires healthy workforce, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in health-treatment employees at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2008. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted on 364 personnel of health-treatment employees at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2008, who were selected through convenient sampling. The disorders were investigated through Nordik Questionnaire including those in 9 body parts within the past week, past year, and falling behind work due to disorders. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 13 using independent t-test and correlation coefficient.

Mean ± SD and employment period of the participants were 31.81±6.88 and 9.36±7 respectively. The highest prevalence of the past year in all participants was related to their waist (57.8%), knee (44%) and (42.6%). However, in participants working for treatment centers, the figures were 61.6%, 46.9% and 48.6% respectively. In the paramedical employees, disorders of was 29.7% and in health center employees, wrist disorders were 28.4%.

The prevalence of disorders in university employees is high and the highest rates are related to waist and knee. Disorders of back, waist, and knee in the treatment center employees, and neck disorders in health center employees were higher.