Quality of Life Among Young Nurses Due to Low Back Pain in Punjab, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey
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Background: Low back pain is a common occupational musculoskeletal problem among nurses because clinical duties frequently involve prolonged standing, bending, lifting, patient handling, and sustained physical workload. Objective: This study aimed to find out the quality of life among young nurses due to low back pain working in selected Civil Hospitals of Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was conducted among 200 young nurses recruited through convenience sampling from hospitals in Sargodha, Gujrat, Multan, Lahore, Sahiwal, and Layyah. Data were collected using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 23.0. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for overall LBP severity and activity-related limitations during standing and lifting. Results: Overall, 110 of 200 nurses reported low back pain, giving a prevalence of 55.0%. Mild pain was reported by 36 participants (18.0%), moderate pain by 42 (21.0%), and severe pain by 32 (16.0%). Standing-related pain or limitation was reported by 115 nurses (57.5%), while lifting-related pain or limitation was reported by 133 nurses (66.5%). Moderate-to-severe limitation was highest during lifting (47.0%), followed by standing (40.5%) and overall LBP severity (37.0%). Conclusion: Low back pain was common among young nurses and was most strongly reflected in lifting-related functional limitation. Ergonomic training, safe patient-handling practices, learning the control of good posture, preventive workplace strategies and promotion of healthy lifestyle are recommended.
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