Low Back Pain and Associated Occupational Factors among Nursery School Teachers: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional Study

抄録

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is an important problem in occupational health, but little is known about LBP in nursery school teachers.

METHODS

To determine the prevalence of LBP that needed medical treatment, LBP in their lifetime, factors associated with LBP, and work environment in nursery school teachers, we performed a cross-sectional study at Sakyo-ku in Kyoto City. We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess factors associated with LBP that needed medical treatment during the year.

RESULTS

Of 410 teachers in 21 nursery schools, 154 (37.6%) participated in the study. Sixty-four teachers (41.8%) had LBP that needed medical treatment during the year, and 128 (83.7%) had LBP in their lifetime. As factors associated with LBP, age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] [per 10-year increase], 1.48; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.06–2.07), unnatural posture (AOR, 5.14; 95%CI, 1.51–17.45), mental health (AOR, 1.89; 95%CI, 1.07–3.33), and psychological demand from job (AOR, 1.92; 95%CI, 1.24–2.97) were suggested. Three of 15 nursery schools employed industrial physicians, and precautions of LBP were taken in two schools.

CONCLUSIONS

Further investigations if intervention of these factors associated with LBP as work management to prevent LBP in nursery schools reduced their LBP are required.