2016 Volume 36 Pages 130-137
Objectives: The aim of this study was to reveal the incidence of low back pain in ward nurses who assist patients with mobility, how often these nurses engage in mobility assistance movements, and whether mobility aids are used properly. We investigated the correlation between low back pain during mobility assistance and the frequency of mobility assistance or the proper use of mobility aids.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses working in hospital wards where patients frequently require mobility assistance.
Results: Survey responses were obtained from 534 nurses working at 18 facilities. Low back pain occurred always or 50% of the time in 43.9% of nurses when changing patients’ position in bed and in 33.4% of nurses when moving patients horizontally in bed. The most frequently performed mobility assistance movement was changing patients’ position in bed, followed by moving patients horizontally in bed. There was a weak positive correlation between the frequency of all mobility assistance movements and the incidence of low back pain during mobility assistance. The most frequently used mobility aids were sliders, followed by sliding boards and sliding sheets. The incidence of low back pain did not correlate with the use of mobility aids, when used properly, except for the use of sliders between bed and stretcher.
