Assessment of Work Posture Angles and Association with Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Hospital Nurses During Day and Night Shifts

Abstract

The prevalence of reported lower back pain among nursing professionals remains notably high, with work posture being highlighted as a primary contributing factor. Nevertheless, studies elucidating these factors are scarce. This research aimed to measure work posture angles among nurses and discern the factors contributing to musculoskeletal disorders, comparing both day and night shifts. Nineteen hospital nurses were studied, evaluating subjective assessments of bodily symptoms and measuring work posture angles during both day and night shifts. Work posture angles were categorized into three groups, designating poor posture as forward flexion exceeding 20°. Irrespective of shift patterns, post-work assessments indicated higher complaints in the lumbar region, with an average work posture angle of 23.0±5.2°. While no substantial variance in work task nature was observed between day and night shifts, significant differences were noted in work posture angles (p<0.01), particularly during late night hours, with a prevalence of forward flexion angles exceeding 30° notably more frequent during night shifts. These findings suggest that nursing labor in hospitals often involves poor work postures, potentially contributing to the onset of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly evidenced by post-work lumbar complaints. Furthermore, despite minimal variance in work task nature, poor work postures associated with musculoskeletal disorder-induced lower back pain were notably prevalent during night shifts, potentially linked to inadequate staffing for the workload. Considering the significantly higher work posture angles during night shifts among hospital nurses, there is an implied increased risk of musculoskeletal disorder development, emphasizing the necessity for interventions addressing work conditions and compensating for staffing deficiencies.