Ergonomic and Psychosocial Factors Affecting Low Back Pain in Workers Who Work in Long-term Care Facilities

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of ergonomic and psychosocial factors on low back pain (LBP) of long-term care facility (LTCF) workers. [Subjects] A total of 102 subjects working in LTCFs. [Methods] The subjects answered the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) to evaluate psychosocial factors, and reported the number of times they daily participated in body position change, or transfer of patients to assess ergonomic factors. FABQ is useful for measuring fear-avoidance beliefs in patients with LBP. [Results] Analyses were based on the responses of 83 adult Japanese workers. Subjects’ responses were analyzed using logistic regression and multiple linear regression analyses. The psychosocial factor of fear-avoidance beliefs was a significant independent factor according to multiple linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis. [Conclusion] This result suggests that guidelines on LBP should be improved to emphasize the importance of psychosocial factors.