International Journal of Nursing Education

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Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Pain in Indian Nursing Students


Affiliations
1 Department of Orthopaedics, Rohilkhand Medical College, Bareilly, India
2 Rohilkhand School of Nursing, Bareilly, India
3 Rohilkhand School of Nursing, Bareilly, India
     

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Although musculoskeletal pain [MSP] represents a significant occupational issue for professional nurses worldwide, few epidemiological studies have been conducted in India. Therefore, we investigated the epidemiology of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among a complete cross-section of 317 nursing students from all three grades of two nursing colleges in India, by means of a questionnaire survey (response rate: 88%). The prevalence of MSP at any body site varied from 70.5 percent in the first-year students, to 81 percent in the third-year students, with an overall prevalence of 74.5 percent across all three years of study, with symptoms most commonly reported at lower back (58.7%) followed by neck (31.6%), the shoulder (29%), upper back (25.6%). Although the percentage of students reporting pain in general appeared to increase with number of years in nursing school, we found no statistically significant difference based on years in nursing school. Overall, this investigation suggests that MSP is more frequent among Indian nursing students, when compared to their counterparts around the world., although the prevalence, distributions, and correlations for these conditions do not appear to be uniform. MSP is a common complaint of nursing professionals that may lead to serious physical disability. Since this type of pain occurs early in nursing training, nursing is obligated to further examine the mental, physical and ergonomic factors that may be contributory.

Keywords

Epidemiology, India, Low Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, Student Nurse.
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  • Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Pain in Indian Nursing Students

Abstract Views: 329  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Ajit Singh
Department of Orthopaedics, Rohilkhand Medical College, Bareilly, India
Yengkhom Sonia Devi
Rohilkhand School of Nursing, Bareilly, India
Swapna John
Rohilkhand School of Nursing, Bareilly, India

Abstract


Although musculoskeletal pain [MSP] represents a significant occupational issue for professional nurses worldwide, few epidemiological studies have been conducted in India. Therefore, we investigated the epidemiology of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) among a complete cross-section of 317 nursing students from all three grades of two nursing colleges in India, by means of a questionnaire survey (response rate: 88%). The prevalence of MSP at any body site varied from 70.5 percent in the first-year students, to 81 percent in the third-year students, with an overall prevalence of 74.5 percent across all three years of study, with symptoms most commonly reported at lower back (58.7%) followed by neck (31.6%), the shoulder (29%), upper back (25.6%). Although the percentage of students reporting pain in general appeared to increase with number of years in nursing school, we found no statistically significant difference based on years in nursing school. Overall, this investigation suggests that MSP is more frequent among Indian nursing students, when compared to their counterparts around the world., although the prevalence, distributions, and correlations for these conditions do not appear to be uniform. MSP is a common complaint of nursing professionals that may lead to serious physical disability. Since this type of pain occurs early in nursing training, nursing is obligated to further examine the mental, physical and ergonomic factors that may be contributory.

Keywords


Epidemiology, India, Low Back Pain, Musculoskeletal Pain, Student Nurse.

References