Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia
Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common occupational health problems affecting the working adult population. The study aimed to identify the ergonomic factors associated with LBP among ambulance workers in emergency departments. This cross-sectional study of 143 ambulance workers was conducted...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Academy of Sciences Malaysia
2022-12-01
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| Series: | ASM Science Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2022.1187 |
| _version_ | 1797900937974513664 |
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| author | Wan Nor Asyikeen Wan Adnan Siti Azrin Ab Hamid Engku Ariff Tuan Lonik Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan Kamauzaman |
| author_facet | Wan Nor Asyikeen Wan Adnan Siti Azrin Ab Hamid Engku Ariff Tuan Lonik Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan Kamauzaman |
| author_sort | Wan Nor Asyikeen Wan Adnan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common occupational health problems affecting the working adult population. The study aimed to identify the ergonomic factors associated with LBP among ambulance workers in emergency departments. This cross-sectional study of 143 ambulance workers was conducted in 10 government hospitals. An English version of the questionnaire, including a Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and an LBP Risk Factor Questionnaire, was distributed to each respondent. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the results. The overall response rate was 85%. The majority of respondents who experienced LBP were aged 30 to 39 years (48.4%), male (69.9%), and of Malay ethnicity (98.5%). Handling difficult-to-grip objects (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.55; p-value: 0.007) and carrying heavy loads (adjusted OR: 17.44; 95% CI: 2.00, 151.69; p-value: 0.010) were associated with the occurrence of LBP among ambulance workers. The results highlighted the potential risks for ambulance workers in terms of carrying difficult-to-grasp and heavy loads. Hence, preventive measures, such as an ergonomic awareness programme, should be undertaken to increase awareness of proper ergonomic techniques in order to reduce the risk of LBP among ambulance workers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:52:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eab6201f0dd349f5afdb8b3ba4c15573 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1823-6782 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T08:52:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Academy of Sciences Malaysia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ASM Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-eab6201f0dd349f5afdb8b3ba4c155732023-02-22T04:03:01ZengAcademy of Sciences MalaysiaASM Science Journal1823-67822022-12-01171710.32802/asmscj.2022.11871187Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, MalaysiaWan Nor Asyikeen Wan Adnan0Siti Azrin Ab Hamid1Engku Ariff Tuan Lonik2Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan Kamauzaman3Biostatistics and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MalaysiaUnit of Biostatistics and Research Methodology, School of Medical Sciences. Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MalaysiaEmergency Department, Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Karung Berkunci 2029, 88586 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MalaysiaDepartment of Emergency Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MalaysiaLow back pain (LBP) is one of the most common occupational health problems affecting the working adult population. The study aimed to identify the ergonomic factors associated with LBP among ambulance workers in emergency departments. This cross-sectional study of 143 ambulance workers was conducted in 10 government hospitals. An English version of the questionnaire, including a Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and an LBP Risk Factor Questionnaire, was distributed to each respondent. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the results. The overall response rate was 85%. The majority of respondents who experienced LBP were aged 30 to 39 years (48.4%), male (69.9%), and of Malay ethnicity (98.5%). Handling difficult-to-grip objects (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.55; p-value: 0.007) and carrying heavy loads (adjusted OR: 17.44; 95% CI: 2.00, 151.69; p-value: 0.010) were associated with the occurrence of LBP among ambulance workers. The results highlighted the potential risks for ambulance workers in terms of carrying difficult-to-grasp and heavy loads. Hence, preventive measures, such as an ergonomic awareness programme, should be undertaken to increase awareness of proper ergonomic techniques in order to reduce the risk of LBP among ambulance workers.https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2022.1187ambulance workersergonomic hazardslow back painmanual handlingmalaysia |
| spellingShingle | Wan Nor Asyikeen Wan Adnan Siti Azrin Ab Hamid Engku Ariff Tuan Lonik Tuan Hairulnizam Tuan Kamauzaman Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia ASM Science Journal ambulance workers ergonomic hazards low back pain manual handling malaysia |
| title | Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia |
| title_full | Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia |
| title_fullStr | Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia |
| title_short | Ergonomic Hazards of Low Back Pain among Ambulance Workers in Kelantan, Malaysia |
| title_sort | ergonomic hazards of low back pain among ambulance workers in kelantan malaysia |
| topic | ambulance workers ergonomic hazards low back pain manual handling malaysia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.32802/asmscj.2022.1187 |
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