Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Low back pain (LBP) affects 70-85% of adults annually and accounts for approximately 149 million days of lost work, with total cost estimates, including lost wages to be between $100 and $200 billion annually in the United States (Kyaw, Teo & Wong, 2010; Duthey, 2013). Rehabilitation staff perform activities, such as bending, lifting heavy objects, and patient handling that may contribute to the development of LBP. While the prevalence of LBP amongst nurses is well documented in the current literature, LBP research relating to rehabilitation staff is sparse and limited. PURPOSE: To identify the prevalence and severity of LBP among rehabilitation staff members in a large healthcare system, and to identify potential career specific characteristics that may be associated with the presence of LBP. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a large hospital system’s rehabilitation department of 457 employees. The survey consisted of the modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and survey questions created by the researchers. RESULTS: The prevalence of LBP was found to be 68.02% and the severity was 5.70% among rehabilitation staff. No statistically significant difference was found between prevalence and profession (p=0.218), prevalence and setting (p=0.611), severity and setting (F=0.513, df=4, p=0.726), prevalence and patient population (p=0.746), severity and profession (F=0.520, df=7, p=0.818), or prevalence and education level (p=0.054). A statistically significant difference was found between severity and profession (F=4.940, df=5, p=0.000). These differences lie between physical therapists and administrative staff (p=0.000) and occupational therapists and administrative staff (p=0.006). Statistically significant differences were also found between severity and education level (F=6.796, df=5, p=0.000). These differences lie between individuals with an Associate’s Degree and those with a Bachelor’s Degree (p=0.007), Master’s Degree (p=0.000) and Doctorate Degree (p=0.000). CONCLUSION: These results warrant future research into preventative steps that could be taken by employers to reduce the severity of LBP present in their rehabilitative staff.