FREQUENCY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF LOWER BACKACHE AMONG OPERATION THEATER STAFF AT MARDAN MEDICAL COMPLEX: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Lower back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal condition with significant implications for occupational health, particularly among healthcare workers involved in physically demanding tasks. This study aimed to determine the frequency of LBP among operating room (OR) staff at Mardan Medical Complex and identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire that included demographic information and factors potentially linked to LBP. Among 88 participants, 48.9% reported current LBP and 54.5% reported experiencing it within the last 7 days. Significant associations were found between LBP and bending at work (p = 0.031), as well as lifting patients (p = 0.03). Although smoking status and stress at work did not reach statistical significance, they showed potential for further investigation. The findings emphasize the need for ergonomic interventions and workplace modifications to reduce the burden of LBP in this population.

Keywords: Lower back pain, Occupational health, Operating room staff, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal disorders