Effective knowledge of back care techniques among nurses at Kiruddu Regional Referral Hospital. A cross-sectional study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71020/0tmp9647Keywords:
Back care techniques, Safe patient handling, Body mechanics, Occupational ergonomics, Patient transfer, Nursing practiceAbstract
Background:
The study aimed to evaluate nurses' knowledge of back care techniques among nurses at Kiruddu Regional Referral Hospital.
Methodology:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses at Kiruddu Regional Referral Hospital. From a target population of 300 nurses, 50 were selected using simple random sampling. Data were obtained using structured questionnaires and a visual analogue pain scale. Instruments were pretested to establish reliability and validity. Data were coded, entered into Microsoft Excel, and analyzed using SPSS. Frequencies and percentages described prevalence, while chi-square and logistic regression assessed associations between low back pain and selected factors. Ethical approval, consent, privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity were observed.
Results:
Among the 50 respondents, 35 (70.0%) were female, and 15 (30.0%) were male. Age distribution showed that respondents aged 40-44 years constituted the largest proportion, 15 (30.0%), followed by those aged 35-39 years, 10 (20.0%), and 30-34 years, 7 (18.0%). Regarding education, 25 (50.0%) had bachelor’s degrees, 19 (38.0%) had diplomas, 4 (8.0%) had certificates, and 2 (4.0%) had master’s degrees or higher. Marital status showed that 33 (66.0%) were single and 17 (34.0%) were married/cohabiting. Concerning work experience, 19 (38.0%) had worked for 4-6 years, 13 (26.0%) for 7-10 years, 11 (22.0%) for more than 10 years, and 7 (14.0%) for less than 3 years. Overall, 38 (76.0%) respondents reported severe low back pain in the previous two years, compared with 12 (24.0%) who did not. Among those reporting severe low back pain, 30 (78.9%) were female, and 8 (21.1%) were male; 26 (68.4%) were single, and 12 (31.6%) were married/cohabiting.
Conclusion:
Nurses demonstrated good knowledge of back care techniques, but inadequate training, staffing, equipment, and space limited effective implementation.
Recommendation:
Hospital administration and nursing management should conduct regular back-care training and provide adequate equipment and space for safe back-care practices.
References
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https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199612150-00024
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