The association between psychological stress and low back pain among district hospital employees in Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

The presence of low back pain (LBP) can be influenced by psychosocial stress experienced at work. The aim of this study was to determine the point prevalence for LBP and the psychological stress expe-rienced at work as a factor associated with the presence of LBP amongst staff employed at district hospital in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by all participants. Results indicated that the point prevalence for LBP was 47.46%. Sixty five point five seven percent of employees who experienced stress at work all the time, suffered from LBP (p=0.001). Stress experienced at work all the time increased the risk of LBP (OR 3.47 CI 1.46 ; 8.23). A clinical recommendation resulting from this study is that healthcare providers need to include the provision of education, support and appropriate referral for patients who perceive themselves to have high levels of stress.

Keywords

• low back pain
• psychological stress
• and hospital staff