The Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Complaints among Hospital Nurses and Nursing Home Caregivers in Indonesia

• Main Authors: Hardianto Iridiastadi, Bayuardi Anggawisnu, Fatin Saffanah Didin, Putra Alif Ramdhani Yamin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universitas Indonesia 2019-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Technology
• Subjects: Caregivers; Hospital; Musculoskeletal complaints; Nurses; Nursing homes
• Online Access: http://ijtech.eng.ui.ac.id/article/view/1320
• ISSN: 2086-9614; 2087-2100

The jobs of hospital nurses and nursing home caregivers are often associated with risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Little is known, however, about the prevalence of such problems among nurses and caregivers in Indonesia. This study aims at determining the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MS) complaints experienced by caregivers in Indonesia and identifying relevant factors contributing to this problem. Standardized Nordic Questionnaires were distributed to 121 hospital nurses and nursing home caregivers, as a means of understanding the magnitude of the problem. Results of this study demonstrated that 75% of the respondents reported MS complaints (for any body parts) in the previous year. Roughly 40 to 50% of the respondents reported MS complaints of the upper and lower back. Complaints of the shoulder, neck, and right wrist were reported by about 30 to 40% of the respondents. Compared to their colleagues in the hospital, nursing home caregivers were six to eight times more likely to experience right shoulder problems and about three to four times more likely to develop lower back problems. Other working conditions resulting in an increased chance of MS problems included age, length of employment, and shift durations. It was suspected that poor working postures and excessive effort while handling the patients were two major factors that were in need of immediate attention. The findings of this study could be used as a basis for ergonomic interventions in both medical and home care settings. Such improvements may, in the long run, result in better morale, increased productivity, and a stronger bottom line for hospital and nursing home too.