Back Pain & Work Disability in Health Care Workers

描述(申请人提供)：这项拟议研究的目的是研究职业性背痛(OBP)的风险因素，并在杜克大学医学中心(DUMC)的大量人口(n=12,500)卫生保健人员中研究工作残疾对工作人员及其同事的影响。这项研究的目的是检查组织因素，如裁员努力，同时考虑其他已知和怀疑的OBP风险因素，作为卫生保健人员背部损伤和残疾的可能预测因素，这些因素在以前的研究中没有得到充分的解决。此外，还将研究护理人员背部受伤的风险因素，这些人员的工作涉及处理病人。将进行详细的分析，以探索导致整个卫生保健工作者队列中不同人口统计、心理社会和职业特征的背部损伤导致限制和损失工作日的差异。还将讨论影响护理单位修改后的工作分配的可行性和有效性的因素。在确定修改后的工作分配的整体效果时，将考虑损失和受限工作日的数量、身体损伤、心理社会需求以及受伤工人对工作场所住宿的看法。将通过考虑护士经理、护理人员、职业医生、职业健康护士以及参与实施这些工作场所战略的工人补偿管理人员和个案经理的反馈来审查护理单位修改工作分配的可行性。将使用以前在DUMC收集的数据，以及其他预期监测数据和焦点小组信息。这一组合 将利用定量和定性技术解决国家职业研究议程的腰部疾病优先研究领域，此外还将解决与特殊高危人群、监测工作和职业健康服务研究有关的问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The purpose of the proposed study is to examine risk factors for occupational back pain (OBP), and to examine the impact of work disability on workers and their co-workers in a large population population (n = 12,500) of health care workers at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC). This study aims to examine organizational factors, such as downsizing efforts while considering other known and suspected risk factors of OBP, as possible predictors for back injury and disability in health care workers that have not been adequately addressed in prior studies. In addition, risk factors for back injury specific to nursing personnel whose jobs involve patient handling will be examined. Detailed analyses will be conducted to explore differences in back injuries that result in restricted and lost workdays across variable demographic, psychosocial, and occupational characteristics for the entire cohort of health care workers. Factors influencing the feasibility and effectiveness of modified work assignments specific to nursing units will also be addressed. The number of lost and restricted workdays, physical impairment, psychosocial demands, and the injured worker's perception of workplace accommodations will be considered in determining the overall effectiveness of modified work assignments. The feasibility of modified work assignments in nursing units will be examined by considering feedback from nurse managers, nursing personnel, occupational physicians, occupational health nurses, and workers' compensation administrators and case-managers who are integrally involved with implementing these workplace strategies. Data previously collected at DUMC will be used, as well as additional prospective surveillance data, and focus group information. This mix of quantitative and qualitative techniques will be utilized to address the National Occupational Research Agenda's Priority Research Area of low back disorders, in addition to addressing issues related to special populations at risk, surveillance efforts, and occupational health services research.