Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a public health concern worldwide and is a common cause of work-related disorder particularly in health-care workers (HCWs) including doctors, nurses and technicians, who are vulnerable to LBP.
Aims: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of LBP among HCWs in operation rooms at Mansoura University Main Hospital.
Methods: this study is a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect personal data, job characteristics and questions about low back in the past year. Roland-Morris LBP and Disability Questionnaire was used to diagnose LBP.
Results: Prevalence of LBP in the studied group was 62.4%. The independent predictors of LBP were; working in obstetrics & gynecology department (OR=13.7), working in surgery department (OR=12.4), obesity (OR=7.3), associated co-morbidities (OR=6.3), being a physician (OR=4.7), being females HCWs (OR=3.14) and being a nursing staff (OR=1.3).
Conclusion and recommendations: LBP is a common issue among HCWs. Several preventable risk factors have been recognized, including increased BMI and physical inactivity. Education programs on prevention and workplace interventions are necessary in order to decrease LBP.