Back problems among emergency medical services professionals: The LEADS health and wellness follow-up study
✍ Scribed by Jonathan R. Studnek; J. Mac Crawford; J.R. Wilkins III; Michael L. Pennell
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 169 KB
- Volume
- 53
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0271-3586
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Objective
Describe work‐life and demographic characteristics associated with reporting recent back pain, and estimate back pain severity among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals.
Methods
A 58‐item postal questionnaire was used to collect relevant health and wellness information from a national sample of EMS professionals. The outcome variables were self‐reported pain in the back or legs, and severity of recent back pain as indicated by the Aberdeen Back Pain Scale (ABPS).
Results
There were 470/930 (50.5%) participants who reported one or more days of pain in the back or legs over a 2‐week period. The variables most strongly associated with recent back pain and pain severity were prior back problems, self‐reported health, and job satisfaction.
Conclusion
This study indicated that work‐life, health, and demographic characteristics of EMS professionals were associated with reporting recent back pain. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:12–22, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.