Incidence, Severity, and Pain Self-Efficacy of Low Back Pain in the Female Healthcare Professionals and Their Impact on Overall Quality of Life: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Abstract

Aims/Background Female healthcare professionals are prone to experiencing high rates of non-specific low back pain (LBP), significantly impacting their performance and overall well-being. This multi-center, retrospective study aims to investigate the frequency and severity of non-specific LBP among female healthcare professionals. Additionally, it seeks to assess the relationship among patients' physical condition, self-belief attributes, and quality of life, providing a comprehensive understanding of this crucial occupational health concern. Methods After propensity score matching (PSM), 1200 female clinical nurses (Study Group 1) and 1200 female doctors (Study Group 2) employed at 6 grade-A tertiary hospitals in Chongqing between November 2021 and January 2024 were included in the study. Additionally, 1200 healthy female volunteers who underwent routine physical examinations during the same period were enrolled as the Control Group. The study assessed the relationship between the incidence of LBP and various factors, such as sociodemographic characteristics, pain intensity, LBP-related disability, pain self-efficacy, and overall quality of life. By comparing these factors, the research sought to investigate their impact on the overall well-being of the subjects. Results Significant variations were observed in the prevalence of LBP across the three groups, with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 exhibiting higher rates than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Notable differences were found in the mean Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and pain self-efficacy questionnaire (psEQ) scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 recording higher mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there were significant differences in the mean subjective symptoms, clinical signs, limitations in daily activities, and total Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) LBP scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 yielding lower mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). Additionally, significant differences were observed in the mean social function, emotional role, mental health, and total 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) scores among the three groups (p < 0.001), with Study Group 1 and Study Group 2 showing lower mean scores than the Control Group (p < 0.001). The total JOA LBP scores and total psEQ scores showed positive correlations with the total SF-36 scores in the individual groups and the overall study cohort, while the VAS scores were negatively correlated with the total SF-36 scores (p < 0.001). Conclusion LBP occurs more frequently among female healthcare professionals than the general female population. Moreover, they experience more severe pain, greater functional limitations, and a more pronounced decrease in their quality of life. Despite these challenges, the unique occupational demands result in a higher pain self-efficacy among female medical care workers, which could help alleviate the negative impact of LBP on their quality of life.