Interventions for Low Back Pain Among Critical Care Nurses

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are at high risk of low back pain due to the frequent repositioning of critically ill patients. Methods: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and CINHAL databases using specific keywords and Boolean operators to guide the search for studies on musculoskeletal pain in ICU settings. Fourteen relevant studies meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the review, and information was extracted into a matrix. Results: Seven studies that implement the use of lift devices, such as SPHM and Turn Assist, were found to reduce physical loading. Four intervention studies, two on education and two on multidimensional ergonomics, were associated with improved lifting practices and lower occurrences of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses. The two studies that consist of exercise-based interventions had conflicting results, as one study found no decrease in musculoskeletal injuries, while the other reported a lower prevalence of injuries and reduced pain intensity among nurses in exercise-based interventions. Conclusion: The use of lift devices, education, and multidimensional ergonomics interventions may be effective in lowering back pain for critical care nurses, while exercise-based training interventions have conflicting outcomes and insufficient evidence to support their effectiveness in reducing back pain. Keywords: intensive care unit, back pain, nurse, interventions