Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Nigerian Physiotherapists
Author Information
Author(s): Adegoke Babatunde OA, Akodu Ashiyat K, Oyeyemi Adewale L
Primary Institution: Physiotherapy Department, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence and work factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists in Nigeria?
Conclusion
The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among physiotherapists in Nigeria is higher than most values reported for their counterparts around the world.
Supporting Evidence
- 91.3% of physiotherapists reported experiencing WRMDs in the past 12 months.
- The most affected body part was the low back, with a prevalence of 69.8%.
- 83.5% of respondents cited treating a large number of patients as a major work factor for WRMDs.
- 62.6% of physiotherapists modified their treatment due to WRMDs.
Takeaway
Many physiotherapists in Nigeria have pain from their work, especially in their lower back, and this is more common in younger and female therapists.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to physiotherapists across Nigeria.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may reflect personal beliefs rather than actual contributions of work factors to disorders.
Limitations
The non-probability sampling may limit the generalizability of the results, and recall bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data.
Participant Demographics
126 physiotherapists, 63.5% male and 36.5% female, mean age 33.7 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.007 for gender, p = 0.045 for BMI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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