Can Vitality and Mental Health Influence Upper Extremity Pain? A Prospective Cohort Study of 1185 Female Hospital Nurses

Bibliographic Data

ID16945839
AuthorsRodrigo Núñez‐Cortés (0000-0002-4068-9338, Universitat de València), Ander Espin (0000-0003-1969-3057, University of the Basque Country), Joaquín Calatayud (0000-0002-8670-8346, Universitat de València, corresponding author), Sofía Pérez‐Alenda (0000-0002-0841-5767, Universitat de València), Carlos Cruz‐Montecinos (0000-0002-3835-3368, Hospital San Juan de Dios), Carlos Cruz-Montecinos, Rubén López‐Bueno (0000-0002-7865-3429, Universidad de Zaragoza), Jonas Vinstrup (0000-0001-8430-0139, National Research Centre for the Working Environment), Markus Due Jakobsen (0000-0003-1165-968X, National Research Centre for the Working Environment), Lars L Andersen (0000-0003-2777-8085, National Research Centre for the Working Environment)
Year2023
Volume13
Issue10
Pages2192-2201
Publication date2023-10-07
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2174-8144 • E-ISSN: 2254-9625
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/ejihpe13100154
PMID37887155
OpenAlexW4387450727
LanguageEN
References cited49

Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity are among the most common occupational problems affecting nurses. The aim of this study was to analyze the prospective association between vitality and mental health and increased upper extremity pain intensity in female hospital nurses during a 1-year follow-up. A prospective cohort of 1185 female nurses from 19 hospitals in Denmark was conducted using baseline and 12-month follow-up questionnaires to identify potential associations between levels of vitality and mental health (SF-36 subscales) with pain intensity (0–10 scale) in the shoulder, elbow and hand/wrist regions. Associations were modeled using cumulative logistic regression. The fully adjusted model included the variables of age, baseline pain, body mass index, smoking status, years of occupation, leisure time physical activity level, number of daily patient transfers/handlings, as well as recognition and influence at work. The mean age was 48.3 (SD: 10.4) years. In the fully adjusted model, significant associations between low vitality levels and the odds of shoulder pain (OR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.43–2.68) and hand/wrist pain (OR = 2.32; 95%CI: 1.58–3.42) were observed. Likewise, moderate levels of mental health was associated with increased odds of shoulder pain at follow-up (OR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.16–1.93). These results provide an important incentive for nursing managers to assess vitality and mental health among hospital nurses and to consider this factor in prevention strategies to ensure good worker health and, by extension, high-quality care

Cohort · Cohort study · Mental health · Physical therapy · Prospective cohort study · Psychiatry · Vitality · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation · Pain Management and Treatment · Psychology · Internal Medicine