Abstract
Background
Early evidence suggests spinal musculoskeletal symptoms are as prevalent in Australian
midwives as in samples of nurses. Functional consequences of these symptoms include
sick leave and functional incapacity, which are costly at both individual and workplace
levels. To date there have been no studies of these consequences in midwives.
Question
What risk factors are associated with sick leave and functional incapacity among midwives
with spinal musculoskeletal symptoms?
Methods
We undertook a cross-sectional study of qualified Australian midwives who completed
the baseline survey of the Nurses and Midwives e-Cohort Study. A comprehensive set
of independent variables were examined for bivariate associations with the main outcomes
of sick leave and functional incapacity due to work-related musculoskeletal symptoms
in the neck, upper or lower back. Associations that achieved a p value < .1 were entered into multiple logistic regression models.
Findings
729 midwives with a mean age of 46 years were eligible for inclusion. Functional incapacity
was more than twice as common as sick leave. Severity of worst pain was the explanatory
variable most strongly associated with each main outcome and the only one significant
for both. Psychological job demands showed a significant association with sick leave,
while several individual factors were associated with both outcomes. Only the association
of poorer general health with functional incapacity remained significant in all three
spinal regions.
Conclusion
Our sample reported considerable work-related musculoskeletal pain and functional
incapacity. Factors associated with sick leave and functional incapacity in midwives
should be confirmed by longitudinal studies with the aim of developing tertiary prevention
strategies.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 24, 2012
Accepted:
September 24,
2012
Received in revised form:
July 11,
2012
Received:
March 1,
2012
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2012 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
