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. 2024 Apr 28;10(2):143-151.
doi: 10.33546/bnj.3054. eCollection 2024.

Occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders, burnout, and psychological suffering in Brazilian nursing workers: A cross-sectional study

Marília Duarte Valim  1 , Raymara Melo de Sousa  1 , Bruno da Silva Santos  1 , André Luiz Silva Alvim  2 , Fábio da Costa Carbogim  2 , Vanessa Albuquerque Alvim de Paula  2 , Fabiana Guerra Pimenta  3 , Aires Garcia Dos Santos Junior  4 , Odinea Maria Amorim Batista  5 , Layze Braz de Oliveira  6 , Denise Andrade  6 , Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa  7
Affiliations

Occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders, burnout, and psychological suffering in Brazilian nursing workers: A cross-sectional study

Marília Duarte Valim et al. Belitung Nurs J. .

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) pose a pervasive concern among nursing professionals due to the high physical workload. Simultaneously, the complex relationship between MSDs and mental health outcomes in this population remains an area of significant interest and importance.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MSDs and their relationships with burnout and psychological suffering within the nursing workforce.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 involving 291 nursing professionals in Brazil. Standardized questionnaires were employed to gather information on MSDs, mental health outcomes, and pertinent work-related factors. Robust statistical analyses were conducted to ascertain the prevalence of MSDs, establish associations between MSDs and mental health outcomes, and delineate the influence of work-related factors on these associations. Statistical analysis was performed using the R software.

Results: The study revealed a significant prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) among nursing workers, focusing on regions that include the lower back, upper back, neck, and shoulders. Individuals with MSIs in the lower back showed a marked increase in emotional exhaustion (p = 0.02), as did those with MSIs in the upper back (p <0.01) and depersonalization (p = 0.07). On the other hand, nursing professionals who reported MSIs in the neck and shoulders had considerably higher scores in emotional exhaustion (p <0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively) and depersonalization (p = 0.05 and p = 0.05, respectively). However, no significant correlations emerged between MSIs and depression or work-related factors.

Conclusions: This study highlights the urgency of implementing proactive measures to prevent and manage MSDs within the nursing profession. Moreover, it emphasizes the critical need to enhance working conditions and provide robust support mechanisms to safeguard the mental health of nursing professionals.Open AccessOpen Access.

Keywords: Brazil; burnout; depersonalization; depression; emotional exhaustion; mental health; musculoskeletal disorder; nurses; workload.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no conflict of interest in this study.

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