Our group research question is: How to prevent low back pain among older female nurses? ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Running head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
Annotated Bibliography
Your name here
Adelphi University
School of Nursing
Author Note
Our group research question is: How to prevent low back pain among older female
nurses?
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2
Annotated Bibliography
Aegler, B., & Satink, T. (2009). Performing occupations under pain: The experience of persons
with chronic pain. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 16, 49-56.
Chronic pain is known as a complex and subjective phenomenon that challenges
healthcare professionals who coach and support clients with chronic pain. The aim of
this study was to explore how persons with chronic pain experienced their
occupational performance. Eight persons suffering from chronic pain were interviewed
and the data was analysed with the constant comparative method. Three themes were
identified: “Performing is an ongoing attraction”, “Getting used to taking breaks is not
easy”, and “The challenge to finish performing”. “Performing is an ongoing attraction”
illustrates the innate need of every human being to be active and also how pleasurable
occupations do not influence pain. The ongoing thoughts and emotions while
participants stop their performance are described in “Getting used to taking breaks is
not easy”. This stop and go during every occupation is discussed in the perspective of
temporality and occupational performance. In “The challenge to finish performing” the
participants describe how they complete certain occupations despite pain. This is
discussed with the focus on distraction and flow experience.
Gabrielle, S., Jackson, D., & Mannix, J. (2007). Older women nurses: health, ageing concerns
and self-care strategies. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 61(3), 316-325.
Aim. This paper is a report of a study of the health and ageing concerns and self-care
strategies of older female Registered Nurses currently working in direct care-giving
roles in acute public hospitals and community facilities.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3
Background. Nursing is a rapidly ageing, and female-dominated workforce. However,
despite the ageing of the nursing workforce, little is known about the needs and health
concerns of older nurses.
Method. A feminist perspective was used and 12 female Registered Nurses aged 40–
60 years, employed in various acute hospital and community health settings in
Australia took part in qualitative interviews in late 2004. Narratives were audio taped,
transcribed and analysed thematically.
Findings. Two major themes were identified. The first theme –Aches and pains of
ageing– had four subthemes: Neglecting self: ‘You don’t think of yourself first’;
Physical changes: ‘The body is wearing out’; Living with pain: ‘You just work around
it’; and Tiredness: ‘I’m just tired all the time’. The second theme –Evolving lifestyles:
works in progress – had three subthemes: The power of exercise: ‘I feel great…and
I’m enjoying life’; Healthy eating: ‘Low fat, lots of fruit and veg, little processed
food’; and Adapting to ageing: ‘I think it’s quite a good time of life’.
Conclusion. Further research is needed to explore the need for protective work
practices and promoting healthy lifestyle practices for ageing nurses. Managers need
to recognize the changing health needs of older clinical nurses and offer, for example,
flexible rostering and tailored exercise programmes to promote their health.
Yip, V.Y. (2009). New low back pain in nurses: work activities, work stress and sedentary
lifestyle. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 46(4): 430-440.
Background. Low back pain is common among nurses. Previous studies have shown
that the risk of low back pain increases rapidly with greater amounts of physical work
and psychological stress, but is inversely related to leisure activities. However, these
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4
previous studies were predominantly retrospective in design and not many took
account of three factors simultaneously.
Aim. This 12-month prospective study examined the relationships between work
activities, work stress, sedentary lifestyle and new low back pain.
Method. A total of 144 nurses from six Hong Kong district hospitals completed a faceto-face baseline interview, which was followed-up by a telephone interview. The main
study measures were demographic characteristics, work activities, work stress,
physical leisure activities and the nature of new low back pain during the 12-month
follow-up period. Level of work stress, quality of relationships at work, level of
enjoyment experienced at work, and work satisfaction were self-reported.
Results. Fifty-six (38.9%) nurses reported experiencing new low back pain. Sedentary
leisure time activity was not associated with new low back pain. Being comparatively
new on a ward (adjusted relative risk 2.90), working in bending postures (adjusted
relative risk 2.76) and poor work relationships with colleagues (adjusted relative risk
2.52) were independent predictors of new low back pain.
Conclusion. The findings of this study suggest that low back pain is a common
problem in the population of nurses in Hong Kong. Being comparatively new on a
ward, bending frequently during work and having poor work relationships with
colleagues are independent predictors of new low back pain. Training for high-risk
work activities and ergonomic assessment of awkward work postures are essential.
Moreover, relaxation and team-building workshops for nurses, especially those who
are less experienced in the type of work on their current ward, are recommended.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5
Dawson, A.P., McLennan, S. N., Schiller, S.D., Jull, G.A., Hodges, P.W., & Stewart, S. (2007).
Interventions to prevent back pain and back injury in nurses: A systematic review.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 64(10): 642–650.
doi: 10.1136/oem.2006.030643
A systematic literature review was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of
interventions that aim to prevent back pain and back injury in nurses. Ten relevant
databases were searched; these were examined and reference lists checked. Two
reviewers applied selection criteria, assessed methodological quality and extracted data
from trials. A qualitative synthesis of evidence was undertaken and sensitivity
analyses performed. Eight randomised controlled trials and eight non‐randomised
controlled trials met eligibility criteria. Overall, study quality was poor, with only one
trial classified as high quality. There was no strong evidence regarding the efficacy of
any interventions aiming to prevent back pain and injury in nurses. The review
identified moderate level evidence from multiple trials that manual handling training
in isolation is not effective and multidimensional interventions are effective in
preventing back pain and injury in nurses. Single trials provided moderate evidence
that stress management programs do not prevent back pain and limited evidence that
lumbar supports are effective in preventing back injury in nurses. There is conflicting
evidence regarding the efficacy of exercise interventions and the provision of manual
handling equipment and training. This review highlights the need for high quality
randomised controlled studies to examine the effectiveness of interventions to prevent
back pain and injury in nursing populations. Implications for future research are
discussed.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 6
Karahan, A. & Bayraktar, N. (2013). Effectiveness of an education program to prevent nurses’
low back pain: An interventional study in Turkey. Workplace Health & Safety, 61(2), 73-
78. DOI: 10.3928/21650799-20130129-94
This study was undertaken to evaluate an education program to prevent low back pain
among nurses. This interventional study used a one-group, pretest/posttest design and
was conducted in four hospitals in Bolu, Turkey. Nurses’ knowledge was assessed
before and after training; 60 nurses were evaluated while performing five procedures
that can lead to low back pain using an observation form. These forms were given to
the nurses 3 months after the training to assess their knowledge and observations of
the five specified behaviors were repeated. The mean knowledge and procedures
scores of the nurses were higher just after and 3 months after the training compared to
before training