Research in Sport Medicine and Technology

Introduction: The present study examined the prevalence of back pain and its association with anxiety and
depression in nurses working in affiliated hospitals to social security organization in Isfahan city.
Research Method: The design of this research was descriptive-correlation and its population consisted of
815 nurses working in Shariati (510 subjects) and Gharazy hospitals (305 subjects). Research sample
included 244 (78 males and 166 females) with age range of 25 to 40 years and mean age 35/3±6/4 years
subjects selected using stratified random sampling method. Visual analog scale of pain questionnaire (VAS),
Katel Anxiety questionnaire and the Beck Depression questionnaire were used. Pearson correlation
coefficient and independent t-test were used in inferential statistic part. The data were analyzed with
significant level of 0/05, by SPSS 16.
Results: The results showed that 55/3% of nurses had mechanical acute or chronic low back pain. There
was a positive and significant correlation between low back pain and anxiety and depression in nurses (P ≤
0.05). Also there was no significant difference between the mean value of pain severity in male and female
nurses.
Conclusion: Due to the relationship between pain, anxiety and depression in nurses, attention to physical
and psychological factors simultaneously in the prevention and treatment of back pain in these patients is
recommended.