Is There an Effect of an Hour Education for Decreasing the Severity of Low Back Pain and Increasing Functionality in Office Workers?

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we gave information about appropriate working position to the office workers who have low back pain for last 3 months and we aimed to determine the effect of this intervention on frequency and level of low back pain and functionality of the workers.

Materials and Methods: This study was an interventional study. Data were collected in September 2017 and December 2017 using face to face interview method. Information was given by a one-hour conference and distributing 4 informative brochures between October 2017 and November 2017.

Results: 409 persons participated in the study and 141 of them who had low back pain for last 3 months formed the intervention group. 59.7% of the participants noted that they usually perform desk work. Logistic regression analysis showed that low back pain was 3,25 times more frequent among women than men, and 2,41 times more frequent among workers who had non-communicable disease. Among workers who had low back pain and attended the conference and read at least one brochure, mean Visual Analog Scale score was 5,97±1,2 before intervention and 5,03±1,1 after intervention (p<0,001) and mean Roland Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire score were and 9,98±1,7 before intervention, and 8,91±1,3 after intervention, respectively (p<0,001). No difference was determined among workers who didn’t attend any of these two interventions (p>0,05).

Conclusions: Considering the effect of intervention, this result shows that implementation of intervention with health promotion approach at workplace is an appropriate method for reducing severity of low back pain and increasing functionality.