Evaluation of work ability index and its association with job stress and musculoskeletal disorders among midwives during the Covid-19 pandemic

Maryam Amirmahani; Naser Hasheminejad; Somayeh Tahernejad; Hamid Reza Tohidi Nik

doi:10.23749/mdl.v113i4.12834

Authors

Maryam Amirmahani Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Safety at Work, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Naser Hasheminejad Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Safety at Work, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Somayeh Tahernejad Department of Occupational Health Engineering and Safety at Work, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Hamid Reza Tohidi Nik Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

Keywords:

work ability index, work-related stress, work-related musculoskeletal disorders, midwives

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and work-related stress are among the factors that can negatively affect work ability. Given the importance of midwives’ health, this study aims to evaluate the work ability of midwives and to investigate its association with the prevalence of MSDs and work-related stress in midwifery. Methods: Ninety-one midwives participated in this study. Three questionnaires, including Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire (NMQ) plus body map, Persian version of work ability index (WAI) questionnaire, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) job stress questionnaire, were used to collect data. Finally, the association of MSDs, work-related stress, and individual characteristics with WAI among midwives was investigated. Results: The highest rates of pain and discomfort were reported in the lower back and neck. The mean job stress was 116.08 with the highest scores on demand, role, and control subscales. The work ability among midwives was at an acceptable level of 39.07 on average. Inter-variable association analysis showed that the work ability was significantly associated with pain in the past 12 months and the number of coexisting MSDs. Job stress was not associated with work ability. Conclusions: Midwives’ WAI was at an acceptable level despite high prevalence of MSDs in midwives, the confirmation of the possible correlation between MSDs and work ability, as well as the high job stress in midwifery. Since the present study was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, the high stress in midwives may be partly due to the pandemic and may not be permanent. However, this level of stress may reduce the midwives' work ability over a long time.

References

Saedpanah K, Eskandary T, Moatamedzade M. Study the relation between Work Ability Index and Life Style in Mechanics of Thermal power plant. J Occup Hyg Eng. 2016; 3(3), 47-55.

van den Berg T, Elders L, de Zwart B, Burdorf A. The effects of work-related and individual factors on the Work Ability Index: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2008. Doi: 10.21859/johe-03033

Robertson L, Knight H, Prosser-Snelling E, et al. Each baby counts in 2018 – lessons learned and future directions. Obstet Gynaecol Reprod Med Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2018;28(8):253-7. Doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2018.07.004

Resolution NJPoJ. Annual report and accounts 2017/18. 2018.

Mokarami H, Mortazavi SB, Asgari A, Choobineh A, Stallones L. Multiple dimensions of work-related risk factors and their relationship to work ability among industrial workers in Iran. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2017;23(3):374-9. Doi: 10.1080/10803548.2016.1262602

Rashid M, Kristofferzon M-L, Heiden M, Nilsson A. Factors related to work ability and well-being among women on sick leave due to long-term pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1-8. Doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5580-9

Bugajska J, Sagan A. Chronic musculoskeletal disorders as risk factors for reduced work ability in younger and ageing workers. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2014;20(4):607-15. Doi: 10.1080/10803548.2014.11077069

Ramírez-Sepúlveda KA, Gómez-Arias MY, Agudelo-Suárez AA, Ramírez-Ossa DM. Musculoskeletal Dis-orders and Related Factors in the Colombian Orthodontists’ Practice. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2020:1-28. Doi: 10.1080/10803548.2020.1857975

Okuyucu K, Hignett S, Gyi D, Doshani A. Midwives’ thoughts about musculoskeletal disorders with an evaluation of working tasks. Appl Ergon. 2021;90:103263. Doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103263

Lorusso A, Bruno S, L'abbate N. A review of low back pain and musculoskeletal disorders among Italian nursing personnel. Ind Health. 2007;45(5):637-44. Doi: 10.2486/indhealth.45.637

Guidi S, Bagnara S, Fichera G. The HSE indicator tool, psychological distress and work ability. Occup Med. 2012;62(3):203-9. Doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs021

Sugimura H, Thériault G. Impact of supervisor support on work ability in an IT company. Occup Med. 2010;60(6):451-7. Doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqq053

Gharibi V, Mokarami H, Taban A, Aval MY, Samimi K, Salesi M. Effects of work-related stress on work ability index among Iranian workers. Saf Health Work. 2016;7(1):43-8. Doi: 10.1016/j.shaw.2015.10.005

van den Berg TI, Alavinia SM, Bredt FJ, Lindeboom D, Elders LA, Burdorf A. The influence of psychosocial factors at work and life style on health and work ability among professional workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2008;81(8):1029-36. Doi: 10.1007/s00420-007-0296-7

Phongamwong C, Deema H. The impact of multi-site musculoskeletal pain on work ability among health care providers. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2015;10(1):1-5. Doi: 10.1186/s12995-015-0063-8

Akodu AK, Ashalejo ZO. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders and work ability among hospital nurses. J Taibah Univ Medical Sci. 2019;14(3):252-61. Doi: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2019.02.009

Varianou-Mikellidou C, Boustras G, Nicolaidou O, Dimopoulos C, Anyfantis I, Messios P. Work-related factors and individual characteristics affecting work ability of different age groups. Saf Sci. 2020;128:104755. Doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104755

Knezevic B, Milosevic M, Golubic R, Belosevic L, Russo A, Mustajbegovic J. Work-related stress and work ability among Croatian university hospital midwives. Midwifery. 2011;27(2):146-53. Doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2009.04.002

Mazloumi A, Rostamabadi A, Saraji JN, Foroushani AR. Work ability index (WAI) and its association with psychosocial factors in one of the petrochemical industries in Iran. J Occup Health. 2012:1202130234. Doi: 10.1539/joh.11-0150-OA

Ilmarinen J. Work ability - a comprehensive concept for occupational health research and prevention. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2009;35(1):1-5.

Ilmarinen J. The work ability index (WAI). Occup Med. 2007;57(2):160. Doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqm008

Abdolalizadeh M, Arastoo A, Ghsemzadeh R, Montazeri A, Ahmadi K, Azizi AJ. The psychometric proper-ties of an Iranian translation of the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. J Occup Rehabil. 2012;22(3):401-8. Doi: 10.1007/s10926-012-9355-3

Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, et al. Standardized Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculo-skeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18(3):233-7. Doi: 10.1016/0003-6870(87)90010-X

Choobineh A, Lahmi M, Shahnavaz H, Khani Jazani R, Hosseini M. Musculoskeletal symptoms as related to ergonomic factors in Iranian hand-woven carpet industry and general guidelines for workstation de-sign. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2004;10(2):157-68. Doi: 10.1080/10803548.2004.11076604

Health, Executive S. Managing the Causes of Work-Related Stress: A Step-by-Step Approach Using the Management Standards. HSE Books Norwich, UK; 2007.

Azad-Marzabadi E, Salimi S. Study on job stress in a military unit. Mil Med. 2005;6(4):279-84.

Kujala V, Remes J, Ek E, Tammelin T, Laitinen J. Classification of Work Ability Index among young em-ployees. Occup Med. 2005;55(5):399-401. Doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqi075

Chiu M-C, Wang M-JJ, Lu C-W, Pan S-M, Kumashiro M, Ilmarinen J. Evaluating work ability and quality of life for clinical nurses in Taiwan. Nurs Outlook. 2007;55(6):318-26. Doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2007.07.002

Marina Fischer F, Notarnicola da Silva Borges F, Rotenberg L, et al. Work ability of health care shift workers: What matters? Chronobiol Int. 2006;23(6):1165-79. Doi: 10.1080/07420520601065083

Rotenberg L, Portela LF, Banks B, Griep RH, Fischer FM, Landsbergis P. A gender approach to work abil-ity and its relationship to professional and domestic work hours among nursing personnel. Appl Ergon. 2008;39(5):646-52. Doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.02.013

Monteiro MS, Ilmarinen J, Filho HRC. Work ability of workers in different age groups in a public health institution in Brazil. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2006;12(4):417-27. Doi: 10.1080/10803548.2006.11076703

Karahan A, Kav S, Abbasoglu A, Dogan N. Low back pain: prevalence and associated risk factors among hospital staff. J Adv Nurs. 2009;65(3):516-24. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04905.x

Nowotny-Czupryna O, Naworska B, Brzęk A, et al. Professional experience and ergonomic aspects of midwives' work. J Occup Med Environ Health. 2012;25(3):265-74. Doi: 10.2478/S13382-012-0034-6

Liu H-C, Cheng Y, Ho J-J. Associations of ergonomic and psychosocial work hazards with musculoskele-tal disorders of specific body parts: A study of general employees in Taiwan. Int J Ind Ergon. 2020;76:102935. Doi: 10.1016/j.ergon.2020.102935

Ou Y-K, Liu Y, Chang Y-P, Lee B-O. Relationship between Musculoskeletal Disorders and Work Perfor-mance of Nursing Staff: A Comparison of Hospital Nursing Departments. Int J Environ Res. 2021;18(13):7085. Doi: 10.3390/ijerph18137085

Gebriné KÉ, Lampek K, Sárváry A, Sárváry A, Takács P, Zrínyi M. Impact of sense of coherence and work values perception on stress and self-reported health of midwives. Midwifery. 2019;77:9-15. Doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2019.06.006

Klein CJ, Weinzimmer LG, Cooling M, Lizer S, Pierce L, Dalstrom M. Exploring burnout and job stressors among advanced practice providers. Nurs Outlook. 2020;68(2):145-54. Doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2019.09.005

Bernal D, Campos-Serna J, Tobias A, Vargas-Prada S, Benavides FG, Serra C. Work-related psychosocial risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders in hospital nurses and nursing aides: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2015;52(2):635-48. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.11.003

Benavides F. Ill health, social protection, labour relations, and sickness absence. Occup Environ Med. 2006;63(4):228-9. Doi: 10.2307/27732710

Eweida RS, Rashwan ZI, Desoky GM, Khonji LM. Mental strain and changes in psychological health hub among intern-nursing students at pediatric and medical-surgical units amid ambience of COVID-19 pandemic: A comprehensive survey. Nurse Educ Pract. 2020;49:102915. Doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2020.102915