Introduction

Nurses perform a wide range of tasks and therefore serve as vital frontline employees in healthcare facilities around the world. Nurses often work in places with no other readily available healthcare practitioners. These responsibilities are thought to considerably increase nurses’ workloads, which in turn increases their risk of low back pain (LBP) [1].

LBP is a condition that frequently requires accessing medical services. It is currently the most prevalent type of musculoskeletal illness [2]. Around the world, between 15 and 45% of the general population suffers from LBP [3]. According to official statistics, 18.8% of the general population in Saudi Arabia suffers from LBP [4]. Among healthcare professionals, nurses are the most frequently affected by LBP, and they are at a greater risk of developing LBP than other healthcare employees and the general population; this has been referred to as «an epidemic in nursing» [5].

Nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) experienced an LBP prevalence of 76.0%. Associated risk factors include female gender, lack of availability of assistive devices for patient handling, insufficient training in intensive care, a lack of regular exercise, and job stress [6].

A low back injury was the most often reported work-related musculoskeletal disorder among ICU nurses in China (80.1%), followed by neck discomfort [7]. Nurses in Africa were more likely than the general population to have symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders [1]. In Africa, the prevalence of LBP among nurses was reported to be 44.1—82.7%, and it was found to be 45.8—70.9% in Ethiopia [8].

In a study conducted in Malaysia, quantitative cross-sectional research was conducted to investigate the prevalence of work-related LBP among ICU nurses, as well as the variables that influence LBP. The findings indicated that nurses report significant levels of LBP, with 16.4% suffering from LBP before nursing and 68.2% suffering from LBP after starting a nursing career. Duration of experience on the present ward, duration of total nursing experience, age, and a tendency to stand for long periods were all associated with LBP. The most effective method for nurses to prevent LBP is to practice better manual handling techniques while moving patients on the wards [9].

The prevalence of LBP among nurses is high in Saudi Arabia, as is the case in many other nations. According to recent research at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, the annual prevalence of LBP among nurses is 85.5% [4]. In another study, Alshahrani (2020) conducted cross-sectional research in Saudi Arabia to identify the different demographic and work-related professional variables linked with LBP among nursing professionals. According to the study’s findings, 74.8% of participants experienced low back discomfort. Gender, site of employment, type of employment, and the number of direct patient contact hours per week were shown to substantially correlate with LBP among the many work-related characteristics studied [10]. Moreover, a study [11] revealed that stress and psychosocial and occupational factors were also linked to LBP among nurses in Saudi Arabian hospitals.

Tools for assessing the prevalence and risk factors of LBP among nurses in the ICU are not standardized and are largely unavailable in the Qassim region hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the majority of previous studies conducted in Saudi Arabia to assess the prevalence and risk factors of LBP among nurses were not conducted in ICUs. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to utilize a standardized tool to assess the prevalence and level of LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region in Saudi Arabia and to explore the impact of that pain on the various aspects of nurses’ lives.

Significance of the study

Nurses are the most prone to develop LBP among healthcare professionals working at hospitals. Accordingly, the nursing profession is classified among the top 10 occupations that have a high risk of LBP [1]. Nurses working in ICUs, in particular, are more likely than the general population to suffer from LBP. This is due to factors such as providing patient care while bending forward for long periods, over-forcing and over-loading some body parts while repositioning patients, and allocating more time to patient care than other hospital personnel.

Additional factors contributing to LBP include an excessive amount of labor performed in ICUs, as well as the repetition of bodily actions and tasks such as reaching upward or forward, clasping one’s hands together or embracing oneself, lifting, and turning [12].

Nurses’ LBP may impact their efficiency in the clinical setting. Because nurses play such a crucial part in the healthcare system and account for around one-third of the workforce at any given hospital, it is thought that LBP directly impacts their job constraints and their work attendance [13].

In Saudi Arabia, there are no standardized instruments available for assessing the prevalence and risk factors of LBP in nurses [14]. The results of this study could enhance the accuracy of assessing LBP and its associated factors. Thus, preventive measures could be developed and complications minimized.

The objective of the study

To describe LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Specific objectives

1. To assess the prevalence of LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region.

2. To describe the level of LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region.

3. To identify LBP-associated factors among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region.

4. To explore the aspects of life affected by LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region.

Research questions

1. What is the prevalence of LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region?

2. What are the factors associated with LBP among ICU nurses of a tertiary public hospital in the Qassim region?

Subjects/Materials and methods

Study design

The design of this study was quantitative and cross-sectional. This design involves the collection of data at one point in time, in which all phenomena under study are captured during one data collection period [15].

Study setting

The present study was conducted at the ICU of King Saud Hospital in Unaizah City in Qassim, Saudi Arabia. This public hospital provides secondary and tertiary health care for different types of patients and employs a large number of nurses.

Study population

The population of this study involved nurses who were working in ICUs. The total number was 69. All were invited for inclusion in the study if they were willing to participate. The convenience sampling technique (total sampling in particular) was used to recruit all available nurses who were within the inclusion criteria, and 60 nurses were included in the current study.

Inclusion criteria

Male and female nurses who were working in the ICUs of King Saud Hospital and had at least one year of experience were included.

Exclusion criteria

Nurses who were unwilling to participate and nurses with chronic back problems were excluded from the current study.

Data collection procedures

The process of data collection included obtaining ethical approval from the authorized persons and the ethics committee at the Qassim health cluster, conducting visits to the selected hospital, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, conducting a pilot study to test the tool’s clarity, and recruiting participants to complete the questionnaire following their voluntary consent with full autonomy and anonymity. The data was collected within a one-month period.

Study instrument

The researcher used a structured questionnaire to assess the nurses’ LBP intensity and the aspects of their lives that were affected by the pain. A review of the current literature was also conducted to determine the factors associated with LBP. The data collection tool consisted of two parts. The first part involved recording the demographic factors of participants, such as their gender, age, and experience. The second part incorporated the Oswestry low back pain scale, which uses a 6-point Likert scale (0—5) to assess 10 sections and items related to pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life, and traveling.

The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire was designed to indicate how LBP affects an individual’s ability to manage his or her everyday life. Moreover, the tool is used to estimate the disability level associated with an individual’s LBP [16]. The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire is a standardized tool used to assess an individual’s LBP and disability. It was utilized in many previous studies, in which it was tested and deemed valid and reliable [17]. For this study, the tool was used in its original English form without any modification.

Statistical management

The researcher used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM, SPSS) version 24 to analyze data. The statistical tests used included descriptive statistics (such as frequencies, means, and standard deviations) with the use of figure representation, and inferential statistics (such as independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, and regression) with a p-value considered significant at less than 0.05.

Ethical considerations

The researcher committed to all required ethical considerations for this study. Ethical approval was granted by the Regional Research Ethics Committee at the health cluster in the Qassim Province. Moreover, the study participants were notified that there would be no risk associated with inclusion in this study and that their information would remain confidential. The identity of the participants was anonymous, and the nurses were given full autonomy to either participate or abstain from the current study.

Results

The current study aimed to describe LBP among nurses in the ICU of a public hospital in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Almost all the nurses working in the ICUs of King Saud Hospital participated in the study. The findings are represented in three tables and one figure as follows.

Table 1 presents the sociodemographic characteristics of 60 ICU nurses, including their age, gender, marital status, nationality, years of experience, job title, and educational level.

Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the ICU nurses, n=60

In terms of age, the largest category of nurses (41.7%) ranged from 25 to 29 years old, while 15% were less than 24 years old. The gender distribution was predominantly female, with only a small number of males. In terms of marital status, just over half of the nurses were married, while the rest were single. Regarding nationality, a large majority of the nurses were non-Saudi, while 16.7% were Saudi. In terms of years of experience, 33.3% were relatively new to the field with 1—3 years of experience, while 21.7% had 10 or more years of experience.

In terms of job title, the majority of the nurses were staff nurses (83.3%), followed by charge nurses (15.0%) and head nurses (1.7%). Finally, in terms of educational level, the majority of the nurses held a BSN degree (86.7%), while a small percentage had a nursing diploma (5.0%) or postgraduate nursing education (8.3%). Table 1 provides insight into the sociodemographic characteristics of ICU nurses, which may be relevant for understanding their perspectives and experiences in the workplace.

Table 2 reflected the LBP scale, with 10 sections related to pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life, and traveling.

Table 2. Description of the LBP sections and items

Section 1 asks about pain intensity and provides six options ranging from «I have no pain at the moment» to «The pain is the worst imaginable at the moment». The majority of respondents (80%) rated themselves as having no pain or a moderate pain level. Section 2 assesses personal care and provides six options ranging from «I can look after myself normally without causing extra pain» to «I do not get dressed, I wash with difficulty and stay in bed». Half of the respondents reported being able to look after themselves normally without causing extra pain; however, a small percentage (1.7%) reported needing help every day in most aspects of self-care, and a similar percentage reported that they do not get dressed and that they wash with difficulty and stay in bed.

Section 3 assesses lifting capacity and provides six options ranging from «I can lift heavy weights without extra pain» to «I can’t lift or carry anything at all». The majority of respondents (53.3%) reported that they could lift heavy weights but with extra pain. Section 4 asks about walking distance and provides six options ranging from «Pain does not prevent me from walking any distance» to «I am in bed most of the time». The majority of respondents (58.3%) reported that pain did not prevent them from walking any distance. However, it is worth mentioning that nearly half (40%) of nurses reported that LBP prevents them from walking more than one or two kilometers.

Section 5 assesses sitting tolerance and provides six options ranging from «I can sit in my chair as long as I like» to «Pain prevents me from sitting at all». The majority of respondents (53.3%) reported being able to sit in their chair as long as they liked, but 23.3% reported that LBP prevented them from sitting for more than one hour. Section 6 assesses standing tolerance and provides six options ranging from «I can stand as long as I want without extra pain» to «Pain prevents me from standing at all». Nearly half of respondents (40%) reported being able to stand as long as they wanted without extra pain, while a larger proportion (55%) reported that standing gives them extra LBP and that the pain prevents them from standing for more than one hour.

Section 7 assesses sleeping quality and provides six options ranging from «My sleep is never disturbed by pain» to «Pain prevents me from sleeping at all». The majority of respondents (51.7%) reported that their sleep was occasionally disturbed by LBP. Section 8 asks about sex life and provides six options ranging from «My sex life is normal and causes no extra pain» to «Pain prevents any sex life at all». The majority of respondents (65%) reported having a normal sex life without any extra pain. However, 25% reported that while their sex life was normal, their LBP caused some extra pain.

Section 9 assesses the impact of pain on social life and provides six options ranging from «My social life is normal and gives me no extra pain» to «I have no social life because of pain». The majority of respondents (56.7%) reported having a normal social life without experiencing any extra pain. Section 10 assesses traveling tolerance and provides six options ranging from «I can travel anywhere without pain» to «Pain prevents me from traveling except to receive treatment». Less than half of the participants (45%) declared that they could travel anywhere without pain, while a similar number of respondents (43.3%) reported that traveling gives them extra pain.

Table 2 provides insight into the impact of LBP on different aspects of daily life, which may be useful for identifying the magnitude of the problem among ICU nurses and assessing and managing LBP in clinical settings.

Fig. 1 shows the distribution of 60 ICU nurses based on their LBP category. The categories include «No disability», «Mild disability», «Moderate disability», «Severe disability», and «Complete disability». Among the respondents, 41.7% reported having «No disability» and 41.7% reported having «Mild disability», indicating that the majority of the nurses did not experience significant limitations in their daily activities due to their LBP.

Distribution of the ICU nurses based on their LBP category, n=60.

A smaller percentage of respondents reported experiencing «Moderate disability» (13.3%), «Severe disability» (1.7%), or being «Completely disabled» (1.7%), indicating that some nurses experienced significant limitations in their daily activities due to their LBP, although they are in the minority.

Table 3 represents the results of a regression analysis examining the independent predictors of ICU nurses’ LBP from the sociodemographic characteristics. The results indicated that years of experience (B=2.342, beta=0.444, p=0.075) and educational level (B=3.501, beta=0.174, p=0.267) were positively associated with the LBP mean score, although the association was not statistically significant at the 0.05 alpha level. This suggests that nurses with more years of experience and higher educational levels may experience slightly higher levels of LBP.

Table 3. Regression of LBP mean score based on the sociodemographic characteristics

Job title was negatively associated with the LBP mean score (B= –4.184, beta= –0.245, p=0.124), indicating that nurses with senior job titles may experience lower levels of LBP. However, this association was also not statistically significant. It was important to mention that variables such as participants’ age, gender, marital status, and nationality were not significantly associated with the LBP mean score (all p-values exceeded 0.05), suggesting that these sociodemographic characteristics do not significantly predict LBP levels.

To detect any significant difference in the LBP intensity of the ICU nurses based on their sociodemographic factors, an independent sample t-test was conducted to assess the difference based on the nurses’ gender, marital status, and nationality, while the ANOVA test was used to explore the difference of the nurses’ LBP based on their age and years of experience categories, job title, and educational level. None of the tests revealed a significant discrepancy in the LBP scale based on nurses’ sociodemographic data (p>0.05).

Discussion

The study aimed to describe LBP among nurses working in the ICUs of one of the governmental tertiary hospitals in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. The research assessed the LBP of the participants utilizing 10 dimensions and questionnaire items related to pain intensity, personal care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sex life, social life, and traveling.

The findings suggests that a majority of ICU nurses reported either no pain or a moderate level of LBP. This finding provides valuable insights into the occupational health and well-being of ICU nurses. The study finding was supported by some previous studies. A study conducted by Tefera et al. [6] involving 412 ICU nurses aimed to explore the magnitude and associated factors of LBP among them in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Among the study participants, 76% experienced LBP for at least a one-day duration in the last 12 months. The majority of them had experienced LBP levels of moderate intensity. In a study conducted by Elmannan et al. [18] involving a sample of 323 nurses from four public hospitals in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, the findings indicated a notable LBP prevalence of 65.6% among the participants. Additionally, the study highlighted that more than one-third of the individuals included in the study were actively pursuing treatment for their LBP.

In a study by Kanakkarthodi et al. [19] that aimed to assess the LBP among nurses in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Malappuram Kerala, 182 out of the 220 nurses (82.7%) reported experiencing LBP. About 40.4% of them complained of mild LBP, and 39.09% complained of moderate pain. Furthermore, a study carried out in Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia to assess the impact of back pain on daily living activities among nurses showed that the prevalence of back pain among 352 nurses was 79% [20].

In addition, a study carried out to identify the prevalence of pain and its risk factors among ICU personnel in a tertiary hospital in China revealed that ICU personnel experienced a high prevalence of pain. In this study, pain was reported by 72.7%, 64.4%, and 52.9% of ICU nurses, ICU doctors, and ICU workers, respectively. The lower back and neck were frequently affected regions [21].

The current study’s findings indicate that a small number of ICU nurses may require help every day in most aspects of self-care. However, there is some evidence to suggest that this result may underestimate the true need for help, as many nurses may be reluctant to report that they need support.

In the present study, 40% of the ICU nurses reported that LBP prevented them from walking more than one to two kilometers. LBP can significantly affect mobility and walking ability. The severity and location of back pain, as well as individual factors, can influence the extent to which it restricts walking distances. In some cases, nurses may experience LBP that limits them to shorter distances, such as one to two kilometers, before experiencing discomfort or fatigue [22].

Although the majority of nurses in the current study reported being able to sit in their chair as long as they liked, about one-fourth of participants reported that LBP prevented them from sitting for more than one hour. This finding suggests that LBP can significantly impact a nurse’s ability to engage in prolonged sitting activities [23]. Earlier research has discovered that individuals experiencing LBP exhibit increased postural sway when performing sitting and standing tasks. However, compared to individuals without pain, this heightened postural sway is observed in multiple directions rather than being limited to a specific direction [22].

More than half of the ICU nurses in the current study reported that standing increases their LBP and that the pain prevents them from standing for more than one hour. This result highlights the potential impact of prolonged standing on nurses’ back health. Prolonged standing can place significant strain on the muscles, joints, and ligaments of the lower back. Moreover, the static nature of standing for extended periods without proper rest or support can lead to muscle fatigue, increased pressure on the spinal discs, and poor posture. These factors contribute to the development or exacerbation of LBP [24]. LBP can further limit the amount of time nurses can stand comfortably. The degree of severity and chronicity of LBP can influence how long nurses can tolerate standing before experiencing discomfort or increased pain.

In bivariate logistic regression analysis factors, standing for long periods (>1 hr.), along with other factors, was associated with LBP [6]. Moreover, in a cross-sectional study carried out in Ethiopia at a specialized hospital, researchers investigated the occurrence and contributing factors of LBP among healthcare professionals. The study revealed that over 50% of the participants experienced LBP. Furthermore, prolonged standing was identified as a statistically significant factor associated with LBP [25].

Another area of nurses’ lives that may be impacted by LBP is sleep. The fact that more than half of the nurses in the present study reported experiencing occasional sleep disturbances due to LBP suggests that the issue has a significant impact on their overall well-being. Sleep disturbances can negatively affect a nurse’s ability to rest and recover, leading to fatigue, decreased concentration, and reduced job performance. Moreover, chronic sleep disruption can have long-term health consequences [26].

Numerous prior studies have indicated that it is common for nurses to suffer from sleep disturbances caused by LBP. For instance, in a study conducted by Marty et al. [27], patients with chronic LBP reported poor sleep quality, which was associated with feelings of depression. Similarly, Chaiard et al. [28] found that a significant proportion of nurses encountered difficulties in both initiating and maintaining sleep, often resulting in shorter sleep durations. Takahashi et al. [29] demonstrated that musculoskeletal pain, such as neck and shoulder pain, varied among nursing-home care workers depending on how frequently they napped during night shifts, suggesting that taking naps during these shifts could alleviate pain in specific areas of the body. Additionally, Chin et al. [30] conducted a study that established a correlation between shorter sleep durations and chronic discomfort in the neck and shoulder regions among nurses. Taken together, these findings indicate that nurses frequently face sleep disturbances due to LBP, which may have implications for their overall well-being and for patient safety.

In the current study, a significant number of nurses reported that traveling was one of the factors associated with LBP. Moreover, nurses’ frequent experience of LBP may also be linked to certain work activities and factors. Yip [31] identified several work-related predictors of new LBP in nurses, including being new on a ward, working in bending postures, and having poor work relationships. Karahan and Bayraktar [32] found that a majority of nurses experienced LBP; wearing high heels and engaging in heavy lifting were significant contributing factors. Additionally, Davis and Kotowski [33] highlighted that nurses commonly reported LBP as the most prevalent musculoskeletal issue preventing them from taking long trips, followed by discomfort in the shoulders and neck. Overall, these findings suggest that nurses often suffer from LBP, which can be attributed to specific work activities and factors, such as assuming bending postures, engaging in manual handling tasks, and experiencing poor work relationships.

The majority of the ICU nurses in the current study did not experience significant disability or limitations in their daily activities due to their LBP. Only 1.7% reported a severe disability, and a similar proportion reported complete disability due to LBP. According to Ibrahim et al. [34], although many nurses experienced LBP, they generally experienced minimal impact on their daily life activities in terms of disability. Denis et al. [35] demonstrated a correlation between measures of pain and disability and nurses’ ability to perform their jobs, suggesting that nurses with LBP were still capable of fulfilling their work responsibilities. However, Altheyab et al. [20] found that some nurses exhibited moderate to severe disabilities as a result of back pain, indicating that substantial levels of disability are possible.

In the current study, nurses with more years of experience and higher education levels experienced more severe LBP. These findings can be attributed to various factors. First, nurses who have accumulated many years of experience may have engaged consistently in repetitive and physically demanding tasks for an extended duration. These tasks typically include lifting and transferring patients, maintaining uncomfortable postures, and enduring prolonged periods of standing or walking. The cumulative impact of these activities over time can potentially contribute to the development of chronic LBP. Second, nurses with higher levels of education often assume job positions that entail increased responsibilities, such as nurse managers, nurse practitioners, or nurse educators. These roles may involve additional physical demands, including overseeing multiple patient cases, coordinating care, or providing hands-on training to other nurses. Moreover, the augmented workload and added responsibilities associated with advanced educational qualifications may contribute to heightened levels of LBP among these nurses.

Gałczyk and Kułak [36] found that more than half of nurses over the age of 50 complained of back pain, but this study did not specifically examine the relationship between LBP and years of experience or education levels. While Michalik and Jaromin [37] found that younger nurses and those with less seniority were at a significantly increased risk of back pain and injury, they did not specifically examine the relationship with educational levels.

Nurses with senior job positions experienced lower levels of LBP in the current study. This finding implies that there may be certain factors associated with senior roles that contribute to reduced LBP among nurses. There are several possible explanations for this correlation.

First, nurses in senior job positions do not offer bedside care to patients in the ICUs and may have more control over their work environment and scheduling. They may have the authority to delegate tasks or adjust their workload, potentially reducing physical strain and minimizing the risk of developing LBP. Second, nurses in senior positions may have access to better resources and equipment that promote ergonomic practices. For example, they may have ergonomic chairs, adjustable workstations, or lifting aids available to them, which can help reduce the physical strain on their backs and decrease the likelihood of developing pain. Third, nurses in senior job positions might have received more advanced education and training than nurses in entry- and mid-level positions, including information on proper body mechanics and techniques for preventing back injuries. This knowledge and expertise may empower them to take appropriate measures to protect their backs while performing their duties, potentially resulting in less severe LBP.

Furthermore, nurses in senior job positions may have greater opportunities for career advancement and professional development. These opportunities could lead to improved job satisfaction and overall well-being, which may indirectly contribute to lower levels of back pain. Job satisfaction and reduced stress levels have been associated in some studies with improved health outcomes, including a lower incidence of musculoskeletal pain in hospital nurses [38].

Shieh et al. [39] found that longer daily working hours and caring for a large number of patients per shift were associated with an increased risk of LBP in nurses. Yip [31] found that factors such as being comparatively new on a ward and working in bending postures independently predicted the occurrence of new LBP in nurses. June and Cho [12] studied LBP and work-related factors among nurses in ICUs and found that ICU nurses had the greatest probability of having LBP and seeking treatment compared to nurses across all departments.

In contrast, nurses’ age, gender, marital status, and nationality were not significantly associated with nurses’ LBP in the current study. The absence of a significant association between age, gender, marital status, nationality, and nurses’ LBP in one study does not necessarily apply universally to all populations or contexts. However, the present study’s findings are supported by many previous studies; for example, Sun et al. [40] conducted a meta-analysis and found that age was not related to non-specific chronic LBP in nurses. Additionally, Leighton and Reilly [41] compared nurses to the general population and found no difference in the prevalence of back pain based on age, gender, marital status, or nationality. Mitchell et al. [42] focused on female nursing students and found that age was not a contributing factor to LBP. Overall, these findings suggest that age, gender, marital status, and nationality are not significant factors in nurses’ LBP.

Limitations

Several limitations should be taken into account when interpreting the results of the current study. Two significant limitations include the use of a cross-sectional research design and the recruitment of a relatively small sample size of 60 nurses from a single hospital. The study’s cross-sectional design hinders the ability to establish causal relationships between variables. Cross-sectional studies provide a sampling of data at a particular point in time, making it challenging to determine the temporal sequence of events or establish cause-and-effect relationships. The recruitment of a comparatively small sample size using a non-random sampling technique from a single hospital poses additional limitations. For instance, a limited sample size reduces the findings’ generalizability to a larger population.

Conclusions

It is crucial to consider a range of research studies to develop a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and severity of LBP among ICU nurses. Further research and interventions are needed to address this issue and improve the occupational health of ICU nurses. The study highlights a potential association between LBP and limitations in walking distances among nurses. Implementing preventive measures, providing appropriate support, and addressing individual needs can contribute to managing LBP and promoting nurses’ mobility in their professional lives.

The results also suggest that LBP can significantly impact nurses’ ability to sit for prolonged periods. Implementing ergonomic adjustments, promoting regular movement and exercise, and providing appropriate pain management strategies can help alleviate LBP and improve nurses’ sitting tolerance in their workplaces. The study found that nurses frequently experience sleep disturbances due to LBP, which may affect their well-being as well as the safety of their patients. Moreover, while many nurses experience LBP, it does not necessarily result in significant disability or limitations in their daily activities.

The findings provide a summary of the distribution of ICU nurses based on their LBP categories, which can be useful in understanding the prevalence and severity of LBP among this particular group of healthcare professionals. The data can also help healthcare providers identify individuals who may require further assessment and treatment to manage their LBP and prevent further disability.

The results suggest that years of experience, educational level, and job title may have some association with LBP levels, but further research is needed to confirm these findings. This information can help healthcare providers identify potential risk factors for LBP among ICU nurses and develop appropriate interventions to prevent, mitigate, and manage LBP, thus enhancing these nurses’ overall well-being. It is important to note that LBP among ICU nurses is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including physical demands, work environment, ergonomic conditions, individual lifestyles, and personal habits, so further investigations are warranted.

Recommendations

The study found that the majority of ICU nurses reported no pain or moderate levels of LBP. It is recommended that healthcare providers conduct further rigorous research, implement preventive measures, enhance ergonomic adjustments, provide appropriate support and pain management strategies, identify nurses in need of assessment and treatment, address sleep disturbances, and consider risk factors and interventions specific to LBP among ICU nurses. These recommendations can contribute to improving the occupational health, well-being, and overall quality of life for nurses in the ICU setting.

Declarations

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate. This research was approved by the Regional Research Ethics Committee at Qassim Province (ERC approval # 9440/44/607) on January 11, 2023, and the electronic survey required the approval of the participants on the terms and conditions of being a part of the study as a consent form before they began completing the questionnaire.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets of the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Conflict of interest. The researchers declare that no conflicts of interest exist for this research work.

Funding. No funding was received by the researchers for this project.

Authors’ contributions. MAS is the corresponding author of the study who conceived and designed the study, performed the statistical analyses, and edited the manuscript. AAA performed data collection, drafted the paper, and reviewed the manuscript. Both authors provided input regarding the manuscript and approved the final version.

Acknowledgments. The authors extend their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated and compassionate nurses of the ICU at King Saud Hospital for their invaluable participation in this research. The nurses’ commitment to patient care and willingness to contribute to the study have been instrumental in ensuring the success and reliability of our findings. The authors would also like to express their sincere appreciation to the nursing administration at the hospital for their unwavering support throughout the research process.