Work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers in Ghana: A qualitative study.

Donkor, A; Anyitey-Kokor, IC; Osei Tutu, E; Bosomtwe, D; Adjei, ANA; Wiafe, YA

Work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers in Ghana: A qualitative study.

Donkor, A

Anyitey-Kokor, IC Osei Tutu, E Bosomtwe, D Adjei, ANA Wiafe, YA

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Radiography (Lond), 2024, 30, (4), pp. 1187-1193
Issue Date:: 2024-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Donkor, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6073-524X
dc.contributor.author	Anyitey-Kokor, IC
dc.contributor.author	Osei Tutu, E
dc.contributor.author	Bosomtwe, D
dc.contributor.author	Adjei, ANA
dc.contributor.author	Wiafe, YA
dc.date.accessioned	2024-09-30T23:08:52Z
dc.date.available	2024-06-04
dc.date.available	2024-09-30T23:08:52Z
dc.date.issued	2024-07
dc.identifier.citation	Radiography (Lond), 2024, 30, (4), pp. 1187-1193
dc.identifier.issn	1078-8174
dc.identifier.issn	1532-2831
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181111
dc.description.abstract	INTRODUCTION: Work-related back pain has a major impact on diagnostic radiographers' clinical task performance in terms of sickness absenteeism, disability and loss of productivity due to presenteeism. However, there is limited information about the burden of work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers in Ghana. The aim was to explore diagnostic radiographers' experiences of work-related back pain in Ghana. METHODS: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews was conducted. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit participants. The interviews were facilitated by an interview guide. Thematic network approach was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Eighteen participants, with 14 males and 4 females were interviewed. The mean age of the participants was 31.7 ± 7.3 years. Three themes were developed: increasing burden of work-related back pain; making sense of the multifaceted risk factors for work-related back pain; and preventing work-related back pain. Low back pain was the most common, followed by neck pain with thoracic pain as the least common reported work-related back pain by participants. Identified risk factors included: physical factors; environmental ergonomic factors; and psychosocial factors. Prevention strategies identified were categorised into: health and safety training; creating lifting team; leadership support from diagnostic imaging managers; participatory ergonomics; workforce planning and scheduling; mindfulness exercises; and physical rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Assessing the level of ergonomic risks is critical to identifying, analysing and controlling workplace risk factors that can lead to work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers. Future research is recommended to design and evaluate a multicomponent ergonomic intervention for the prevention of work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers to enable them deliver care safely and healthily. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding diagnostic radiographers experiences of work-related back pain can help develop effective strategies to reduce the growing burden of pain back.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Radiography (Lond)
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.radi.2024.06.002
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1103 Clinical Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
dc.subject.classification	3202 Clinical sciences
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Ghana
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Back Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Diseases
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Ergonomics
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Back Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Diseases
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Ghana
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Ergonomics
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Ghana
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Back Pain
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Diseases
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Interviews as Topic
dc.subject.mesh	Ergonomics
dc.title	Work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers in Ghana: A qualitative study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	30
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1103 Clinical Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Research Centres/IMPACCT
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Research Centres
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-09-30T23:08:48Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	30
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

INTRODUCTION: Work-related back pain has a major impact on diagnostic radiographers' clinical task performance in terms of sickness absenteeism, disability and loss of productivity due to presenteeism. However, there is limited information about the burden of work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers in Ghana. The aim was to explore diagnostic radiographers' experiences of work-related back pain in Ghana. METHODS: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews was conducted. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit participants. The interviews were facilitated by an interview guide. Thematic network approach was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Eighteen participants, with 14 males and 4 females were interviewed. The mean age of the participants was 31.7 ± 7.3 years. Three themes were developed: increasing burden of work-related back pain; making sense of the multifaceted risk factors for work-related back pain; and preventing work-related back pain. Low back pain was the most common, followed by neck pain with thoracic pain as the least common reported work-related back pain by participants. Identified risk factors included: physical factors; environmental ergonomic factors; and psychosocial factors. Prevention strategies identified were categorised into: health and safety training; creating lifting team; leadership support from diagnostic imaging managers; participatory ergonomics; workforce planning and scheduling; mindfulness exercises; and physical rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: Assessing the level of ergonomic risks is critical to identifying, analysing and controlling workplace risk factors that can lead to work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers. Future research is recommended to design and evaluate a multicomponent ergonomic intervention for the prevention of work-related back pain among diagnostic radiographers to enable them deliver care safely and healthily. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding diagnostic radiographers experiences of work-related back pain can help develop effective strategies to reduce the growing burden of pain back.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/181111