Back pain among health care workers in Pennsylvania 2002 -2006

While back pain is common among health care workers in the United States, the epidemiology of back pain is unclear. Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and trend of back pain from work-related injuries among health care workers. Methods: Data from the Pennsylvania Work Injuries and Illnesses Reports from 2002 to 2006 were analyzed. Results: Estimated back injuries account for 24.6% of all reported injuries in healthcare workers in Pennsylvania. From 2002 to 2006, there was a 22.5% increase in the incidence of reported back pain in this population. Conclusions: Due to a lack of detailed reports regarding the incidence of back pain among Pennsylvania healthcare workers, it is recommended that a survey of healthcare workers who perform patient handling be completed.