The Evaluation of Low Back Pain Prevalence in First Year of Anesthesiologists’ Career; A cross sectional study

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder which may have an occupational or non-occupational etiology and is seen in many health care providers. It is an important cause of morbidity and workplace absence. Various factors may result in LBP but the role of occupational stress and anxiety personality disorder is still unclear. Methods: Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 58 anesthesiologists working in the hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences to evaluate the occurrence of LBP in the first year of work. The probable causes of LBP and the level of anxiety were assessed using a questionnaire designed for this purpose, based on Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and the results were analyzed. Results: Of 58 participants, 44 (75.9%) were men and 14 (24.1%) were women. The mean age of the participants was 45.6±6.3 years. Twenty-four of 58 participants (41.4%) reported LBP in the first year of work. Six participants (10.3%) did not have anxiety state but had LBP in the first year of work. Eighteen subjects (31%) with mild to severe anxiety state also had LBP in the first year of work. Nine anesthesiologists (15.5%) did not have anxiety trait but had LBP in the first year of work. Fifteen participants (25.8%) had mild to severe anxiety trait and had LBP in the first year of work. In general, 24 of 58 participants (41.4%) with an anxiety score of 47.52 (moderate level of anxiety) had LBP, and 34 of 58 participants with an anxiety score of 41.01 (moderate level of anxiety) did not have LBP. There was a significant correlation between the occurrence of LBP and the level of anxiety (P=0.014). The personality type, smoking, history of psychiatric disorders, occupational satisfaction, communication with colleagues, sleep quality, history of LBP during work years, especially in the first year, duration of LBP, stress in the first year of work, and weekly hours of exercise had a significant association with anxiety (P