Causes of Lower Back Injuries among Nurses - Research Proposal Example

Causes of Lower Back Injuries among Nurses that often go Un-noticed Resulting in Failure of Interventions Implemented In the current phenomenon, as I could observe in my workplace, the issue of lower back injuries is viewed as one of the common health problems amid nurses. I have long been interested in studying the effectiveness and the ineffectiveness of interventions planned for nurses. As I now have a certain degree of understanding to the practical scenario, I believe that it will be credential for me to frame the research issue based on this concern. As I could observe, lower back pain is comparatively a common disorder among several nurses, especially those having longer working hours and with substantial experiences in the field of operations, indicating to the ageing workforce. Primary observations have also revealed that symptoms of lower back pain and injury are one of the common disorders that several nurses are facing during their long working hours. In this study, besides the causes of long working hours and ageing population in nursing workforce, attention will also be delivered on stress level of these personnel, as a potential cause of lower back injuries. In order to justify the assumption taken, literature searches will be conducted based on the search terms listed below. Search Terms: The search terms used to obtain literature and support the determined research issue include, causes of lower back pain, work force issues, stress as a possible cause of lower back pain, propensity of lower back pain among nurses, ageing workforce facing lower back pain problems, long working hours causing lower back pain, managerial initiatives to deal with lower back pain. Accordingly, databases from Google Scholar, Research Gate, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and similar others will be taken into consideration when conducting the final research through the application of the stated terms. It was with the help of these terms that the research problem was derived for the proposed study. The Research Problem: Lower back injury is one of the common health disorders observed among nurses. Interventions have been implemented although little betterment was witnessed in this context. As much as believed, a greater proportion of the issue is yet to be revealed, which can be fruitful in developing more effective intervention programs. Expectedly, the proposed research will be beneficial in shedding light to the gap identified. Hence, the research problem to be emphasised through the proposed study will be to identify the underlying unidentified or less known causes of lower back pain among nurses. To put it in simple words, the research problem assumes that ‘interventions to mitigate lower back injuries among nurses have been ineffective owing to the causes that often remain unidentified within the field.’ Correspondingly, the statement of purpose has been framed below. Statement of Purpose: The purpose of this study will be to identify the loopholes of the current applied intervention programs, such as ergonomic interventions and implementation of specific occupational health guidelines, in treating lower back pain among nurses owing to the often ignored causes to the issue. With emphasis to the stated purpose, the study will be able to draw inferences to recommend on the betterment of the intervention programs. With correspondence to the statement of purpose, the significance of the proposed study has been noted as below. Significance of the Study: As it is often noticed that nurses ignore their health concerns at workplaces that leads to major consequences not only to their embodiment but also to the professional excellence of the institution, with the expected outcomes in this study, intervention programs will be intended to be improved. Contextually, identifying the lacunas and sufficing the research gap as identified above, the study is likely to augment managerial interventions to mitigate the issue and build a better workplace standard within the nursing sector. To elaborate regarding the scope of the study and identify the gaps in literature, a brief literature review is conducted below. Literature Review: As argued by Schlossmacher & Amaral (2012), work accidents hold the least possibility of occurrence but may impose strong effects on the increased rate of lower back injuries among nurses. However, astonishingly, the study in Schlossmacher & Amaral (2012) revealed that rather than work pressure, sudden reduction in workload causes inactiveness among the nurses and causes lower back pain among these professionals. When concerning age, this study revealed that risks to lower back injuries increases post retirement among nurses or when, they decide to abandon their professional career, again resulting in physical inactiveness. Nevertheless, Schlossmacher & Amaral (2012) also argued that heavy workload often causes lower back pain among nurses. As apparent, the specific causes of lower back pain remains blur and need further clarification, which I believe to be possible through this study. Wilson, Beaumont, Alberstadt, Drake, Ednalino, Thornsberry and Zahringer (2011), argued that interventions have mostly been focused on enhancing the understanding of nurses to avoid causes of lower back pain when in workplace. It is thus that when focusing on their daily performances, nurses need to be accountable for their own care, which is often avoided by them and further, leads to the ineffectiveness of such interventions. Wilson et al. (2011) also stated that cost related inhibitions as well as lack of resources also diminish effectiveness of such interventions to a substantial extent. Correspondingly, the gap of the literature was identified. Gaps in Literature: Although the literature identified many causes to lower back injuries, it lacked proper justification with concern to intervention failures. For instance, Schlossmacher & Amaral (2012) had a much elaborated research that was helpful to identify causes prominent. However, little inclusion was observed of these causes in the intervention program assessed by Wilson et al. (2011). In addition, proper consideration to ergonomic factors was also observed as lacking in the intervention program assessed by Wilson et al. (2011). Based on this gap, the research question was identified. Research Question: Why do interventions to mitigate lower back pain among nurses often fail and how these programs can be improved with justification to hidden causes to the identified health issue? This research question further helped framing the research approach and design as below. Research Approach and Design: For this study, a qualitative research will be most suitable, as I intend to identify the lacunas of the previous intervention programs implemented in the nursing sector, reviewing and assessing previously conducted case studies will be beneficial. In addition, observation of the health of nurses as well as obtaining data regarding their physical fitness through a questionnaire survey will also help obtaining relevant information to identify the possible causes often ignored when planning for such interventions, such as stress and age factors those were identified at the primary level of constructing this research (Schlossmacher & Amaral, 2012). While case study review will offer a third person understanding to the research phenomenon, questionnaire survey will help in analysing the current workplace situation from a first person point of view. Notably, as statistical tools will be of limited use owing to the fact that the concerned variables are more qualitative than quantitative in nature, a quantitative study has been avoiding in the proposed research. However, depending on the findings of this research, further tests and evaluations can be constructed to assert the validity of these inferences. With a critical view to the research approach adopted, the strengths and weaknesses of the same have been elaborated in the next section. Strengths and Weakness of the Proposed Study: The expected outcome from the study will certainly help in identifying and mitigating the loopholes of the intervention programs designed to help nurses in dealing with lower back pain. However, being subjected to my interpretation skills, the study might become time consuming and complex, therefore, being subjected to further appraisal through quantitative means. To manage the strengths and weaknesses of the study, the below mentioned variables will be taken into consideration. Component of Research- Variables: In a research, variables are adopted with the aim of performing a study systematically (Official Board Markets, 2011). In this proposed study, the variables those will be assessed are as follows. Independent variables: Record of a physical injury to the nursing professionals, age of the nursing professionals, working hours, stress level and participation/non-participation in intervention programs Dependent variable: Occurrences of lower back pain among nurses participating in intervention programs, severity of their lower back pain Correspondingly, these variables will help determining the population for the research intended. Target Population: The target population of this proposed study will be 50 nurses, who will be divided in the groups of those who have undergone intervention program and those who have not. The accessibility of the population has also been determined hereunder. Accessible Population and Sampling Procedure: The target population to be accessed will be a small group of nurses in a healthcare setting. In this respect, the target population will be selected on a random basis taking the help of nurse managers and concerned authorities in the department. Notably, the accessibility of the population will determine the research ability and feasibility of the study proposed. Research Ability and Feasibility of the Proposed Study: The study or the research paper will mainly be helpful for the healthcare professionals, especially nurses, who are involved in the weight lifting process and it is thus that the study will also be of substantial benefit to me as a nurse. Undoubtedly, experience has a major role to play in the nursing domain although the occurrence of lower back pain related health issues are often identified to increase absenteeism as well as lower professional commitment among these professionals (Official Board Markets, 2011). As data will be obtained from the workplace and through personal interaction with the nurses, I believe that I will be able to avail relevant data and therefore, accomplish my targets effectively. To deliver a brief reflective understanding to my personal opinion, the below section has been provided. Personal Reflection: For conducting the proposed research, I will require adequate knowledge regarding the academic research procedure. In addition, the proposed study is expected to provide information relating to the research problem and its significance in a study. Improving my conception and understanding to the study matter, the research will also allow me progress in my profession, wherein I will not only be able to manage my tasks efficiently but also help other professionals to cope from such inhibitions. Hence, the conclusion can be drawn as below. Conclusion In this paper, I discussed about lower back injuries noticed in nurses. I identified that nurses are affected due to extensive pressures and work load. The research process also provides ample reasons about lower back injuries. In this regard, the study also explains about the possible treatment that has been applicable for treating this health disorder. According to the research process, the nurses should get a session of safe weight lifting strategies that will be beneficial for them. From the proposed study, it has been concluded that suggested treatments will be helpful for the treatment of the nurses from lower back pain. References Schlossmacher, R. & Amaral, F. G. (2012). Low back injuries related to nursing professionals working conditions: a systematic review. Work 41, 5737-5738. Wilson, C. M., Beaumont, M.M., Alberstadt, K. M., Drake, J. M. Ednalino, K. C, Thornsberry, M. M., & Zahringer, S. (2011). The effectiveness of a patient handling education program for nursing assistants as taught by physical therapy and nursing educators. The Effectiveness of a Patient Handling Education Program for Nursing Assistants, 2(1). Read More