Back disorders and lumbar load in nursing staff in geriatric care: a comparison of home-based care and nursing homes

Table 1 Characteristics of nursing staff, by care setting

	Total n = 1390 %	Nursing homes n = 1126 %	Home care n = 264 %	p-value ¹
Female gender	88	87	90	>0.05
Age (years)
- under 30	18	18	15
- 30 to 49	60	59	68
- over 50	22	23	17	<0.05
School educational level (years)
- Low (≤9)	37	40	26
- Medium (10-11)	45	43	52
- High (≥12)	18	17	22	<0.001
Nursing degree
- Registered nurse	26	20	50
- Registered geriatric nurse	34	37	20
- Nursing aides', assistant nurses	21	24	10
- Nursing auxiliaries	19	19	20	<0.001
Full-time employment (≥ 35 h/week)	49	53	31	<0.001
Number of residents per shift (including those requiring intensive care in %)
- ≤10 (≤50%)	30	26	52
- ≤10 (>50%)	12	13	4
- >10 (≤50%)	39	38	42
- >10 (>50%)	19	23	2	<0.001
Support possible from another nurse	86	95	50	<0.001
Participation during the preceding 12 months in measures to prevent back disorders
- No measure	62	63	57
- Primary preventive measure²	29	27	36
- Secondary preventive measure³	9	10	7	<0.05
	Median (Quartile)	Median (Quartile)	Median (Quartile)
Years worked in the nursing profession	11 (6-20)	11 (6-19)	16 (8-24)	<0.001

¹Chi square test for differences between nursing staff in nursing homes and home care.
²Participation in workplace prevention program (use of low tech ergonomic aids, back school).
³Treatment in a rehabilitation program for back disorders, consultation with the facility physician.

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