Effect of musculoskeletal pain of care workers on job satisfaction.
DeokJu Kim
PMID 29410590WHAT IT FOUND
In 87 care workers, more musculoskeletal pain, especially lower back and shoulder pain, was associated with lower professional, job-performance, and relationship satisfaction.
This survey shows association, not proof pain caused lower satisfaction.
Key findings
01Care workers with more musculoskeletal pain reported lower professional, job-performance, and relationship satisfaction, but wage satisfaction was not affected.
02Lower back pain was associated with lower professional, job-performance, and relationship satisfaction; shoulder pain was associated with lower relationship satisfaction.
03Care worker age, patient disability, and patient disability grade were reported as factors associated with musculoskeletal pain.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
All participants came from one elderly care service centre, so the findings may not represent care workers in other workplaces or regions. Only 87 of 120 questionnaires were analysed, and 33 were excluded because the worker reported no musculoskeletal pain or gave inappropriate answers, so the study reflects workers who reported pain and valid answers. Pain and job satisfaction were measured at the same time, so the survey cannot show that pain caused lower satisfaction. The study did not test any treatment, exercise programme, or workplace intervention, so it cannot tell clinicians which intervention would help. Pain and satisfaction were self-reported, so the findings depend on the workers' own answers rather than objective measures.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that treating musculoskeletal pain will improve job satisfaction. This was a cross-sectional survey of self-reported pain and satisfaction at one centre, so it cannot show whether pain caused lower satisfaction or whether pain treatment would change satisfaction.