Backovic Jurican A1, Rostohar K1, Rozic M1
1National Institute of Public Health, Prevention and Promotion Programmes Management, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Background: European Network for Workplace Health Promotion defines workplace health promotion (WHP) as a modern corporate strategy which aims at preventing ill-health at
work and enhancing health-promoting potentials and wellbeing in the workforce. In Slovenia back pain is the main reason for sick leave (in 84 %). In average absence duration is 25 days which costs our country approximately 42 millions euros per year.
Purpose: In conjunction with this, we were interested in a relationship between physical activity, wellbeing and low back pain. Low back pain is still the most common in the group of back pain.
Methods: In the spring of 2016 a survey were carried out among the 17 companies of the chemical and processing industry. Survey was performed among two target groups (management and their employees), both of which questions were related to the organization of the WHP, health status and lifestyle of employees, including desired WHP activities.
Results: Analysis of the survey revealed that the most health problems among employees are related to low back pain (between 57 and 64 %). Furthermore among those who have reported poor wellbeing, they are 86 % insufficient physically active and only 14 % sufficient (p 0.05). Regardless of whether they are sufficient physically active or not about 60% of them reported low back pain. In the context of answers of both target groups the most desirable interventions include stress management, health care of the spine and physical activity promotion.
Conclusion(s): The majority of employees that are insufficient physically active (86 %) feels poor. The results of our survey showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the physical activity adequacy and low back pain. Nevertheless, it is necessary to strengthen interventions that encourage better stress management, regular physical activity, reduce forced posture and decrease lower back pain. Interventions should vary according to the type of work for the individual target groups of workers.
Implications: When it comes to low back pain management and prevention physiotherapists should focus more on stress management and prevention, so they should improve their knowledge and skills in that direction as well. On the other hand, whenever it is feasible, it might be more appropriate to consider inter-professional approach. In this context they should start collaborating more with occupational health psychologists, so more effective results can be reached when consulting and/or treating their patients within or outside the work environment.
Keywords: low back pain, physical activity, wellbeing
Funding acknowledgements: Special thanks to National Institute of Public Health, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.
work and enhancing health-promoting potentials and wellbeing in the workforce. In Slovenia back pain is the main reason for sick leave (in 84 %). In average absence duration is 25 days which costs our country approximately 42 millions euros per year.
Purpose: In conjunction with this, we were interested in a relationship between physical activity, wellbeing and low back pain. Low back pain is still the most common in the group of back pain.
Methods: In the spring of 2016 a survey were carried out among the 17 companies of the chemical and processing industry. Survey was performed among two target groups (management and their employees), both of which questions were related to the organization of the WHP, health status and lifestyle of employees, including desired WHP activities.
Results: Analysis of the survey revealed that the most health problems among employees are related to low back pain (between 57 and 64 %). Furthermore among those who have reported poor wellbeing, they are 86 % insufficient physically active and only 14 % sufficient (p 0.05). Regardless of whether they are sufficient physically active or not about 60% of them reported low back pain. In the context of answers of both target groups the most desirable interventions include stress management, health care of the spine and physical activity promotion.
Conclusion(s): The majority of employees that are insufficient physically active (86 %) feels poor. The results of our survey showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the physical activity adequacy and low back pain. Nevertheless, it is necessary to strengthen interventions that encourage better stress management, regular physical activity, reduce forced posture and decrease lower back pain. Interventions should vary according to the type of work for the individual target groups of workers.
Implications: When it comes to low back pain management and prevention physiotherapists should focus more on stress management and prevention, so they should improve their knowledge and skills in that direction as well. On the other hand, whenever it is feasible, it might be more appropriate to consider inter-professional approach. In this context they should start collaborating more with occupational health psychologists, so more effective results can be reached when consulting and/or treating their patients within or outside the work environment.
Keywords: low back pain, physical activity, wellbeing
Funding acknowledgements: Special thanks to National Institute of Public Health, Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Health promotion & wellbeing/healthy ageing; Pain & pain management
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: National Institute of Public Health in Slovenia
Ethics committee: National Medical Ethics Committee
Reason not required: All management staff and employees participated in a survey on volentary basis. Furthermore methodology in the survey had no health risk on participants.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
