Risk Factors for Work Related Low Back Pain in Civil Airline Flight Attendants / 항공우주의학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for low back pain in order to provide basic information for intervention programs to prevent low back pain in civil airline flight attendants. METHODS: Cross sectional observation was used by using systematic randomized sampling method. Among 1,764 study population, 398 people were selected. For statistical analysis, 210 completed questionnaires were used. Data was analyzed using SPSS 11.0 for t-test, chi square and regression. RESULTS: 1. Positive low back pain rate was 58.7% in the whole study group. In the highest positive group age ranged between 25 to 29 years, and career duration between 37 to 60 months. 2. According to job position, the risk of low back pain was the highest in economy class senior, cabin sales charge, and economy class junior group. On the contrary, cabin manager was the lowest risk group. 3. According to the average score of job stress, low job control and low supervisory support were each associated with higher positive rate of low back pain. 4. Wide degree of bending, more frequent waist movement and heavy lifting showed high positive rate of low back pain. CONCLUSION: Low back pain prevention program should be developed on the basis of the confirmed risk factors. These data will be helpful to provide prevention strategy and to promote intervention program for low back pain in airline flight attendants.