Sociodemographic correlates of work ability among nurses with low back pain: a cross-sectional analysis at a Nigerian tertiary hospital
- 1. 1 Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Health Science Azare Bauchi, Nigeria. 2 Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences Federal University Wukari Taraba Nigeria. 3Department of Physiotherapy, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria 4Department of Physiotherapy, Skyline University, Nigeria. 5Department of Physiotherapy, General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital Katsina, Nigeria. 6Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Nigeria. 7Federal Capital Territory Sport Department, Area 3, Abuja-Nigeria.
Description
Abstract
Background: Work ability is a pivotal metric for occupational health, yet its sociodemographic correlates among nursing professionals in regional African contexts remain under-researched. This study examines the associations between sociodemographic profiles and the Work Ability Index (WAI) among nurses managing occupational low back pain (LBP) at a tertiary facility in Gombe, Nigeria. Materials and methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from n=188 nurses. Beyond standard hypothesis testing, a post-hoc sensitivity analysis was performed to quantify the study’s capacity to detect clinically meaningful group differences. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d and Partial Eta Squared) were calculated to evaluate the magnitude of sociodemographic influences on work ability. Results: The cohort exhibited a "moderate" mean WAI score. While advancing age and increased professional seniority were associated with lower work ability, these trends did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Notably, gender and educational attainment demonstrated negligible effect sizes (d = 0.10 and d = 0.32, respectively), suggesting a high degree of occupational uniformity. Sensitivity analysis indicated the study was sufficiently powered (1 - beta = 0.80) to detect moderate-to-large effects (f = 0.25), implying that any undetected demographic disparities are likely of small clinical magnitude. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the intensive ergonomic and physical demands of the tertiary nursing environment in Gombe may serve as a primary, standardized correlate of work ability, potentially outweighing individual demographic factors. These results point toward the potential utility of universal ergonomic interventions and institutional support frameworks. Future longitudinal research is recommended to assess the causal impact of cumulative occupational exposure on functional longevity.