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Evaluation of Back Problems among Emergency Medical Services Professionals

Studnek, Jonathan R.

Abstract Details

2008, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Public Health.
The aims of this dissertation were to: 1) Describe the work-life and demographic characteristics, of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals, associated with reporting recent back pain; 2) Estimate back pain severity and factors associated with changes in back pain severity among currently working EMS professionals; 3) Evaluate occupational injuries in an urban EMS system before and after implementation of mechanical stretchers. In order to complete the above objectives two data sets were analyzed. The first two objectives utilized the Longitudinal EMT Attributes and Demographics Study (LEADS) Health and Wellness Follow-up Survey. Participant selection for this study was based on prior back problem status as indicated in past LEADS efforts. LEADS data from 2004-2006 were queried and all individuals reporting a back problem in any year (n=1,009) were selected as potential cases. A random sample of 1,050 non-injured participants was selected as the probable control population. To complete the third objective, an epidemiologic assessment of an intervention to prevent occupational injury was performed. Occupational injury data for this study were obtained from Austin Travis County EMS (A/TCEMS) Record Management System (RMS). In December 2006, A/TCEMS purchased and placed into service battery operated hydraulic patient stretchers. The study period was from 01/01/1999-04/30/2008 with the pre-intervention period considered the time between 01/01/1999 – 12/31/2006, and the post-intervention time period being any date after and including 01/01/2007. A list of 1,047 active and separated employees was used to derive the amount of person-time at risk during the pre and post intervention period. Results from study one and two indicate that there were work-life, health, and demographic characteristics associated with reporting recent back pain and the severity of reported pain. Individuals who reported prior back problems or fair/poor health were more likely to report current pain, with odds ratios of 2.8 (95% CI 2.1-3.9) and 4.1 (95% CI 2.2-7.7), respectively. Self reported health was also found to be significantly associated with changes in Aberdeen Back Pain Scale (ABPS) scores. Individuals who reported fair/poor health had the largest unit change in ABPS at 10.1 (7.2 – 12.9). Regarding the third objective there were 1,478 injuries reported during the observation period with an overall incidence rate of 52.9 injuries per 100 full time employees (FTE) per year. The incidence rates pre-intervention and post-intervention were 61.1 and 28.8 per 100 FTE, with a corresponding rate ratio (RR) of 0.47 (95% CI 0.41 - 0.55). The lowest rate ratio noted was among the sub-category of stretcher related injuries (RR 0.30; 95% CI 0.17 – 0.52). The results of this dissertation indicated that work-life, health, and demographic characteristics may be associated with recent back pain. Also, potential ergonomic interventions may reduce the burden of back injury among EMS professionals. Future studies should further investigate the impact of evidence–based ergonomic interventions, on occupational injuries, among EMS professionals utilizing more robust study designs, such as randomized trials.
J. Mac Crawford, PhD (Advisor)
Amy Ferketich, PhD (Committee Member)
Michael Pennell, PhD (Committee Member)
J. R. Wilkins, PhD (Committee Member)
103 p.

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Citations

  • Studnek, J. R. (2008). Evaluation of Back Problems among Emergency Medical Services Professionals [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1225909761

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Studnek, Jonathan. Evaluation of Back Problems among Emergency Medical Services Professionals. 2008. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1225909761.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Studnek, Jonathan. "Evaluation of Back Problems among Emergency Medical Services Professionals." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1225909761

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)