Musculoskeletal pain and associated occupational factors among emergency personnel in Nakhon Pathom Province Thailand

Abstract

Abstract Musculoskeletal pain is a common occupational health problem among emergency medical service personnel due to the physically demanding nature of their work. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and identify associated factors among emergency personnel in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 466 emergency personnel using a structured questionnaire. The seven-day prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 70.80%, while the twelve-month prevalence of lower back pain was 52.40%. The lower back, shoulders, and neck were the most commonly affected body regions. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that personnel with less than 10 years of work experience had higher odds of musculoskeletal pain (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.04–2.44). Working more than 40 h per week was also associated with increased odds (AOR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04–2.42). Maintaining a sustained static posture for more than 5 min showed the largest adjusted odds ratio among the factors examined (AOR = 2.83; 95% CI: 1.86–4.30). These findings highlight the substantial occupational burden of musculoskeletal pain among emergency personnel and suggest the need for further evaluation of ergonomic and organizational strategies to address this occupational health problem.