Research Article
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey on Body Posture Among Healthcare Workers in Federal Medical Centre Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
- By Samuel Olufemi Bolarinde, Chukwujeme Ifeanyi Okwunna, Akeeb Sodiq Olalekan - 06 Oct 2023
- Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 3, Issue: 10, Pages: 1 - 9
- https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm3101
- Received: June 15, 2023; Accepted: September 23, 2023; Published: October 6, 2023
Abstract
Background: Health-care Professionals are constantly exposed to work-related musculoskeletal disorders which bring about deleterious effects on their well-being. A better understanding of ergonomic risk factors and appropriate working posture are important in overcoming various musculoskeletal disorders commonly reported among health care workers. Good posture can lead to good appearance; poise, integrity, and dignity. Aims and objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge of body posture, attitude towards good posture and practice patterns for posture among health care health care professionals. Materials and methods: The cross-sectional survey recruited 136 health care professionals from Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, South Western Nigeria. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Informed consent of all participants was sought and obtained after the rationale behind the study has been explained to them. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Good Posture among the participants. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics of percentage and frequency tables. Results: 66(48.5%) were males while 70(51.5%) were females. 24.3% of the respondents are Doctors; 36.8% Nurses; 7.4% Pharmacists; 8.8% Radiologists; 10.3% Dentists; MLS 8.8% and Optometrists 3.7%. The result also showed that 63.2% of the participants had good knowledge of good posture. 89% positive attitude towards good posture, while only 27.9% had good practice of good posture. Conclusion: Majority of Health Care Professionals in this study demonstrated adequate knowledge of good posture and positive attitude towards good posture. However, only one-quarter of the participants demonstrated good practice of good posture in their day-to-day activities which shows that good knowledge and attitudes does not always translate into good practice.