Nurses are at high risk of developing musculoskeletal symptoms due to the physical demands of their work including lifting, awkward postures, and transferring patients. This study examined the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms and relationship to psychosocial risk factors among nurses at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah, Malaysia. The results showed the highest prevalence of symptoms was in the upper back (70.6%), lower back (58%), and shoulders (55.9%). Most nurses reported high decision latitude, high job demands, good social support, high job insecurity, and job dissatisfaction. Social support and job insecurity were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. The findings suggest improving social support through team building and addressing job insecurity to help minimize

1. PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS AND MUSCULOSKELETAL SYMPTOMS AMONG
NURSES IN HOSPITAL SULTANAH BAHIYAH,KEDAH
Siti M.B., Huda B.Z.
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra
Malaysia, Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,Universiti Putra Malaysia
INTRODUCTION
Nursing is a high risk occupation for developing work- related musculoskeletal symptoms (Ando.S et al.,2000). Nurses are often required to
lift heavy loads, work in awkward postures, and transfer patients (Brulin C et al., 1998). Thus, the profession is known to be a stressful and
physically difficult job, causing it to be a high-risk job for MSDs (Trinkoff et al., 2002). During the past years, the relationship between
psychosocial work environment and musculoskeletal disorders has come increasingly into focus.
OBJECTIVES METHODOLOGY
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To determine association between psychosocial risk
factors and musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses in
medical based wards and surgical based wards at Hospital
Sultanah Bahiyah (HSB)
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
-To determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal
symptoms among nurses.
-To determine the psychosocial risk factors among nurses
-To determine association between psychosocial risk
factors (decision latitude, psychological job demand, social
support, job insecurity, job dissatisfaction) and
musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses
RESULT
Figure 1: Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses Figure 2: Distribution of psychosocial risk factors among nurses
Figure 3: Psychosocial risk factors and MSS among nurses
DISCUSSION CONCLUSION
- Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses was  Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms among nurses was high
highest in the upper back (70.6%), lower back (58%), and Psychosocial risk factors such as social support and job insecurity
shoulder (55.9%). This result were similar to the study done by significantly affect musculoskeletal symptoms
Daraisehet.al, ** (2003) who stated that the three highest  Musculoskeletal symptoms were minimized by giving the training
prevalence rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among and knowledge on this problems. Hospital administration may
nurses were found in the neck, shoulders and back region. (fig.1) promote on good ergonomic practices
- Most of the nurses had high decision latitude (63.6%), high job  Support from colleagues and supervisor should be improved by
demands(57.3%), very good social support (77.6%), high job peer group activities, and team building activities.
insecurity (54.5%), and high job dissatisfaction (50.3%). (fig.2)
- Social support was significantly associated with neck pain.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thanks to my supervisor, Dr.Huda bt Zainuddin for her patience, knowledge and experiences that are precious and meaningful given to me in order to complete this research. A thousand of thanks to head nurses and all nurses staff in Hospital
Sultanah Bahiyah for giving their cooperation during this research.