General Health of Healthcare Professionals With Low Back Pain.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of morbidity in the healthcare profession. It is a complex problem of the biopsychosocial factors (BPS) effect, where processing mechanisms affect the experience of pain, function, participation in society and personal prosperity. Psychological factors are important predictors of poor outcomes because they can significantly influence pain management and coping.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychological factors, the difference in general health and the tendency toward psychological dysfunction of healthcare professionals with low back pain at different levels of healthcare system.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five primary, secondary and tertiary level healthcare institutions in Boka Kotorska, Montenegro (December 2021 - July 2022). The study involved 192 subjects with LBP who voluntary entered the study and met the inclusion criteria. The study instrument was the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which provides information on mental health by identifying symptoms of distress. The data were analyzed using the 2 test with a statistical significance limit of p<0.05.

Results: The study included n=67 (34.9%) respondents working at secondary level, n=63 (32.8%) at the primary level and n=62 (32.3%) working at tertiary level, predominantly female. Analysis of the psychological factors representation indicate significant differences in overcoming difficulties (p=0.05), enjoyment in daily activities (p=0.042) and feelings of happiness and progress (p=0.004). There were statistically significant differences in general health and in the tendency to psychological dysfunction (p=0.005). Tendency to somatic symptoms is most prevalent at primary (55.6%) and tertiary (51.6%) healthcare level. Respondents working at Secondary level showed a tendency towards social dysfunction, anxiety and depression (50.7%, 17.9% and 3%).

Conclusion: Psychological factors are represented differently in the healthcare profession. A statistically significant difference was found among healthcare professionals of the examined levels, especially in the feeling of inability to overcome difficulties, enjoyment in usual daily activities, and feeling of happiness and progress. There is also a significant difference in the representation of psychological dysfunction at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare, while general health is most impaired among healthcare professionals working at the secondary level.