The Foot Health And Its Relation To Quality Of Life Among Nurses

Foot well-being is an essential component for various situations requiring nursing expertise. In this profession, nurses' feet are presented to prolonged standing & walking for broad ranges, causing foot torment, edema & uneasiness. The nursing profession chiefly affects the lower limbs because physically stressful work causes excessive loading. Nurses are at high threat of musculoskeletal ache due to high bodily demands, which includes heavy lifting and standing for longer duration of time. Strain on the foot and ankle is considered to be greater in nurses than in the common people and other professionals, due to the fact nurses normally walk as many as 8 to 9. 6 km (4-5 miles) in a 12-hour shift. The occurrence of foot and ankle pain has been stated to be high in nurses and which impairs the quality of personal and professional life, according to a study conducted in Japan, the foot and ankle pain that inhibited the nurses to carry out ADLs and work tasks was 4% and 17%, respectively.

The foot acts to transfer pressure between the leg and the floor permitting ambulation and steady stance, throughout gait the foot acts as a flexible shock-absorber. Because of the activities including great physical exertion, nurses want to have feet in most favorable situation to be capable of working with complete effectiveness and moreover foot health is an essential element of overall health of nurses. Common foot ailments affecting working personnel are blisters, corns, hallux valgus (bunions), hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, varicose veins, sore feet, edema, pain, fatigue and stress fractures.

Different examinations have been held till date which provide data about the foot and lower leg issues faced by nursing staff. According to a cross-sectional study conducted on nurses in 2014, foot/lower leg MSDs had the highest incidence in the preceding week (43. 8% 95% CI 38. 2-49. 4%), the second most prevalent MSD to disable medical caretakers’ physical activities (16. 7% 95% CI 13. 0-21. 3%) and the third most common MSD following lumbar and cervical region to be encountered by nurses during past year (55. 3% 95% CI 49. 6-60. 7%). The tasks in the operative ward are identified by standing, strolling, hoisting and transferring. In such exposures being over-weight increases the pressure on the feet. Agreeable nurses’ shoes ought to stress a foot bed with curves maintenance and suited sole elevation, this can limit foot weight division and ease discomforts for shin & ankle. Moreover, foot complaints are also lessen by using pressure stockings. Work place related health system ought to regard the nurses' foot health as necessary element of their program and should make attempts for its advancement.

Minna Stolt et al. in 2015 directed a descriptive cross-sectional examination on 411 nurses from Finland. The data was gathered by utilizing Foot Health Assessment Instrument between May to June, 2015. Most respondents were females (97%) with mean age of 44 years. Larger part of nurses (n=300, 72%) reported that foot issues incredibly influenced their working potential. Some of them (n = 54, 13%) had been on sick leave on account of foot issues, while a couple (n = 14, 3%) revealed that they had changed their job in view of foot complications. Most common issues were dehydrated skin, foot pain and corns/calluses. Many MSDs experienced in back and neck can be related with issues in feet. Nurses’ foot wellbeing should be kept up through professional health maintenance facilities and appropriate self-foot care.

Jing Li et al. in 2017 directed an investigation on objective and subjective evaluation of physical tasks on the lower extremity and related MSDs among nurses from a huge hospital area in US Midwest. For objective estimation, 20 staff nurses were recruited, data was collected through activPAL accelerometer while nurses did their typical tasks for one week. For subjective assessment, a survey was created receiving MSK related inquiry from NMQ. A sum of 502 surveys were finally analyzed. The results revealed that previous 12 months commonness of MSK disorders surpassed 70% for the lower back, cervical region & lower limbs. Last week occurrence was most noteworthy for the lower extremities (64%). The MSK manifestations found in ankle/feet were 59%. Ankle/foot pain was accounted for as 4. 9 on the scale of 0-10. The mean steps taken by nurses were 8368 as collected from the activPAL during a 12-hour shift. Interventions focusing on pain in legs in nurses will probably require a systemic methods given that the etiology is multi-factorial including individual, natural and occupational factors. Decreasing the frequency of lower extremity musculoskeletal uneasiness will profit nurses and could likewise enhance the prosperity of patients.

Sofia Tariq et al. in June 2018, investigated about prevalence of foot/ankle musculoskeletal disturbances in nurses of Lahore, Pakistan. A cross sectional investigation comprised of 369 participators (all females) and aged between 20-57 years with average of 31 years, filled out Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. The examination was concluded in a half year. The accumulated data uncovered that 174(47. 4%) nurses experienced foot/ankle distress, 35. 5% in preceding year while 78% in past week. Altogether, foot/ankle MSDs are frequent among nurses, greatly caused by standing for extended time intervals and working hours spent in hospitals every week. It is recommended that they should be instructed about self-care and alleviating techniques and furthermore awarded breaks when on-duty.

Suzan Mansour Attar in 2014 administered a relative cross-sectional examination to estimate recurrence & risk elements of pain in musculoskeletal system in nurses at tertiary center in Jeddah, KSA. 200 full time enrolled nurses were chosen for examination ranged from September 2011 till February 2012. MSK symptoms in preceding 12 months were attested by implementation of Nordic Standardized Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. In this investigation approx. 85% nurses affirmed having a single MSK symptom. MSK symptoms happened regularly in lower back (65. 7%), ankles & feet (41. 5%) and shoulders (29%). Wearing unsuitable shoes caused persistent foot/ankle pain coming about because of various conditions like plantar fasciitis, bunions and hammer toes. Two principle components causing the MSDs comprised performing tasks for 10 hours out of 24 and having low BMI. Additional considerations are expected to assess the best strategies for WMSDs prevention.

Lloyd F Reed et al. in 2014 led a cross sectional investigation to set up pervasiveness and risk factors for foot/ankle MSDs experienced by pediatric hospital nurses in Brisbane, Australia. A self-directed survey including Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was circulated over a nine week time span, to every single qualified nurse (n = 416), 73% reaction was gotten with 304 participants finishing study whom 276 were females (91%). Mean age was 37 years. Foot/ankle MSDs were most common conditions amid recent days (43. 8%, 95% CI 38. 2-49. 4%), the second most pervasive MSDs to disable bodily functions (16. 7%, 95% CI 13. 0-21. 3%) and third most predominant MSD after low back and neck issues during recent 12 months (55. 3%, 95% CI 49. 6-60. 7%). High BMI, poor general wellbeing, existing foot ailments and working in ICU were huge components for activity constraining foot/ankle MSDs (one out of each six nurses). Instruction programs including prevention, self-care and treatment techniques for foot/ankle MSDs are suggested. Additional inquiry is required into the effect of work area and expanded working hours on foot/ankle MSDs.

Hanif Abdul Rahman et al. carried out a questionnaire based cross sectional investigation among nurses employed at public hospitals of Brunei in 2016 to determine the social & psychological work stressors, work related tiredness and musculoskeletal issues. 201 nurses (reaction rate 82%) took part in the study, mostly aged between 30-40 years. Just 24. 4% nurses indicated normal BMI. The pervasiveness of MSD pain was 18% for foot area and 50% foot pain restricted the optimal work capacity. There was high commonness of chronic & constant fatigue in foot area. Increased workload, stress, work pace were critical risk factors. This examination has given extensive judgment about the burden of work, stress inducing factors & work related fatigue. It gave introductory awareness to nursing administration and policymakers to make educated choices on present and future arrangements to give nurses a helpful work environment & consider their well-being.

Maki Tojo et al. in November 2017 led a cross-sectional investigation about pervasiveness and related components of foot & ankle pain among nurses at university hospital, Japan. The event of foot & ankle pain in previous month was evaluated by Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index. Visual Analog Scale was utilized for surveying shoe comfort and for data on personal and socio-psychological factors, Job Content Questionnaire was utilized. Reactions of 636 nurses (reaction rate 67%) the foot & ankle pain was 23% and 51% when utilizing SNQ and MFPDI, separately. Agony hindering in day by day living and work was 4% and 17%, independently. Shoe comfort, age, BMI, low occupation control and high employment strain were the related components causing foot & ankle pain.

Minna Stolt et al. in 2015 directed a fundamental inquiry on lower extremity musculoskeletal disorders in nurses. Three extensive databases i. e. Medline, CINAHL and PsychInfo were scanned for earliest entries to 31 December, 2014. After full content investigation a sum of 35 articles were incorporated into final examination. By reviewing the commonness of MSDs during past year, it appeared that knee and foot/ankle problems are routinely originated by MSDs. The commonness of MSDs in ankle went somewhere in the range of 3. 2% and 100%. Most nurses habitually stand and walk long distances in their work which is known to be a huge hazard factor for MSDs. MSDs in the lower legs and their subsequent disability are regular around the world speaking to a noteworthy reason for ailment absence and frequently prompting long term nonattendance. Due to individual and societal issues and costs successful methodologies to keep up work capacity and wellbeing are required.