Abstract

This study compared the incidence of low back pain among home-care workers affiliated with 54 CLSCs and nurses' aides in 36 chronic-care facilities between 1988 and 1992. Home-care workers exhibited a higher rate of low back pain than did nurses' aides. No individual risk factor (height, weight, number of children, smoking habits) was statistically significant. On the other hand, the distribution of low back problems appeared to depend on occupational factors such as the availability of patient-lifts, the availability of help while moving patients, and the proportion of postoperative patients in the worker's case load.