Abstract:

Objective: This study was planned to evaluate the effect of the stress perception level of healthcare workers on musculoskeletal pain in the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods: 232 individuals who worked in the field of health and participated voluntarily in the study during the COVID-19 process were included in the study. Individuals participating in the study were evaluated with an evaluation form consisting of the Demographic Information Form, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Nordic Musculoskeletal System Questionnaire. The evaluation form was created on google forms application. Data were collected on the internet via WhatsApp and e-mail. Chi-square test and T test were used to analyze quantitative independent data. The level of significance was accepted as p <0.05 for all analyzes.Results: 206 people, 96 men (53.4%) and 110 women (46.6%), was included in the study. The average age of the participants was 32.71 ± 7.55 year. Individuals participating in the study 85 (41.3%) were Physicians, 56 (27.2%) were Physiotherapists, 26 (12.6%) were Nurses / Midwives and 30 (14.6%) were Health Technicians. According to the comparison of the perceived stress level was compared with pain in the last 12 months, work disability due to pain in the last 12 months, and presence of pain in the last 7 days, a significant relationship was found between the perceived stress level and low back pain in the last 12 months and last 7 days, and wrist / hand pain in the last 7 days. (p = 0.039, p = 0.013, p = 0.047, respectively). There was no significant relationship between perceived stress level and descriptive parameters. When descriptive parameters were compared with wrist / hands pain in the last 7 days, a significant relationship was found only with gender (p = 0.023).Conclusion: In this study, the results found that hand/wrist and low back pain are associated with stress in healthcare personnel working in the COVID-19 environment will contribute to the literature. The number of studies on this subject is very few. Studies with a high population are needed in the future.

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