Investigation of the association between ergonomic conditions of nursing workstations and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses: a case study in selected hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences

Akram Tabrizi; Ali Babazadeh Choobtarash; Mahbod Darzi; Keyvan Olazadeh; Fatemeh Paridokht; Ali Salehi Sahlabadi

doi:10.1186/s12912-025-04135-0

Investigation of the association between ergonomic conditions of nursing workstations and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses: a case study in selected hospitals of Shahid Beheshti University of medical sciences

BMC Nurs. 2025 Nov 22. doi: 10.1186/s12912-025-04135-0. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Akram Tabrizi¹, Ali Babazadeh Choobtarash², Mahbod Darzi², Keyvan Olazadeh³, Fatemeh Paridokht¹, Ali Salehi Sahlabadi^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Occupational Health and Safety Engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Biostatistics, School of Allied Medical Sciences Shahid, Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Workplace Health Promotion Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. asalehi529@gmail.com.
⁵ Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. asalehi529@gmail.com.

PMID: 41275241
DOI: 10.1186/s12912-025-04135-0

Abstract

Background: Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) have been identified as the most common occupational health problem among nurses. Therefore, given the critical role of nurses in the healthcare system, this study investigates the importance of the ergonomic design of nursing workstations in reducing musculoskeletal disorders among nurses.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study conducted in 2024, nursing workstations and nurses working in two selected hospitals in Iran were studied using a census method. This study involved 76 nurses across 32 workstations, and data related to the nurses and workstations were collected using a demographic/occupational characteristics checklist, the Ergonomic Screening and Prioritization Tool (ESPT), and the Nurse Station Ergonomic Assessment (NSEA) tool. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26.

Results: The mean ESPT risk scores were 23.45 for men, 18.77 for women, and 19.45 overall for the studied nurses, indicating a medium risk level. The mean total NSEA score was 45.09 for men, 43.21 for women, and 43.49 overall for nurses working at the nurse stations. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.434) (p-value < 0.05) was also observed between the ergonomic assessment score of the stations and the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, indicating the positive impact of improving ergonomic conditions on reducing the risk of these disorders. Furthermore, the results showed that variables such as gender, weight, working hours, employment status, and workplace ergonomic conditions are all important determining factors in the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses.

Conclusion: By focusing on the eight domains of the NSEA tool, targeted interventions can be designed and implemented in each section to gradually achieve ideal conditions. For example, measures such as using ergonomic and adjustable equipment tailored to nurses' body dimensions and redesigning the layout of workstations can promote nurses' health. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare administrators and policymakers prioritize the continuous assessment and optimization of ergonomic conditions in hospital occupational safety and health programs. Overall, these results further reveal the necessity for serious investment in optimizing the ergonomic standards of nursing workstations.

Keywords: ESPT; Ergonomics; NSEA tool; Nurses’ station; Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).