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Results of a survey designed to determine the incidence of workrelated foot pain/discomfort among RNs are described, along with factors associated with the foot problems.
While it is acknowledged commonly that nurses spend every shifton their feet, often on concrete floors, no specific information is available related to associated foot pain, foot problems, or factors associated with either in the nursing occupation (Buchbinder, 2004; Riddle, Pulisic, Pidcoe, Robert, & Johnson, 2003). However, a few studies conducted in different populations and occupations suggest foot pain is common and may be related to multiple factors, such as shoes, repetitive highimpact exercise, and walking surfaces.
Literature Review
In an Australian general population study, the prevalence of foot pain was 17% (Hill, Gill, Menz, & Taylor, 2008). Authors noted 10% of active runners reported plantar fasciitis as the source of their foot pain. Foot pain also has been reported in individuals whose occupation requires prolonged standing, such as military personnel, individuals in service occupations, and assembly line workers (Buchbinder, 2004; Gill, 1997; King, 2002; McConkey, 1981). In other studies, standing and walking on hard floor surfaces have been noted to influence the health and fatigue of individuals (Gill, 1997; King, 2002). Finally, at least two studies suggested body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of foot problems due to weight-induced stress placed on the feet (Jelinek & Fox, 2009; Riddle et al., 2003). While these studies are helpful, they are not specific to nurses who may need proactive intervention to prevent and alleviate foot problems.
Given the paucity of available information on the topic, the authors designed a study to explore the issue of foot pain in nurses at their institution. The study question was as follows: What is the incidence of work-related foot pain and related factors among RNs working in a 750- bed Magnet® hospital and academic medical center? Hypotheses included the following: (a) Work-related foot pain is common in RNs, and (b) Factors associated with the pain include time on feet, age, BMI, turnover of nursing shoes, activity outside work, and floor surfaces.
Study Design and Sample
A survey was designed using Survey Suite, an Internet survey tool developed by the institution's computer science group. The tool allows users to create, edit, publish, and tally...