The psychosocial implications of back injury at work.

The majority of studies on back injury have been quantitative in nature, focusing on ergonomic or financial implications of back injury problems for trusts and the profession. The psychological and social effects upon the individual suffering the injury have largely been ignored. This qualitative study sought to redress the balance by examining why injuries were occurring. It focuses on the personal cost of back injury to nurses and its effect on their lives and careers. Questionnaires were sent to members of the Work Injured Nurses' Group (WING) which is funded by the Royal College of Nursing. The findings revealed that a large proportion of accidents were preventable. Nurses who sustained a back injury suffered both physically and psychologically, and generally felt unsupported and isolated. This, together with a lack of redeployment opportunities, seemed to affect adversely their ability to adapt to their injury and remain in the profession.