The Role of Medical Footwear in Preventing Occupational Low Back Pain Among Healthcare Professionals: Pilot Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59994/ajamts.2026.1.22Keywords:
Healthcare Professionals, Low Back Pain, Medical Footwear, Occupational Health, Pilot StudyAbstract
To evaluate the role of medical footwear in relation to low back pain (LBP) among healthcare professionals working in hospital settings. An observational pilot study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of 35 medical staff members at medical centres in Dura. Data were analysed using SPSS, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The overall mean score for medical-shoe statements was 3.71, indicating a high score. The highest-rated item concerned wearing medical shoes during heavy work without experiencing LBP (mean = 4.12), while regular foot measurement to select appropriate shoes received the lowest score (mean = 1.21). Significant associations were reported in analyses involving age (p = 0.044), weight (p = 0.033), work conditions (p = 0.031), and work-related time measures (p values reported as 0.045 and 0.031). The small convenience sample and observational design limit generalisability and do not establish a causal effect of medical footwear on LBP. Some reported statistical tables contain inconsistencies that should be checked against the original SPSS output. Healthcare institutions may consider footwear education, appropriate shoe-fit assessment, rest breaks, task rotation, and broader ergonomic measures as part of occupational health programmes. Improved occupational health practices may support the well-being and functional capacity of healthcare professionals. This pilot study provides preliminary local data on perceived medical-footwear benefits and the relationship of footwear-related responses to demographic and occupational factors.
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