Development and validation of the Low Back Pain Questionnaire for Nurses (LBP-NS) in Indonesia: a structural equation modeling approach

Abstract

Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent global health issue, recognized as a leading cause of disability worldwide. This study aimed to address the lack of culturally and contextually relevant tools for assessing low back pain (LBP) among nurses in Indonesia, given their pivotal role in the country's healthcare system and high occupational risk of LBP. Using purposive sampling, this study included 305 nurses from 34 provinces in Indonesia to ensure diverse and representative data. A 50-item LBP-NS questionnaire was developed, encompassing Pain Intensity (PI), Walking (WK), Sitting (SI), Standing (ST), and Sleeping (SL) domains. Psychometric validation was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). The LBP-NS demonstrated robust psychometric properties, including good model fit (CFI = 0.929, RMSEA = 0.067) and strong reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.677-0.887). LBP-NS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing low back pain risk among nurses and holds significant potential for use in clinical practice and occupational health programs to address and mitigate LBP risks.