Abstract
Background: Little is known, whether physical workload and musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) have an impact on the intended or actual dropout of nursing students in the later years of their degree program.
Purpose: Studying the determinants of intention to leave and actual dropout from nursing education. We hypothesized that physical workload and MSCs are positively associated with these outcomes.
Methods: A prospective cohort study among 711 third-year students at a Dutch Bachelor of Nursing degree program. Multivariable backward binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between physical work factors and MSCs, and intention to leave or actual dropout.
Results: Intention to leave was 39.9% and actual dropout 3.4%. Of the nursing students, 79% had regular MSCs. The multivariable model for intention to leave showed a significant association with male sex, working at a screen, physical activity, decision latitude, co-worker support, distress and need for recovery. The multivariable model for dropout showed a significant association with living situation (not living with parents), male sex, sick leave during academic year and decision latitude.
Conclusions: Our research shows that the prevalence of MSCs among nursing students is surprisingly high, but is not associated with intention to leave nor with actual dropout.
Purpose: Studying the determinants of intention to leave and actual dropout from nursing education. We hypothesized that physical workload and MSCs are positively associated with these outcomes.
Methods: A prospective cohort study among 711 third-year students at a Dutch Bachelor of Nursing degree program. Multivariable backward binary logistic regression was used to examine the association between physical work factors and MSCs, and intention to leave or actual dropout.
Results: Intention to leave was 39.9% and actual dropout 3.4%. Of the nursing students, 79% had regular MSCs. The multivariable model for intention to leave showed a significant association with male sex, working at a screen, physical activity, decision latitude, co-worker support, distress and need for recovery. The multivariable model for dropout showed a significant association with living situation (not living with parents), male sex, sick leave during academic year and decision latitude.
Conclusions: Our research shows that the prevalence of MSCs among nursing students is surprisingly high, but is not associated with intention to leave nor with actual dropout.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-33 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Professional Nursing |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | March-April |
| Early online date | 28 Dec 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors thank the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences for funding this research. The authors also thank Joost van der Zwan for his contribution to the data linking. Special thanks to all nursing students of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences for their contribution to the SPRiNG study.
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research ( NWO ) (grant number 2014-01-31 PRO ) and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (Institute of Health Care studies). The funding bodies were not involved in the choice of study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of the report or the decision to submit the article for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors