Prevalence of Varicose Veins among Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction Millions of individuals worldwide spend significant portions of their workdays standing or in static positions, which can pose health risks such as varicose veins. Globally, varicose vein prevalence ranges from 20 to 60%, with women being at two to three times higher risk compared to men. Varicose veins are characterized by dilated, palpable veins with a diameter larger than 3 mm. Nurses face a 16% risk of developing varicose veins, highlighting the importance of health care professionals' well-being for the effective functioning of the health care system. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the prevalence of varicose vein symptoms among nurses.

Methods A descriptive prospective study was conducted among 210 nurses with more than 1 year of experience, using purposive sampling. Demographic information and varicose vein symptoms were collected through a self-designed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis.

Results The study found that 8.6% of nurses were diagnosed with varicose veins. The majority of participants were female (97.6%) with a normal body mass index (86.7%). Prevalent symptoms included worsened leg pain (77.6%), night cramps (62.4%), and throbbing in lower legs (37.6%). Visible spider veins (19.5%) and other symptoms were reported less frequently.

Conclusion A lower prevalence of varicose veins among nurses was identified, possibly due to demographic factors of the study population. It is recommended to conduct health education campaigns tailored for health care professionals, particularly nurses, and implement regular health checkups to screen for varicose veins. These proactive measures are essential for promoting occupational health and ensuring the well-being of the nursing workforce.

Keywords

varicose vein - nurses - long-standing - prevalence - awareness - risk factors

Institutional Review Board Approval

This study is associated with the Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences, a constituent college of Nitte (Deemed to be University). Institutional Review Board approval was obtained, with the approval number NUINS/CON/NU/IEC/2022-23.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
11. Oktober 2024

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