Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal discomforts (WMSDs) refer to pain and discomfort affecting the musculoskeletal system, often arising in specific work environments. WMSDs are one of the major occupational concerns among healthcare professionals, especially among nurses, who engage frequently in physically demanding tasks such as handling patients, engaging in repetitive movements, and prolonged standing. Such conditions may cause discomfort and affect job performance. In Sri Lanka, the burden caused by WMSDs remains underexplored.

Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence and describe the characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal discomforts among nurses at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 350 nurses at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka via convenience sampling. Upon obtaining ethical approval and institutional permission, a pre-tested selfadministered questionnaire including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to assess WMSDs among nurses who voluntarily consented to participate in this study. Analysis of the NMQ was performed according to established standard protocols. The demographic characteristics of nurses were analysed using descriptive statistics, and associations were determined via Pearson Chi-square test.

Results: The majority were married (86%, n=300) females (85%, n=297) with a mean age of 41 ± 8 years. The prevalence of WMSDs among nurses during the past 12 months was 87.4% (n=306; 95% CI: 83.4–90.6%). Lower back (54%, n=188) and knee(s) (51%, n=177) were the most commonly affected body regions for WMSDs. Among female nurses, lower back discomfort was reported most frequently (63%, n=162), whereas knee discomfort was most prevalent among male nurses (65%, n=32). The frequency of WMSDs was significantly associated with work units (p≤0.01) and working hours per day (p=0.005).

Conclusion: A higher prevalence of WMSDs was observed among nurses at Teaching Hospital Karapitiya, Sri Lanka. This implies a need for establishing strategies to reduce WMSDs among nurses.

Keywords
Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire , Nurses , Occupational discomfort , Sri Lanka , Work-related musculoskeletal discomforts.