Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department Adult Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Al-Muthanna
2 Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Al-Muthanna
3 Department of Family and Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Misan
Abstract
Background: Varicose veins are a vascular disease that can lead to serious complications for the cardiovascular system due to damage to the veins. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence of varicose veins among nurses and to determine the most influential risk factors.
Methods: A non-probability (purposive) sample of 151 nurses from critical care units was selected. A questionnaire was used to conduct interviews and gather data, which were then subjected to both inferential and descriptive statistical analysis.
Results: Most participants were aged (22–27) years 51.7%. The sample was predominantly male (88) nurses 58.3%, and years of experience ranged from (1–25) years, with (1–5) years being the most common 60.9%. Participants had nearly equal average standing hours. Most nurses had normal weight, numbering (83) representing a percentage of 55%, were non-smokers (114) 75.5%, and had no family history of varicose veins (111) nurses, representing a percentage of 73.5%. Varicose vein prevalence among critical care nurses was 17.9%. Advanced age, female gender, and positive family history were significant risk factors, while varicose veins showed no relationship with body mass index, working hours, or smoking, indicating further investigation
is needed.
Conclusion: The study found that influential factors affecting nurses working in critical care units of South-Iraqi hospitals include age, gender, and family history, while other factors such as body mass index, working hours, and smoking were not found to have a significant impact.
Keywords
- Aslam MR, Muhammad Asif H, Ahmad K, Jabbar S, Hayee A, Sagheer MS, et al. Global impact and contributing factors in the development of varicose vein disease. SAGE Open Med. 2022; doi: 10:20503121221118992.
- Yetkin E, Kutlu Karadag M, Ileri M, Atak R, Erdil N, Tekin G, Ozturk S. Venous leg symptoms, ecchymosis, and coldness in patients with peripheral varicose vein: a multicenter assessment and validation study (VEIN-VIOLET study). Vascular. 2021;29(5):767-775.
- Sofar SM. Effectiveness of Self-Instructional Module on Nurses' Knowledge Regarding the Prevention and Management Strategy of Varicose Vein. 2022.
- Abdalla RAH, Ginawi T, Alrashidi AAM, Balouch Z, Riyadh SA. To Cite: Khatoon F, Alshammari SMM, Alshammari NA, Alshurtan KS, Alshammari NS, Alreshidi FS, et al. Medical Science. 2023;27:e206ms2985.
- Shrestha P, Dhamala K, Karmacharya RM, Shrestha S. Risk Assessment of Varicose Vein among School Teachers of Dhulikhel Municipality. 2024.
- Baghdadi LR, Alshalan GF, Alyahya NI, Ramadan HH, Alshahrani AM, Alqahtani JA, et al. Prevalence of varicose veins and its risk factors among nurses working at King Khalid University Hospital Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Healthcare. 2023;11(24):3183.
- Almutiri BM, Alshammari AM, Alharbi SB, Alsuhaibani AN, Alenazi RS, Alfarhan GK, et al. Evaluating the prevalence and risk factors of varicose veins in surgeons and operating room staff at Buraidah Center Hospital. Cureus. 2024;16(1).
- Abou-ElWafa HS, El-Metwaly AA, El-Gilany AH. Lower limb varicose veins among nurses: a single center cross-sectional study in Mansoura, Egypt. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2020;24(3):172-177.
- Yun MJ, Kim YK, Kang DM, Kim JE, Ha WC, Jung KY, Choi HW. A study on prevalence and risk factors for varicose veins in nurses at a university hospital. Saf Health Work. 2018;9(1):79-83.
- Maziad M, Deek H. Prevalence of varicose veins among nurses working in different hospital departments: a cross sectional study. BAU J Health Wellbeing. 2021;3(2):2.
- Joseph N, Abhishai B, Thouseef MF, Abna A, Juneja I. A multicenter review of epidemiology and management of varicose veins for national guidance. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2016;8:21-27.
- Mulla SA, Pai S. Varicose veins: a clinical study. Int Surg J. 2017;4(2):529-533.
- Ali SA, Najmi WK, Hakami FM, Almubarak AA, Alhassan RA, Maafa SH, et al. Prevalence of varicose veins among nurses in different departments in Jazan public hospitals, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. Cureus. 2022;14(4).
- Shakya R, Karmacharya RM, Shrestha R, Shrestha A. Varicose veins and its risk factors among nurses at Dhulikhel hospital: a cross sectional study. BMC Nurs. 2020;19:1-7.
- Naik C, Monteiro PJ. Prevalence of Varicose Veins among Nurses in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Study. J Health Allied Sci NU. 2024.
- Łastowiecka-Moras E. Standing and sitting postures at work and symptoms of venous insufficiency–results from questionnaires and a Doppler ultrasound study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2021;27(4):963-969.
- Al-Alreda JJ, Majeed HM, Hassan AF. Prevalence and contributed factors for varicose veins in intensive care unit nurses at Baghdad teaching hospitals. Azerbaijan Pharm Pharmaco-therapy J. 2023;22:33-36.
- Jung S, Kim Y, Kang D, Kim SY, Kim I, Kim EM. Distribution of working position among workers with varicose veins based on the National Health Insurance and National Employment Insurance data. Ann Occup Environ Med. 2020;32:e21.
)