Abstract:
The objective of this study was to find the effects of the application of self
efficacy theory and social support on low back pain prevention among brick workers.
The samples were brick workers responsible for brick molding, decorating, arranging,
moving to a kiln, and burning bricks in Bangdeur sub-district, Bangpahan district,
Ayutthaya province, who were divided into 34 people in the experimental group and
35 people in the comparison group. The experimental group was provided with the
program applying self efficacy theory and social support whereas the comparison
group received the handbook regarding low back pain prevention for brick workers.
The data was collected before the intervention and at 1 month after the intervention.
The total study period lasted for 8 weeks.
After the intervention, it was found that the experimental group had
average scores which were significantly higher regarding perceived self-efficacy on
low back pain prevention, perceived positive outcome expectation of low back pain
prevention, low back pain preventive behaviors, especially behaviors related to
working posture and back pain prevention exercise, than those before the intervention
(P < 0.001). The average change of scores regarding perceived self-efficacy on low
back pain prevention were⎯d = 2.79, S.D = 4.28, perceived positive outcome
expectation of low back pain prevention were⎯d = 4.29, S.D = 3.49, low back pain
preventive behaviors especially behaviors related to working posture were⎯d = 2.50,
S.D = 3.17 and back pain prevention exercise were⎯d = 1.44, S.D = 1.31 significantly
higher than that the comparison group (P < 0.05). However, before and after the
intervention, both the experimental group and comparison group had average scores
of working environment modification and were not different. However, after the
intervention it was also found that the average scores of back pain prevention exercise
of the comparison group increased (P < 0.05).
The findings suggest that the program applying self efficacy theory and
social support affected the behaviors of brick workers, especially with regard to
working posture and back pain prevention exercise. Therefore, the program should be
further applied to prevent work-related low back pain among brick workers