Lower back pain (LBP) is considered the first cause of restricting occupational activity before 45 years and the third cause along with respiratory diseases and traumatic injuries in the age group of 45–64 years [1]. Based on the previous studies, musculoskeletal disorders, especially LBP, are directly associated with specific jobs in the medical field [2]. Nursing is considered as one of the highest-ranking among the five jobs leading to LBP. LBP occurs due to some factors such as long night shifts [3], lifting patients, prolonged standing [4], lifting equipment, and mechanical instruments[5]. LBP results in increased absenteeism from the workplace, increased medication errors, early retirement, changing workplace, slower services, and even job change [2, 6]. Many medical interventions are conducted to reduce the adverse effects of LBP, including medication therapy, physical therapies, complete rest, surgery, and complementary therapies, and training [7].
Training the healthcare team, especially nurses, can increase their knowledge, attitude, and skills in preventing LBP, resulting in providing services to patients more efficiently. Hence, choosing an appropriate educational method plays a significant role in learning and enhancing the individuals' willingness to change their health-related behaviors [8].
Self-directed learning techniques such as multimedia and educational booklets have many applications in nursing. Educational multimedia can provide learners with much better learning due to words, images, animation, and sound [9]. However, access to educational technology and software compatible with educational facilities and conditions is considered the limitations students may face [10]. On the other hand, educational booklets have been used for many years in nursing education. The joy of holding and reading a booklet, underlining and marking essential points, the tangibility of topics, and the book-reading habit are considered the benefits of booklets. However, the time consumed to edit and produce booklets, high costs, and lack of possibility to change the color, margin, size, and font of the texts according to the person's taste are among its disadvantages [11].
A large number of studies have been conducted to compare the multimedia and conventional methods such as booklets and indicated that multimedia plays a more significant effect than conventional education on knowledge, skill, and self-efficacy [12], depression and anxiety [13], the severity of pain, over-dramatization of pain, and coping with pain [14], as well as knowledge and skills among the patients [15]. Given the increasing statistics of LBP among nurses and the fact that no study has been conducted in this area in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, the present study aimed to compare the effects of interactive multimedia and illustrated booklet methods as two LBP-prevention educational methods.