Objectives-To analyse the association between symptoms from the musculoskeletal system and many psychosocial and other physical stressors in the job demand-control-support model. Also to analyse the influence of personality characteristics. Methods-1306 salespeople answered a self administered questionnaire on job characteristics, exposures, personality characteristics, social network, smoking and drinking habits, and symptoms of the neck, shoulders, and low back. Results-In multivariate analyses, high job demands were related to neck and shoulder symptoms (ORs 1-43-1-47 in the highest exposure groups compared with the lowest), and tendency to become overworked and lack of social support from colleagues were related to back pain (OR 1*81-2*04 in the highest exposure groups compared with the lowest). Lack of variation in the job, low control over time, and high competition were related to neck symptoms, but there was an interaction so that both low control over time and high competition had to be present to increase the OR. Also, driving long distances and sedentary work were related to neck and low back pain, and time spent in the car to shoulder pain (ORs 1-64-2*80 in the three highest groups v the lowest exposure groups). Conclusion-Both psychosocial and physical factors were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. During the past few years the contribution of psychosocial stressors to the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders has become increasingly clear. The job demand-control-support model, which has been widely used as a model for relations between the psychosocial work environment and cardiovascular disease, has also been introduced in studies of musculoskeletal disorders. A recent review of publications on psychosocial factors at work and musculoskeletal disease4 concluded that high job demands have consistently been associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Furthermore, the data indicated that lack of control and lack of social support at work are positively associated with musculoskeletal disorders.In most studies only one or a few psychosocial factors have been taken into account simultaneously. Bongers et a!4 noted that no studies existed of back trouble which analysed the effect of demands, control, and social support at the same time. It was also noted that several studies did not control appropriately for physical load. As high psychosocial job demands are often correlated with high physical load, it could be argued that the associations found for the psychosocial factors were due to residual confounding from the physical factors.
Objectives-To find associations between the prevalence of low back pain and occupational activities. Methods-Interviews of a random sample of 5185 19-59 year old Danish employees analysed by logistic regression. Results-Increased risks of low back pain were found for "vibration affecting the whole body" (odds ratio (OR)=1.28), "physically hard work" (OR=1.28), "frequently twisting or bending" (OR=1.71), "standing up" (OR=1.20), and "concentration demands" (OR=1.28). In the analysis of dose-response relations between low back pain and the risk factors, the one year period prevalence increased with increasing exposure time during a working day to each of the risk factors. The prevalence proportion ratio for those reporting to be exposed for most of the working time were 1.30 for vibrations affecting the whole body, 1.54 for physically hard work, 1.48 for frequently twisting or bending, 1.29 for standing up, and 1.13 for concentration demands. These associations seemed to be stronger in the subset of subjects who worked for 37 hours or more per week. The main objectives of this study were: (a) to identify occupational activities associated with low back pain; (b) to measure the risks of low back pain for different individual activities and explore some possible dose-response relations. MethodsThis study was based on reanalysis of a Danish survey among Danish employees. The survey was a nationwide cross sectional survey conducted from October to December 1990. A random sample of 9700 18-59 year old people was drawn from the Danish population and 8664 of them (response rate 89.3%) agreed to be interviewed. The data were collected by telephone interview with a structured questionnaire. Of the respondents 5940 people were employed at the time of the interview or had been employed up to two months before. These respondents were interviewed in detail about working conditions.A total of 15 variables have been analysed in this paper including age, sex, educational level, duration of employment in a specific occupation, weekly work time, status of exposure to certain occupational activities, and symptoms of low back pain. Only those who had been employed in a specific occupation for at least one year were included in this study. Thus, the actual applied sample consisted of 5185 subjects with the same age, sex, and occupational distributions as in the Danish population. We have described this sample and the prevalences for low back pain in different occupational groups in an earlier published study.21Subjects with missing responses were excluded from the analyses of the corresponding variables.
Professional driving is a risk factor for prolapsed cervical intervertebral disc.
We found no consistent pattern of occupations at increased risk except that sedentary work may increase the risk of attracting chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.