TAKALA E-P, VIIKARI-JUNTURA E, MONETA OB, SAARENMAA K, KAIVANTO K. Seasonal variation in neck and shoulder symptoms. Scand J Work Environ Health 1992;18:257-61. The objective of the investigation was to study the course of neck and shoulder symptoms and the predictors for these symptoms among women in light sedentary work. Postal surveys wereconducted among 351 tellers (age 20-50 years) of a bank company in September, December, March, and May. The response rates were 74-900/0. The outcome was the frequency of the symptoms during the previous three months. In the analysis, univariate explorations and random-effects logisticbinomial regression for distinguishable responses were used. A change in the frequency of neck and shoulder symptoms was seen in 40.5% of the subjectsduring the follow-upperiod from autumn to spring. The frequencyof the symptomsdecreased from autumn and winter towards spring. The stability of the frequency of the symptoms was positively associated with age. Seasonal variation in symptoms shouldbe considered whenpreventive programs against neck and shoulder disorders are planned and evaluated.
The Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) has been found to predict isokinetic performance better than anthropometric variables. This study tests the predictive power of SES further against other measures of efficacy expectancies as well as measures of depression and perceived disability. A group of 105 chronic back pain patients was administered Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), SES, the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), and the Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire (OSWESTRY). Total isokinetic work done was measured at slow, medium and high speeds, for which multiple regression models were fitted controlling for sex, age, weight and height. The results confirmed SES to be the best overall predictor of isokinetic performance. BDI was not significant as a predictor of isokinetic performance. The models also revealed that SES predicts less well with increases in the test speed, particularly in extension. These results provide further evidence of the diagnostic value of SES relative to OSWESTRY and PSEQ.
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.