Musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and psychosocial risk exposures by age and gender in a cohort of office based employees in two academic institutions

Abstract

This study presents data on self-reported prevalence of Musculo Skeletal Disorder (MSD) symptoms and psychosocial risk exposures by age and gender among a group of office based University workers who use their computers for at least 25% of their work day. Employees in two academic organisations received an invitation to participate in an on-line questionnaire. A total of n=852 office workers participated in this study; yet respondents who were employed for greater than 12 months were only included in the study cohort. Furthermore, participants were only considered for further analysis if they spent 50% or more of their workday in their office, and of this time at least 50% was spent on computer work (n=569). The study indicates that self-reported symptoms of MSDs for these workers were highest in the neck, shoulder and lower back. Neck, shoulder and back MSDs were higher for females than males, yet age differences within genders were not evident for these symptoms. For neck disorders, symptomatic individuals reported significantly higher levels of office work (p<0.05) and PC usage (p<0.005), and significantly lower levels of job content (p<0.01), job demands (p<0.05), and work environment (p<0.05) compared to asymptomatic participants. For the shoulder, symptomatic individuals exposure levels were significantly higher for office work (p<0.05) and PC usage (p<0.05) and significantly lower for job content (p<0.05) compared to asymptomatic individuals. There was evidence of important differences in the psychosocial exposures between age and genders, but associations between these differences and MSD symptoms were not present. 3.--If psychosocial risk factors indeed play such a large role in the development of this article, the discussion should be expanded on the topic.The discussion was updated to better represent the focus on psychosocial risks. Additionally, as per comment 2, the title now better represents the focus of the paper. The reviewers are also guided specifically to lines 339-352 and 455-461. 16. --In Table 3 the symbol for p<0.0005 appears somewhat awkward Updated symbol to "$".17.--The key in Table 3 also has an error; two age groups the same code (2). Corrected.18. --Review recent literature related to this topic.Updated. After a review of recent publications on Science Direct the follow two papers were cited within the paper.. . Highlights  Prevalence of self reported symptoms were highest for the Neck (58%), shoulder (57%) and lower back (51%). Neck, shoulder and lower back symptoms were not significantly different between age groups. Females reported a significantly higher prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms in each of the age groups than for males. *Highlights (for review)Musculoskeletal disorder prevalence and psychosocial risk exposures by age 1 and gender in a cohort of office based employees in two academic institutions 2 3 4 Abstract 5 This study presents data on self-reported prevalence of Musculo Skeletal 6 Disorder (MSD) symptoms and psychosocial risk exposures by age a...

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