The CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) Study: Methods of Data Collection and Characteristics of Study Sample

Abstract

Background The CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) study was established to explore the hypothesis that common musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and associated disability are importantly influenced by culturally determined health beliefs and expectations. This paper describes the methods of data collection and various characteristics of the study sample. Methods/Principal Findings A standardised questionnaire covering musculoskeletal symptoms, disability and potential risk factors, was used to collect information from 47 samples of nurses, office workers, and other (mostly manual) workers in 18 countries from six continents. In addition, local investigators provided data on economic aspects of employment for each occupational group. Participation exceeded 80% in 33 of the 47 occupational groups, and after pre-specified exclusions, analysis was based on 12,426 subjects (92 to 1018 per occupational group). As expected, there was high usage of computer keyboards by office workers, while nurses had the highest prevalence of heavy manual lifting in all but one country. There was substantial heterogeneity between occupational groups in economic and psychosocial aspects of work; three- to five-fold variation in awareness of someone outside work with musculoskeletal pain; and more than ten-fold variation in the prevalence of adverse health beliefs about back and arm pain, and in awareness of terms such as “repetitive strain injury” (RSI). Conclusions/Significance The large differences in psychosocial risk factors (including knowledge and beliefs about MSDs) between occupational groups should allow the study hypothesis to be addressed effectively.

International variation in absence from work attributed to musculoskeletal illness: findings from the CUPID study

“…After elimination of subjects who did not meet the inclusion criteria that had been specified in the protocol (age 20–59 years, worked in current job for at least 12 months), and a further 317 for whom critical information was missing (eg, on sex or age), the CUPID study sample comprised a total of 12 426 participants. Further details of exclusions and the characteristics of the study sample have been reported elsewhere 23. For the purposes of this report, we excluded an additional 10 participants with missing information on sickness absence for musculoskeletal pain.…”

“…We present here, an analysis of data on sickness absence from the CUPID (Cultural and Psychosocial Influences on Disability) study, which used standardised methods to collect information on 47 occupational groups in 18 countries 23. The study focused on disability from musculoskeletal complaints, which in many countries are the major reason given for longer-term sickness absence 24–26.…”

Psychological and psychosocial determinants of musculoskeletal pain and associated disability

“…"How satisfied have you been with your job as a whole, taking everything into consideration?" [93]; "Does your job consist of constantly repeated tasks, meaning that you do the same thing hour after hour?" [94].…”

Upper extremity musculoskeletal pain among office workers in three Spanish-speaking countries: findings from the CUPID study

“…26 Detailed information about the data collection and sample characteristics can be found elsewhere. 20 Ethical review and approval were obtained prior to data collection, from institutional review committees in each country, and from the University of Texas Health Science Center Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects.…”