Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Varughese Thoppil¹  Guri M Seljebø¹  Inger Lise L Saue¹  Svein Pedersen¹  Anne Langedrag¹  Solrun Holien¹  Signe HV Hauge¹  Bente Moen²  Trond Riise²  Tone Morken² 

[1] The Aluminium Industry in Norway, Oslo, Norway;Section for Occupational Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway

关键词: social support;    blue-collar workers;    widespread pain;    low back pain;    musculoskeletal disorders;    sickness absence;   

Others  :  1166224
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2474-4-21

 received in 2003-02-17, accepted in 2003-09-04,  发布年份 2003

【 摘 要 】

Background

The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the aluminium industry is high, and there is a considerable work-related fraction. More knowledge about the predictors of sickness absence from MSD in this industry will be valuable in determining strategies for prevention. The aim of this study was to analyse the relative impact of body parts, psychosocial and individual factors as predictors for short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers.

Methods

A follow-up study was conducted among all the workers at eight aluminium plants in Norway. A questionnaire was completed by 5654 workers at baseline in 1998. A total of 3320 of these participated in the follow-up study in 2000. Cox regression analysis was applied to investigate the relative impact of MSD in various parts of the body and of psychosocial and individual factors reported in 1998 on short-term and long-term sickness absence from MSD reported in 2000.

Results

MSD accounted for 45% of all working days lost the year prior to follow-up in 2000. Blue-collar workers had significantly higher risk than white-collar workers for both short- and long-term sickness absence from MSD (long-term sickness absence: RR = 3.04, 95% CI 2.08–4.45). Widespread and low back pain in 1998 significantly predicted both short- and long-term sickness absence in 2000. In addition, shoulder pain predicted long-term sickness absence. Low social support predicted short-term sickness absence (RR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.11–1.49).

Conclusions

Reducing sickness absence from MSD among industrial workers requires focusing on the working conditions of blue-collar workers and risk factors for low back pain and widespread pain. Increasing social support in the work environment may have effects in reducing short-term sickness absence from MSD.

【 授权许可】

   
2003 Morken et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.

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