ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among computer users in Turkish office workers and to investigate the association between WMSDs and both physical and psychosocial risk factors in workplaces. Materials and Methods: The study base consisted of 400 computer users in Istanbul University, lstanbul Faculty of Medicine. The pariicipants completed a modified version of the standardized "Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire" and "Ergonomic Questionnaire" covering demographics data, musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS), physical and psychosocial risk factors during computing. Any pariicipant who had self-reported MSS in his or her neck, upper back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands and/or low back regions during the last 12 months considered as a symptomatic subject. The intensity of MSS during the past 12-month was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The case definition of WMSDs developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) was used to estimate the prevalence of these disorders. The relationships between ergonomic risk factors and WMSDs and also the association between intensity of MSS and psychosocial risk factors were estimated. Results: The prevalence of MSS according to its frequency was 64.0% in neck,
63.7% in upper back, 59.8% in low back, 56.9% in shoulders, 38.9% in wrists and 21.9%, respectively. Total prevalence ofWMSDs was 58.5% (n=l82). While there was a positive association between VAS scores and duration of computer use per day (r=O.l52, p=0.007), no relationships were found between VAS scores and age (r=0.083, p=0.146), and between VAS scores and body mass index (r=0.056, p=0.328). There was a positive relationship between wrists complaints and wrists radial/ulnar deviation (OR=1.741, 95% Cl; 1.099-2.759, p=O.Ol8), also between wrists complaints and wrists flexion/extension (OR=2.094, 95% CI; 1.299-3.377, p=0.002). Similar findings were observed between forward trunk inclination during sitting and both upper back complaints (OR=2.788, 95% CI; 1.658-4.689, p<O.OOl), and low back complaint (OR=2.788, 95'% Cl; 1.658-4.689, p=O.Oll). In subjects who had psychosocial risk factors, the mean of VAS scores was higher as compared to whom without any psychosocial risk factors and these differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that WMSDs are conunon in Turkish computer users. Neck and upper back complaints are the most common MSS. Use of computer for a long period, existence of inappropriate body postures and presence of psychosocial risk factors in workplace are important risk factors in severity of MSS and in the development of WMSDs. This results suppmi that intervention strategies that aim to minimize physical and psychosocial risk factors in workplace may be effective in prevention of the WMSDs among computer users.
