The Hot Spot - current research or activities relevant to the NZ HF&E Community

The Centre for Ergonomics, Occupational Safety and Health (CErgOSH )  together with the Centre for Public Health Research (CPRH) and the EpiCentre (the Centre for veterinary epidemiology) at Massey University has recently completed data analysis on a very large sample of the New Zealand workforce, investigating the prevalence and risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms(MSS)/low back symptoms (LBS) and its consequences in terms of activities that are affected and absenteeism due to LBS. Three papers have been prepared and submitted to international peer reviewed journals. The studies show that the prevalence of MSS/LBS in New Zealand is high, particularly amongst women with high physical workloads. They suggest that interventions to reduce LBS should focus on reducing work in awkward or tiring positions and stressful jobs, especially amongst females.  Interventions to reduce the consequences of LBS should also aim to reduce awkward or tiring positions and lifting. For individuals with LBS, additional focus should be to reduce tight deadlines, and work in hot/warm environments.

A summary of the findings from each of the three papers is below.

 
Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to gender, age, and occupational/industrial group

Baiduri Widanarko, DDS, MOHS; Stephen Legg, BSc(Hons), PhD; Mark Stevenson, MVSc, PhD, MACVSc; Jason Devereux, BEng(Hons), MSc, PhD ; Amanda Eng, BSc, PGDipPH; Andrea 't Mannetje, PhD; Soo Cheng, BSc, PGDipPH; Jeroen Douwes, PhD; Lis Ellison-Loschmann, PhD; Dave McLean, PhD; Neil Pearce, PhD

Although musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) are common worldwide, little is known about its prevalence amongst the working population in relation to gender, age, and  occupational/industrial group. A sample of 3003 men and women randomly selected from the New Zealand Electoral Roll. MSS experienced during the previous 12 months in 10 body regions was assessed in telephone interviews using a modified version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. MSS prevalence was 92% (for any body region). The highest prevalence was for low back (54%), neck (43%), and shoulders (42%). Females reported a statistically significantly higher prevalence of MSS in the neck, shoulders, wrist/hands, upper back and hips/thighs/buttocks regions compared to males while males reported more symptoms of the elbows, low back and knees. There were no statistically significant differences in prevalence among age groups. In general, participants with heavy physical workloads had significantly higher prevalence of symptoms in most body regions than those with light physical workloads although women with light physical workloads reported more neck symptoms. The study indicates that the New Zealand working population has a high prevalence of MSS and that exposure in the workplace plays a role.

Relevance to Industry: The findings of this study imply that efforts to reduce MSS in the workplace should focus on females and employees with high physical workloads.

Gender differences in work-related risk factors associated with low back symptoms 

 The prevalence of low back symptoms (LBS) in many working populations is high and differences in prevalence between genders are inconsistent. However, gender-specific risk factors for LBS have seldom been examined. Hence, the aim of the present study was to indicate gender-specific LBS risk factors. A sample of 3003 people was interviewed by telephone to get information about current workplace exposure and LBS. A logistic regression model showed that the risk of LBS for the whole population increased with work in awkward or tiring positions [odds ratio (OR) 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-1.68] and very/extremely stressful jobs (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.05-2.03). None of the explanatory variables were significantly associated with LBS for males but working in awkward or tiring positions (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.04-2.20) and finding their job to be very/extremely stressful (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.46-3.52) were significantly associated with LBS for females. These findings suggest that interventions to reduce LBS in workplaces should focus on reducing working in awkward or tiring positions and stressful jobs, especially amongst females.

Statement of Relevance: Strategies to prevent or reduce LBS should focus on reducing exposure to awkward or tiring positions at work and stressful jobs, especially for females.

Title: Prevalence and work-related risk factors for activity affected and absenteeism due to low back symptoms

Baiduri Widanarko, DDS, MOHS; Stephen Legg, BSc(Hons), PhD; Mark Stevenson, MVSc, MACVSc, PhD; Jason Devereux, BEng(Hons), MSc, PhD; Amanda Eng, BSc, PGDipPH; Andrea 't Mannetje, PhD; Soo Cheng, BSc, PGDipPH; Neil Pearce, PhD

Little is known about the consequences and risk factors of Low back symptoms (LBS). A sample of 3003 men and women randomly selected from the New Zealand Electoral Roll, were interviewed by telephone about their lifetime work history, current self-reported physical, psychosocial, organizational, environmental factors and various health conditions, including LBS and its consequences (assessed as self-reported activities affected and absenteeism due to LBS during the preceding year). The prevalence of activity affected and absenteeism were 18% and 9%, respectively. Lifting increased the risk of activity affected [odds ratio (OR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.16- 2.77]. Working in awkward or tiring positions increased the risk of absenteeism (OR 2.11 95% CI 1.20- 3.70). Among those with LBS, activity affected increased with working in hot/warm environments (OR 2.14 95% CI 1.22-3.76) and absenteeism was increased with work in awkward or tiring positions (OR 2.06 95% CI 1.13-3.77), tight deadlines (OR 1.89 95% CI 1.02-3.50), and hot/warm environments (OR 3.35 95% CI 1.68-6.68). Interventions to reduce the consequences of LBS should aim to reduce awkward or tiring positions and lifting. For individuals with LBS, additional focus should be to reduce tight deadlines, and work in hot/warm environments.