title: Psychosocial work factors, physical work load and associated musculoskeletal symptoms among home care workers.
abstract: This study was based on a questionnaire and included a group of home care workers (HCW) (n = 305) and a reference group of municipal employees (n = 694). The relationship between the work environment and musculoskeletal symptoms was analysed. The HCW were less satisfied with their control over their work and stimulus from their work and had a higher physical work load and prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, compared with the reference group. The Rate Ratio (RR) of neck and shoulder symptoms among HCW was 83 and 54%, respectively, higher among those reporting a "high" psychological work load compared with those reporting a "low" load. The highest RR for a single risk indicator was 2.5, and this concerned low-back symptoms among HCW who often worked with twisted postures. A combination of "poor" psychosocial work environment and "high" physical work load produced the highest RR for work-related neck (RR = 2.57) and shoulder (RR = 2.13) symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Johansson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*