title: Factors interacting with perceived work-related complaints in the musculoskeletal system among home care service personnel. An explorative multivariate study.
abstract: The interrelationships between reported complaints, certain sociodemographic data and ergonomic, physical and psychosocial aspects of the work-environment were investigated in a cross-sectional study of home care service personnel using a questionnaire. Ninety-seven out of 160 randomly selected women took part in pre-tests (presented here), post-tests and one year exercise program. Significant correlations existed between musculoskeletal complaints, other (somatic and psychosomatic) symptoms and anxiety/threat for differently, mainly work-related negative changes. The group of subjects could be divided into three subgroups. A "complaint group" was identified with a high prevalence of musculoskeletal and other somatic/psychosomatic symptoms. This group had the most negative ratings on the ergonomic and physical work-environment indices. A "young group" had the most negative perception of the psychosocial work-environment. The "healthy group" generally perceived the situation best. The present preliminary study could indicate that work-related interventions/rehabilitation programmes undertaken for the complaint group must be designed in another way and with other goals than those directed towards the other two identified groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine, University of Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerdle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brulin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elert
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Granlund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D018576:Home Health Aides / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology