title: Worksite and personal factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome in an Egyptian electronics assembly factory.
abstract: The study objective was to identify personal and work-related risk factors associated with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in electronics assembly, operators relative to clerical workers in the same factory. Of 422 workers in a television assembly factory located in Ismailia, Suez Canal Area, Egypt, 198 (46.9%) participated. The electronics assembly workers were more likely to report CTS (odds ratio = 11.41, 95% CI = 3.6 -40.26) than were the clerical workers. The significant risk factors were longer work years (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.03-1.20) and precision-type hand grip (odds ratio = 6.5, 95% CI = 1.08-39.23). The results suggest an association between electronics assembly and CTS. Work years and precision grip are possible risk factors for CTS and should be studied more thoroughly. Tools to reduce the need for precision grip may help reduce CTS.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. mfouad@ismailia.ie-eg.com
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Faris
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Harber
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mishriky
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: El-Shahaly
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Waheeb
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kraus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003710:Demography; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004581:Electronics; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D017132:Workplace