Incidence and risk factors of neck discomfort: a 6-month sedentary-worker cohort study.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to evaluate the six-month incidence and possible risk factors of neck discomfort among sedentary workers.


METHODS
Data, including demographic characteristics, work history, psychological characteristics and prevalent neck discomfort of 157 sedentary workers was collected by a questionnaire. A follow-up questionnaire was administered six months later to calculate the incidence of symptoms and related disability.


RESULTS
The six-month incidence of neck discomfort was 23.5% (12/51). The two groups of prevalent and non-prevalent subjects showed no difference in demographic data and work characteristics except for work load (p<0.05) and score in "job control" in the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) (p<0.05). In logistic regression, light-load work (versus no-load work, OR = 0.10, p = 0.023) and higher score of 'job control' in JCQ (OR = 0.86, p = 0.031) were significant protecting factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The six-month incidence rates of neck discomfort in our subjects were high. Light-load work and a higher score of 'job control' were important preventive factors. The results provide an epidemiological basis for prevention of neck discomfort in different working populations.
Tsauo
Jau-Yih
JY
School & Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jang
Yuh
Y
Du
Chung-Li
CL
Liang
Huey-Wen
HW
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014937:Work; D016526:Workload