title: Risk factors for upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms among call center employees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the upper extremity (UE) in a sample of Italian call center (CC) operators, and the relationship between the symptoms and potential workplace risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 2005-2006, 775 workers from seven CCs in the Turin area participated in a questionnaire survey of exposure to ergonomic, organizational and psychosocial factors at work, socio-demographics, lifestyle, symptoms and diseases. Musculoskeletal symptoms were defined as self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the UE during the previous 28 days, for which a physician was consulted and/or drugs were taken. Relative risks were estimated through Poisson regression models with the Huber-White sandwich estimator of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 45% of workers reported UE symptoms in the last four weeks. Symptoms in the neck were the most prevalent (39%), followed by the shoulder (22%), hand-wrist (10%) and elbow (4%). Among workplace risk factors, neck-shoulder symptoms were associated with low job control, elevated noise, poor desk lighting and impossibility to lean back while sitting; whereas elbow-hand/wrist symptoms were associated with short intervals between calls, insufficient working space, lack of forearm support, job insecurity and long seniority in the CC industry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of UE symptoms in this sample was similar to that reported by other studies conducted in this industry. Our results confirm previously reported associations, such as poor characteristics of the workstation and psychological stressors. The striking difference between the set of risk factors for neck-shoulder and elbow/wrist-hand symptoms indicates that the two regions should be investigated separately.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, ASL TO3-Piemont Region, Grugliasco, Italy. angelo.derrico@epi.piemonte.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: d'Errico
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fubini
authors.forename: Luisella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gilardi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mamo
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Migliardi
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quarta
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Coffano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult