title: Occupational risk factors for upper-limb and neck musculoskeletal disorder among health-care staff in nursing homes for the elderly in France.
abstract: This study investigated the relation between working conditions, in terms of physical and psychological demand, and upper-limb and neck musculoskeletal disorders (ULNMD) in female staff working in direct contact with the elderly in nursing homes. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 105 nursing homes in France. Data on nursing-home working conditions were collected by questionnaire from occupational physicians and by self-administered questionnaire from staff. Psychosocial demand at work was assessed on Siegrist's questionnaire and ULNMD on the Nordic questionnaire. 2,328 employees were included: 628 housekeepers, 1,372 nursing assistants and 328 nurses. During the previous 12 months, 50% of the subjects (1,160) had presented with a musculoskeletal complaint concerning the neck, 38% (881) the shoulders, 10% (246) the elbows and 22% (520) the wrists. 9% (219) reported effort/reward imbalance on the 2004 Siegrist questionnaire and 42% were in a situation of over-commitment. ULNMD complaints were associated not only with physical occupational factors but also with psychosocial factors (effort/reward imbalance and over-commitment), both before and after adjustment on individual and occupational factors. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal role of occupational, including, organizational, psychosocial factors in ULNMD outcomes. Preventive approaches should take account of both physical and psychosocial occupational factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Health, University Hospital Saint-Etienne, France.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pelissier
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fort
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Agard
authors.forename: Francoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Couprie
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaygue
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glerant
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sellier
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vohito
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charbotel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009333:Neck; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires