Work-related determinants of multi-site musculoskeletal pain among employees in the health care sector.
BACKGROUND
Work-related musculoskeletal pain is a major occupational problem. Those with pain in multiple sites usually report worse health outcomes than those with pain in one site.


OBJECTIVE
This study explored prevalence and associated predictors of multi-site pain in health care sector employees.


METHODS
Survey responses from 1348 health care sector employees across three organisations (37% response rate) collected data on job satisfaction, work life balance, psychosocial and physical hazards, general health and work ability. Musculoskeletal discomfort was measured across 5 body regions with pain in ≥ 2 sites defined as multi-site pain. Generalized linear models were used to identify relationships between work-related factors and multi-site pain.


RESULTS
Over 52% of the employees reported pain in multiple body sites and 19% reported pain in one site. Poor work life balance (PRR = 2.33, 95% CI = 1.06-5.14). physical (PRR = 7.58, 95% CI = 4.89-11.77) and psychosocial (PRR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.00-2.57) hazard variables were related to multi-site pain (after controlling for age, gender, health and work ability. Older employees and females were more likely to report multi-site pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective risk management of work related multi-site pain must include identification and control of psychosocial and physical hazards.
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Subas
S
Neupane
School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|Gerontology Research Center, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Clas-Håkan
CH
Nygård
Department of Public Health and Human Biosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.
Jodi
J
Oakman
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019981:Health Care Sector; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity; D000072358:Work-Life Balance; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Physical; hazards; multi-site pain; musculoskeletal disorders; psychosocial