Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction in electrical utility workers: Practical considerations for prevention and rehabilitation in the workplace

IF 1.6 4区医学 Q2 REHABILITATION Australian Occupational Therapy Journal Pub Date : 2024-03-20 DOI:10.1111/1440-1630.12939

Shane Rogerson, Mike Climstein, Rudi Meir, Zachary Crowley-McHattan, Neil Chapman

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Abstract

Introduction

This study assessed the prevalence and associations of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction in electrical utility workers, with the aim of applying the findings to better prevent and rehabilitate workplace musculoskeletal disorders.

Methods

Employees completed an online survey recording their musculoskeletal symptoms across nine anatomical locations for the preceding 12 months. A total of 565 employees, working across eight different electrical utility organisational work units, completed the survey.

Consumer and Community Involvement

The study was collaborative and conducted in Australia's largest, wholly government owned electricity company. The study originated from the participating organisation wanting to better understand their musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risks.

Results

Employees who experienced high job stress were 4.06 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.78–9.29) more likely to report musculoskeletal symptoms in the shoulder compared with employees with lower reported job stress. Employees that perceived their work to have high physical demands report lower back musculoskeletal symptoms at 2.64 times the rate of those perceiving their job to be of low physical demand (95% CI = 1.44–4.84). There were significant differences in the lower back musculoskeletal symptoms according to work unit membership.

Conclusions

Understanding the prevalence of MSDs is critical to implementing practical prevention and rehabilitation strategies in the workplace. This anonymous survey highlighted that a large proportion of electrical utility workers reported that musculoskeletal symptoms had impacted their ability to perform their job, housework and/or hobbies in the preceding 12 months. Early access to rehabilitation services is essential. However, many workers report barriers to disclosing MSDs; therefore, workplace rehabilitation services may need to be broadened to account for these barriers.

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电力公司工人肌肉骨骼疼痛和功能障碍的普遍性：工作场所预防和康复的实际考虑因素。

导言：这项研究评估了电力公司工人肌肉骨骼疼痛和功能障碍的发生率和相关性，目的是将研究结果用于更好地预防和康复工作场所肌肉骨骼疾病：员工完成了一项在线调查，记录了他们在过去 12 个月中九个解剖部位的肌肉骨骼症状。共有 565 名员工完成了调查，他们分别在 8 个不同的电力公司工作：这项研究是在澳大利亚最大的政府独资电力公司合作开展的。消费者和社区参与：这项研究是在澳大利亚最大的政府独资电力公司内合作开展的，参与研究的机构希望更好地了解他们的肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）风险：与工作压力较小的员工相比，工作压力较大的员工出现肩部肌肉骨骼症状的几率要高出 4.06 倍（95% 置信区间 [CI] = 1.78-9.29）。认为工作对体力要求高的员工报告下背部肌肉骨骼症状的比例是认为工作对体力要求低的员工的 2.64 倍（95% 置信区间 = 1.44-4.84）。根据工作单位成员的不同，下背部肌肉骨骼症状也存在明显差异：了解 MSD 的发病率对于在工作场所实施切实可行的预防和康复策略至关重要。这项匿名调查强调，很大一部分电力公司工人表示，在过去 12 个月中，肌肉骨骼症状影响了他们从事工作、家务劳动和/或业余爱好的能力。尽早获得康复服务至关重要。然而，许多工人表示在披露 MSD 方面存在障碍；因此，可能需要扩大工作场所康复服务的范围，以考虑到这些障碍。

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来源期刊

Australian Occupational Therapy Journal 医学-康复医学

CiteScore

2.80

自引率

16.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Australian Occupational Therapy Journal is a leading international peer reviewed publication presenting influential, high quality innovative scholarship and research relevant to occupational therapy. The aim of the journal is to be a leader in the dissemination of scholarship and evidence to substantiate, influence and shape policy and occupational therapy practice locally and globally. The journal publishes empirical studies, theoretical papers, and reviews. Preference will be given to manuscripts that have a sound theoretical basis, methodological rigour with sufficient scope and scale to make important new contributions to the occupational therapy body of knowledge. AOTJ does not publish protocols for any study design The journal will consider multidisciplinary or interprofessional studies that include occupational therapy, occupational therapists or occupational therapy students, so long as ‘key points’ highlight the specific implications for occupational therapy, occupational therapists and/or occupational therapy students and/or consumers.