Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to psychosocial factors

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent a common occupational problem for healthcare workers throughout the world. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated the effect of psychosocial factors on WMSDs among different Chinese occupational groups.

To assess the prevalence of WMSDs and psychosocial risk factors contributing to them among miners and teachers in China.

WMSDs were assessed in 500 teachers and 500 miners using the modified Chinese version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire and the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between psychosocial factors and WMSDs.

There was a 73% participation rate. During a 12-month period, the prevalence of WMSDs among teachers and miners was comparable (72% and 78%, respectively), but miners had a higher prevalence of WMSD-related absence. Multivariate analyses indicated stronger associations between high job demands and upper limbs (odds ratio [OR] 3.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67-5.58), neck and shoulder (OR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05-3.16) and lower limbs (OR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.12-3.49) symptoms among miners. Low job satisfaction was related to low back (OR 2.40, 95% CI: 1.42-4.07), neck and shoulder (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.26-3.78) and lower limb (OR 1.69, 95% CI: 1.01-2.89) symptoms among teachers.

We found that WMSDs in the two populations presented different characteristics associated with their occupational features. This study provides further evidence that WMSDs occur commonly in both miners and school teachers in China.