Asia Pacific Environmental and Occupational Health Journal

Objective: To identify association between work-related musculoskeletal disorders and work-related risk factors among different hospital employees.
Method: A total of 645 hospital employees (male 349 and female 296) were analyzed. The questionnaires were assessed characteristics of socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, job-related factors, and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed by using modified Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. All analyses were stratified by gender, and multiple logistic regression modeling was used to determine associations between work-related musculoskeletal symptoms and work-related risk factors.
Results: The risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders was 1.6 times higher among male workers in the housekeeping than males in the administration department (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 0.56-3.42), and 1.5 times higher among male workers with work duration >5 years than those with work duration ≤5 years (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 0.57-3.89). All of the aforementioned cases demonstrate statistically significant association with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Moreover, the risk of developing work-related musculoskeletal disorders was 2.1 times higher among female workers aged >30 than those aged 30 or younger (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 0.92-5.12); 3.43 times higher among females in the nursing than those in the administration department (OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 0.37-4.42); 2.08 times higher among females on manual lifting >10 kg than those who were not (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 0.82-3.87); 1.12 times higher among females who performed physical exercise than those who performed without physical exercise (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.35-2.93), and; 2.17 times higher among females with poor sleeping satisfaction than those with good sleeping satisfaction (OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.34-3.50). They all showed statistical significant association with work-related musculoskeletal symptoms.
Conclusion: Minimizing ergonomic risk factors alone does not suffice to effectively prevent musculoskeletal diseases among hospital employees. Instead, work assignments should be based on gender, department, working hours and work intensity.