Safety and Health at Work

Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (산업안전보건연구원)
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Self-Reported Variables as Determinants of Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Assembly Line Workers

  • Guerreiro, Marisa M. (NOVA National School of Public Health, Occupational Health and Environmental Health Department, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa) ;
  • Serranheira, Florentino (NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC)) ;
  • Cruz, Eduardo B. (School of Health Care, Department of Physiotherapy) ;
  • Sousa-Uva, Antonio (NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC))
  • Received : 2019.12.08
  • Accepted : 2020.07.27
  • Published : 2020.12.30
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Abstract

Background: Assembly lines work is frequently associated to work-related upper limb musculoskeletal disorders. The related disability and absenteeism make it important to implement efficient health surveillance systems. The main objective of this study was to identify self-reported variables that can determine work-related upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms-discomfort/pain-during a 6-month follow-up. Methods: This was a prospective study with a 6-month follow-up period, performed in an assembly line. Upper limb musculoskeletal discomfort/pain was assessed through the presence of self-reported symptoms. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate which self-reported variables were associated to upper limb symptoms after 6 months at the present and to upper limbs symptoms in the past month. Results: Of the 200 workers at baseline, 145 replied to the survey after 6 months. For both outcomes, "having upper limb symptoms during the previous 6 months" and "education" were possible predictors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that having previous upper limb symptoms was related to its maintenance after 6 months, sustaining it as a specific determinant. It can be a hypothesis that this population had mainly workers with chronic symptoms, although our results give only limited support to self-reported indicators as determinants for upper limb symptoms. Nevertheless, the development of an efficient health surveillance system for high demanding jobs should implicate self-reported indicators, but also clinical and work conditions assessment should be accounted on the future.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (Portugal) through a PhD student scholarship with the reference number SFRH/BD/90794/2012. The corresponding author is the student who received the financial support.

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