Assessment of musculoskeletal problems among desk job employees of a tertiary care hospital in Goa

Authors

  • Jennifer Mendes Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India
  • Hemangini K. Shah Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210833

Keywords:

Desk job employees, Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal disorders

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of disability and the most frequent cause of all health-related absence from work. There is lack of information about MSDs among desk job employees.

Methods: A cross sectional study, carried out among desk job employees engaged in administrative work at a tertiary care hospital in Goa involved, data collection on MSDs using Standardised Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and workstation ergonomics assessment using NIH (National Institute of Health) checklist.

Results: Among 110 respondents, 50 males and 60 females, majority (42.7%) were from age group 31-40 years. As per the NMQ, one-year prevalence of MSDs was highest in lower back (55.5%), followed by neck (48.2%); and the lowest in ankles (4.5%). Regular postural breaks were not taken by 59 (53.6%) of the total participants, of which 41(37.3%) complained of at least one MSD and the association was statistically significant (p=0.001). On ergonomic assessment, 62 (56.4%) had chairs with poor lower back support, of which 44 (40%) complained of lower backache; 20 (18.2%) were uncomfortable during keyboard use and 18 (16.4%) with desk setup. Of the 40 participants with continuous computer use for 4-5 hours, 27 complained of neck pain and there was a significant association found between continuous computer use and neck pain (p=0.003).

Conclusions: Based on the findings, ergonomic training workshops should be conducted, and the workstation design needs to be improved to reduce the burden of work-related MSDs.

References

WHO. Musculoskeletal conditions. Available at https://www.who.int/newsoom/factsheets/detail/musculoskeletal- conditions. Accessed on 20 November 2020.

CDC. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders & Ergonomics. Available at https:// www.cdc.gov/ workplacehealthpromotion/healthstrategies/musculoskeletal-disorders/index.html. Accessed on 20 November 2020.

Darivemula SB, Goswami K, Gupta SK, Salve H, Singh U, Goswami AK. Work- related neck pain among desk job workers of tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India: Burden and determinants. Indian J Community Med. 2016;41:50-4.

Mohammadipour F, Pourranjbar M, Nadeer S, Rafie F. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Iranian office workers: prevalence and risk factors. J Med Life. 2018;11:328-33.

Das B, Ghosh T. Assessment of ergonomical and occupational health related problems among VDT workers of West Bengal, India. Asian J Med Sci. 2010;1:26-1.

Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Sørensen BF, Andersson G, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon 1987;18:233-7.

Aragon L, Liria LR, Ferre AJ, Galan M. Applications of the standardized Nordic questionnaire: a review. Sustainability. 2017;9(9):1514.

NIH. Computer Workstation Ergonomics: Self-Assessment Checklist. Available at https://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/Documents/Computer%20Workstation%20Ergonomics%20Self%20Assessment%20Checklist.pdf. Accessed on 20 November 2020.

Dubey N, Dubey G, Tripathi H, Naqvi ZA. Ergonomics for desk job workers - an overview. Int J Health Sci Res. 2019;9:257-66.

NIOSH. Office Environment. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/officeenvironment/default.html. Accessed on 20 November 2020.

WHO. Preventing musculoskeletal disorders in the workplace. Available at https:// www. who. int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehmsd3.pdf. Accessed on 20 November 2020.

Downloads

Published

2021-02-24

How to Cite

Mendes, J., & Shah, H. K. (2021). Assessment of musculoskeletal problems among desk job employees of a tertiary care hospital in Goa. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 8(3), 1396–1399. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210833

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles