OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that cultural factors such as health beliefs and expectations have an important influence on common musculoskeletal symptoms and associated disability, we compared prevalence rates in groups of workers carrying out similar physical activities in different cultural settings. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at factories and offices in Mumbai, India and in the UK. A questionnaire about symptoms, disability and risk factors was administered at interview to six occupational groups: three groups of office workers who regularly used computer keyboards (165 Indian, 67 UK of Indian subcontinental origin and 172 UK white), and three groups of workers carrying out repetitive manual tasks with the hands or arms (178 Indian, 73 UK of Indian subcontinental origin and 159 UK white). Modified Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the prevalence of symptoms and disability by occupational group, adjusted for differences in sex, age, mental health and job satisfaction. RESULTS: Reported occupational activities were similar in the three groups of office workers (frequent use of keyboards) and in the three groups of manual workers (frequent movements of the wrist or fingers, bending of the elbow, work with the hands above shoulder height and work with the neck twisted). In comparison with the Indian manual workers, the prevalence of back, neck and arm pain was substantially higher in all of the other five occupational groups. The difference was greatest for arm pain lasting >30 days in the past year in UK white manual workers (HR 17.8, 95% CI 5.4-59.1) and UK manual workers of Indian subcontinental origin (HR 20.5, 95% CI 5.7-73.1). Office workers in India had lower rates of pain in the wrist and hand than office workers in the UK. Only 1% of the Indian manual workers and 16% of the Indian office workers had ever heard of 'RSI' or similar terms, as compared with 80% of the UK workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesized impact of cultural factors on common musculoskeletal complaints. Current controls on hazardous physical activities in the workplace may not have the benefits that would be predicted from observational epidemiology.
OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that cultural factors such as health beliefs and expectations have an important influence on common musculoskeletal symptoms and associated disability, we compared prevalence rates in groups of workers carrying out similar physical activities in different cultural settings. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey at factories and offices in Mumbai, India and in the UK. A questionnaire about symptoms, disability and risk factors was administered at interview to six occupational groups: three groups of office workers who regularly used computer keyboards (165 Indian, 67 UK of Indian subcontinental origin and 172 UK white), and three groups of workers carrying out repetitive manual tasks with the hands or arms (178 Indian, 73 UK of Indian subcontinental origin and 159 UK white). Modified Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the prevalence of symptoms and disability by occupational group, adjusted for differences in sex, age, mental health and job satisfaction. RESULTS: Reported occupational activities were similar in the three groups of office workers (frequent use of keyboards) and in the three groups of manual workers (frequent movements of the wrist or fingers, bending of the elbow, work with the hands above shoulder height and work with the neck twisted). In comparison with the Indian manual workers, the prevalence of back, neck and arm pain was substantially higher in all of the other five occupational groups. The difference was greatest for arm pain lasting >30 days in the past year in UK white manual workers (HR 17.8, 95% CI 5.4-59.1) and UK manual workers of Indian subcontinental origin (HR 20.5, 95% CI 5.7-73.1). Office workers in India had lower rates of pain in the wrist and hand than office workers in the UK. Only 1% of the Indian manual workers and 16% of the Indian office workers had ever heard of 'RSI' or similar terms, as compared with 80% of the UK workers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesized impact of cultural factors on common musculoskeletal complaints. Current controls on hazardous physical activities in the workplace may not have the benefits that would be predicted from observational epidemiology.
Authors: I Kuorinka; B Jonsson; A Kilbom; H Vinterberg; F Biering-Sørensen; G Andersson; K Jørgensen Journal: Appl Ergon Date: 1987-09 Impact factor: 3.661
Authors: S S P Warnakulasuriya; R J Peiris-John; D Coggon; G Ntani; N Sathiakumar; A R Wickremasinghe Journal: Occup Med (Lond) Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 1.611
Authors: Ko Matsudaira; Keith T Palmer; Isabel Reading; Masami Hirai; Noriko Yoshimura; David Coggon Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2010-09-10 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Andrea Lepos Ferrari; Patricia Campos Pavan Baptista; Vanda Elisa Andres Felli; David Coggon Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2010 Nov-Dec
Authors: Michele Carugno; Angela Cecilia Pesatori; Marco Mario Ferrario; Andrea Lepos Ferrari; Fábio Jose da Silva; Aline Caldas Martins; Vanda Elisa Andres Felli; David Coggon; Matteo Bonzini Journal: Cad Saude Publica Date: 2012-09 Impact factor: 1.632