H Salmani Nodooshan1, P Rastipisheh1, G Yadegarfar2, H Daneshmandi3, N Alighanbari4, S Taheri1. 1. Department of Ergonomics, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Heart Failure Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute and Epidemiology and Biostat Department, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3. Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress at work is an important issue among hospital attendants. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine psychosocial stressors in the work environment and assess their impacts on WMSD symptoms among hospital attendants in Shiraz, southern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 hospital attendants from Shiraz. The study data were collected using a basic demographic questionnaire, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Persian version of Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (F-ERIQ), and an individual risk assessment (Evaluación del Riesgo Individual [ERIN]). The data were entered into SPSS version 16 and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Spearman's correlation tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of WMSD symptoms was 29.8% in the lower back, 25.3% in knees, and 20.7% in ankles/feet. Posture analysis by the ERIN technique demonstrated that 95.5% of the postures were high risk for WMSDs. F-ERIQ identified that 83.4% of the hospital attendants belonged to the "1 < ER-ratio" category. Besides, the "effort" subscale of the F-ERIQ was significantly associated with reporting of MSD symptoms in the neck, shoulders, wrists/hands, and lower back. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between effort (r = 0.367, p = 0.028), esteem (r = -0.273, p = 0.041), security (r = -0.253, p = 0.045), and over-commitment (r = 0.301, p = 0.019) and the total score of the ERIN technique. CONCLUSION: Intervention programs and coping strategies for reduction of work-related stress and, subsequently, prevention of WMSD symptoms are recommended among hospital attendants.
BACKGROUND: Psychosocial stress at work is an important issue among hospital attendants. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine psychosocial stressors in the work environment and assess their impacts on WMSD symptoms among hospital attendants in Shiraz, southern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 198 hospital attendants from Shiraz. The study data were collected using a basic demographic questionnaire, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), the Persian version of Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (F-ERIQ), and an individual risk assessment (Evaluación del Riesgo Individual [ERIN]). The data were entered into SPSS version 16 and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and Spearman's correlation tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of WMSD symptoms was 29.8% in the lower back, 25.3% in knees, and 20.7% in ankles/feet. Posture analysis by the ERIN technique demonstrated that 95.5% of the postures were high risk for WMSDs. F-ERIQ identified that 83.4% of the hospital attendants belonged to the "1 < ER-ratio" category. Besides, the "effort" subscale of the F-ERIQ was significantly associated with reporting of MSD symptoms in the neck, shoulders, wrists/hands, and lower back. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between effort (r = 0.367, p = 0.028), esteem (r = -0.273, p = 0.041), security (r = -0.253, p = 0.045), and over-commitment (r = 0.301, p = 0.019) and the total score of the ERIN technique. CONCLUSION: Intervention programs and coping strategies for reduction of work-related stress and, subsequently, prevention of WMSD symptoms are recommended among hospital attendants.