Job Characteristics as Predictors of Neck Pain

Abstract

Data from a community-based 4-year prospective study were used to investigate job characteristics as predictors of neck pain. Of 1791 working responders who completed a questionnaire in 1990, 1429 (79.8%) returned a second questionnaire 4 years later (1994). In responders without neck pain during the previous 12 months in 1990, the "little influence on own work situation" factor predicted neck pain during the previous 12 months (odds ratio = 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 4.14) and previous 7 days in 1994 (OR = 2.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 6.73) after adjustment for a series of potential confounders. In responders with neck pain in 1990, the little influence on own work situation factor was associated with persistent neck pain 4 years later. The study indicates that having little influence on one's own work situation is a predictor of neck pain.

The Burden and Determinants of Neck Pain in Workers

“…41,42 Reports from Norway and the United Kingdom (U.K.) show that between 10.6% and 19.6% of workers experienced neck pain each week. 36,43 Similarly, in Sweden, the 1-week prevalence of neck pain varied from 7.3% in office workers to 53% in female plant workers exposed to repetitive work employed in the laminate industry. 45,97 Annual Prevalence of Neck Pain in Workers Sampled From the General Population Each year, neck disorders are associated with a high burden of pain and disability in the working population.…”

“…General population surveys of workers suggest that the annual prevalence of neck pain ranged from 27.1% in Norway to 33.7% the U.K. and to 47.8% in Quebec, Canada (Table 1, available online through Article Plus). 36,43,47 In France, 10.2% of workers attending their annual visit with an occupational physician were found to be suffering from chronic neck pain associated with functional limitations. 40 We found evidence that neck pain is a pervasive source of activity limitation in workers.…”

“…24,32,[37][38][39][55][56][57][58] Each year, between 5.1% and 6.0% of dentists and 3.9% and 5.1% of nurses experienced work limitations because of neck pain. 23,32,[37][38][39]49,51 In office workers, the 1-year prevalence of neck pain varied from 17.7% in Norwegian administrative workers to 43.2% in Brazilian call center operators and 63.0% in Swedish secretaries (Table 1, Figure 2, available online through Article Plus). 31,59,60 In the United States, during a 12-month period 5% of office workers employed at a newspaper reported missing work because of neck pain.…”

“…40 Similarly, a Phase II study from Ullensaker, Norway found that individuals reporting emotional symptoms were more likely to report having experienced an episode of neck pain at follow-up. 43 Finally, a Phase II study of Danish technicians found a weak association between negative affectivity and the development of neck pain. 44 However, no association was found between the frequency of depressive symptoms and the development of neck pain in a Phase II study of Finnish municipal workers.…”

“…We found no evidence that sleep quality, time spent on domestic activities or time spent on hobbies by workers was associated with the development of neck pain. 43,74 One Phase II study reported that the number of kilometers driven per year by workers was not related to the incidence of neck pain. 78 83 Four Phase III studies 66,76,77,84 found that workers with high job strain scores had a higher incidence of neck pain.…”