Abstract
BackgroundOnly a few workplace initiatives among cleaners have been reported, even though they constitute a job group in great need of health promotion. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of either physical coordination training or cognitive behavioural training on musculoskeletal pain, work ability and sickness absence among cleaners.MethodsA cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted among 294 female cleaners allocated to either physical coordination training (PCT), cognitive behavioural training (CBTr) or a reference group (REF). Questionnaires about musculoskeletal pain and work ability were completed at baseline and after one year's intervention. Sickness absence data were obtained from the managers' records. Analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat-principle (ITT).ResultsNo overall reduction in musculoskeletal pain, work ability or sickness absence from either PCT or CBTr compared with REF was found in conservative ITT analyses. However, explorative analyses revealed a treatment effect for musculoskeletal pain of the PCT. People with chronic neck/shoulder pain at baseline were more frequently non-chronic at follow-up after PCT compared with REF (p = 0.05).ConclusionsThe PCT intervention appeared effective for reducing chronic neck/shoulder pain among the female cleaners. It is recommended that future interventions among similar high-risk job groups focus on the implementation aspects of the interventions to maximise outcomes more distal from the intervention such as work ability and sickness absence.Trial registrationISRCTN: ISRCTN96241850
Highlights
A few workplace initiatives among cleaners have been reported, even though they constitute a job group in great need of health promotion
There were 394 cleaners who consented to participate and after baseline testing, 363 participants were enrolled in the randomisation (Physical coordination training n = 120, cognitive behavioural training n = 121, reference group n = 122)
The physical coordination training intervention seems effective for reducing chronic neck/shoulder pain among the female cleaners
Summary
A few workplace initiatives among cleaners have been reported, even though they constitute a job group in great need of health promotion The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the effect of either physical coordination training or cognitive behavioural training on musculoskeletal pain, work ability and sickness absence among cleaners. High physical work demands increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain [1,2], impaired work ability [3] and longterm sickness absence [4,5]. Cleaners report high levels of musculoskeletal pain in almost all regions of the body, but especially in the neck/shoulder region and the lower back [12,14] They have an elevated risk of early retirement [6] and have recently been reported as having poor to moderate work ability [14]. For the cleaners’ work and symptom profile, such initiatives should be both preventive and therapeutic, addressing the interaction between musculoskeletal pain and daily physical exposure
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