P67 Risk factors for musculoskeletal pain amongst health and social care workers in the UK: results from the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study

Abstract

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the main causes of sickness absence in the UK and their prevalence is likely to increase in workers, with the rise of state pension age. Previous research has shown that these conditions are common among health and social care workers. Therefore, we aimed to describe the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among health and social care workers and to explore personal and occupational risk factors for pain at specific anatomical sites and for multi-site pain. Methods We used data from the second year of follow up of the Health and Employment After Fifty (HEAF) study, a cohort study of 8,134 adults aged 50-64, recruited through 24 English general practices. Health and social care workers, identified through the Standard Occupational Classification 2010, were the focus of this cross-sectional analysis. The outcome under investigation was self-reported pain lasting more than a day in the past month, at one or more of eight anatomical sites: neck, low back, mid-back, shoulder, elbow, wrist/hand, knee, foot/ankle. Socio-demographic variables, self-reported health measures, psychosocial work factors (job dissatisfaction, lack of appreciation, lack of support) and occupational activities (kneeling or squatting for more than 1 hr/day, standing for most of the day) were ascertained through postal questionnaire, and associations with pain at specific anatomical sites and multi-site (≥2 anatomical sites) pain were explored with logistic regression, firstly adjusted for age and sex and then adjusted for additional confounders. Results A total of 282 participants were working in health and social care at second year follow up. Mean age was 59 years and 90% of them were women. Of these workers, n = 199 (71%) reported pain in at least one site, while n = 147 (52%) reported multi-site pain. The most reported anatomical sites with pain were knee and low back, with a prevalence of 39% and 34% respectively. Significant risk factors for knee pain were poor self-rated health (OR = 4.2; 95%CI 2.1 to 8.2) and being exposed to kneeling for longer than an hour/day at work (OR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2 to 3.4). Similar results were found for low back pain, while for multi-site pain mental exhaustion also appeared to have an effect. None of the socio-demographic variables or psychosocial work factors influenced the outcomes. Conclusion In a sample of health and social care workers in the UK, the prevalence of low back, neck and multi-site pain is high. The common risk factors were being exposed to kneeling at work and reporting poor/fair health. Disclosures S. D'Angelo: None. G. Ntani: None. H. Syddall: None. E.C. Harris: None. C. Linaker: None. M. Stevens: None. K. Walker-Bone: None.