Psychosocial Predictors for Shoulder/Neck and Low Back Complaints among Home Care Personnel

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this investigation was to study whether certain psychosocial risk factors assessed in 1990 could predict shoulder neck and low back complaints 5 years later among home care personnel. Two hundred and thirty-four women participated in a longitudinal study from 1990 to 1995. Data were collected by questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the importance of several exposure factors for complaints in the shoulder neck and low back areas and furthermore to adjust for physical factors and age. The strongest risk factor for musculoskeletal complaint in 1995 was similar complaint 5 years earlier. Furthermore, the multiple logistic regression showed that low possibility to influence the planning of the work significantly increased the risk of having complaints when adjusting for physical risk factors. The psychosocial factor was interacted with the physical factor lifting in awkward positions. Hence, in order to evaluate musculoskeletal disorders it is impor...