Title
Work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave in patients with neck or upper extremity complaints
Author
Bot, S.D.M.
Terwee, C.B.
van der Windt, D.A.W.M.
van der Beek, A.J.
Bouter, L.M.
Dekker, J.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2007
Abstract
Objectives: To study work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave among patients who have visited their general practitioner for neck or upper extremity complaints. Methods: Three hundred and forty two patients with neck or upper extremity complaints completed self-report questionnaires at baseline and after 3 months. Cox regression models were used to investigate the association between work-related risk factors and sick leave (i.e., lost days from work due to neck or upper extremity complaints in 3 months). Effect modification by sick leave at baseline, sex, worrying and musculoskeletal co-morbidity was evaluated by adding product terms to the regression models. Results: In the subgroup of patients who scored high on the pain copying scale "worrying" the hazard ratio of sick leave was 1.32 (95% CI 1.07-1.62) per 10% increase in heavy physical work. The subgroup of patients who were sitting for long periods of time had a reduced risk of sick leave as compared to patients who did not spend a lot of time sitting, again only in patients who scored high on the pain coping scale "worrying" (adjusted HR = 0.17, 95%-CI 0.04-0.72). Other work-related risk factors were not significantly related to sick leave. Conclusions: Heavy physical work increased the risk of sick leave and prolonged sitting reduced the risk of sick leave in a subgroup of patients who worried much about their pain. Additional large longitudinal studies of sufficiently large size among employees with neck or upper extremity complaints are needed to confirm our results. © Springer-Verlag 2007.
Subject
Workplace
Cohort study
Neck
Upper extremity
Vomorbidity
General practitioner
Longitudinal study
Major clinical study
Medical leave
Neck injury
Occupational exposure
Pain assessment
Physical parameters
Proportional hazards model
Rating scale
Scoring system
Self report
Sitting
Social psychology
Adult
Arm Injuries
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Job Satisfaction
Male
Middle Aged
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Neck Pain
Netherlands
Occupational Diseases
Proportional Hazards Models
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Sick Leave
Workload
Rugklachten
Hernia
Lichamelijke faktoren
Arbeid
Psychische factoren
Arbeid
Bewegingsstoornissen
Handen
Armen
Stress
Geestelijke overbelasting
Attitude
Gedrag
Ziekteverzuim
Sociaal verzuim
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:b2a897a1-7217-432d-b6be-a7bbe9cb3ed2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0186-z
TNO identifier
240095
ISSN
0340-0131
Source
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 80 (8), 733-741
Document type
article