Abstract

LOPEZ, Laura  and  ARTAZCOZ, Lucía. Evaluation of an intervention for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in workers of a pharmaceutical company. Arch Prev Riesgos Labor [online]. 2015, vol.18, n.3, pp.136-142. ISSN 1578-2549.  https://dx.doi.org/10.12961/aprl.2015.18.3.03.

Background: The objectives of this study are to: 1) assess the impact of an intervention designed to reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort, and 2) analyze whether the impact differs by individual characteristics. Methods: Quasi-experimental study with pre-post test design and no control group. The study population consisted of 55 workers of a pharmaceutical company. Data were collected through the self-administered Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms, completed before the intervention and again one year later. Differences were examined with the McNemar test. Dependent variables were upper extremity pain, lower extremity pain, back pain and limitation of daily activities due to musculoskeletal disorders. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed. In addition, the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort increased in two of the three locations (upper and lower extremities), as well as for related activity limitations, and decreased only in the case of back pain. Differences were also not observed for any of the different stratification variables. Conclusions: This intervention did not significantly reduce the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort, either overall or by specific subgroups. Moreover, except in the case of back pain, prevalence increased. This type of individual interventions should be supplemented by others measures in the workplace.

Keywords : Occupational health; musculoskeletal pain; workplace; intervention studies.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )