Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The investigation of the degree of the relationship according to body part between occupational stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck, shoulder, elbow, and hands of workers performing computer tasks.
METHODS
In August and September 2009, we conducted a survey of 529 public office workers employed by the National Health Insurance Corporation using structured questionnaires in order to find demographic factors, work related factors, job stress, physical computer task load and musculoskeletal symptoms. Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, Quick DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score), and the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire were all used to evaluate their musculoskeletal symptoms. The presence of symptoms segregated by body part determined the dependent variables. The degree of job stress and other confounder variables determined the independent variables. We calculated the odds ratio employing multiple logistic regressions.
RESULTS
A score of > or =5 in the VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) 10-point scale and the presence of symptoms lasting at least 1 week determined the musculoskeletal symptom group in regards to the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire. The neck pain odds ratio was adjusted by sex, age, work hours, employment duration, physical computer task load and depression. It was determined to be 2.92 (95% CI 1.76~4.84) in the higher to lower occupational stress group. The shoulder pain odds ratio was 1.96 (95% CI 1.18~3.24), elbow pain 0.55 (95% CI 0.21~1.43), and hand pain 1.71 (95% CI 0.99~2.95). A score of > or =10 in the 100-unit scale determined the musculoskeletal symptom group in regards to the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire and the Quick DASH. The neck symptom odds ratio was 2.73 (95% CI 1.66~4.49) and the upper extremity symptom figure was 2.18 (95% CI 1.29~3.68).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the relevance between neck and shoulder symptoms and occupational stress was obvious, however the relevance between elbow and hand pain and job stress was not as clear or ambiguous.

• Keywords: Musculoskeletal disease;Occupational stress