Reliability and validity study of Persian modified version of MUSIC (musculoskeletal intervention center) – Norrtalje questionnaire

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major health problem in the world. Self-reported questionnaires are a known method for estimating the prevalence of MSDs among the population. One of the studies concerning MSDs and their relation to work-related physical and psychosocial factors, as well as non-work-related factors, is the MUSIC-Norrtalje study in Sweden. In this study, the research group developed a questionnaire, which has been validated during its development process and is now considered a well-known instrument. The aim of this study is to validate the Persian version of this questionnaire.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The first step was to establish two expert panel groups in Iran and Sweden. The Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method was used to detect questionnaire face and content validity. To detect questionnaire reliability, we used the test-retest method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Except for two items, all other questions that respondents had problems with in the focus group (20 of 297), had unclear translations; the ambiguity was related to the stem of the questions and the predicted answers were clear for the participants. The concepts of 'household/spare time' and 'physical activity in the workplace' were not understood by the participants of FGD; this has been solved by adding further descriptions to these phrases in the translation. In the test-retest study, the reliability coefficient was relatively high in most items (only 5 items out of 297 had an ICC or kappa below 0.7).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings from the present study provide evidence that the Persian version of the MUSIC questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument.</p

Effects of work ability and health promoting interventions for women with musculoskeletal symptoms: A 9-month prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Women working in the public human service sector in 'overstrained' situations run the risk of musculoskeletal symptoms and long-term sick leave. In order to maintain the level of health and work ability and strengthen the potential resources for health, it is important that employees gain greater control over decisions and actions affecting their health – a process associated with the concept of self-efficacy. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of a self-efficacy intervention and an ergonomic education intervention for women with musculoskeletal symptoms, employed in the public sector.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The design of the study was a 9-month prospective study describing the effects of two interventions, a comprehensive self-efficacy intervention (<it>n </it>= 21) and an ergonomic education intervention (<it>n </it>= 21). Data were obtained by a self-report questionnaire on health- and work ability-related factors at baseline, and at ten weeks and nine months follow-up. Within-group differences over time were analysed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over the time period studied there were small magnitudes of improvements within each group. Within the self-efficacy intervention group positive effects in perceived work ability were shown. The ergonomic education group showed increased positive beliefs about future work ability and a more frequent use of pain coping strategies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both interventions showed positive effects on women with musculoskeletal symptoms, but in different ways. Future research in this area should tailor interventions to participants' motivation and readiness to change.</p

Physical loads and aspects of physical performance in middle-aged men and women

This investigation aimed at a description of different aspects of physical loads during a 24 year follow-up (1970-1993) in 484 men and women born between 1935 and 1952, in relation to different aspects of physical performance, as measured at follow-up. The subjects were originally recruited in 1969 from the Stockholm county general population. Quality aspects of questionnaire data on physical loads in the past were also examined. Test-retest reliability, for physical activities at work exceeded that for leisure time and physical training activities, and correlation did not differ markedly between past and present activities. No distinct influence of gender or low back health on one-year reproducibility was found. Six-year reproducibility, showed highest values for the proportion of the working day spent sitting and for perceived general exertion and the lowest values for trunk and neck flexion. Validity of questionnaire responses on physical work loads six year back in time in relation to work-place measurements performed six years ago at these work-places showed the highest values for items sitting and repetitive work and the lowest, unacceptable values for head rotation and neck flexion. Misclassification of exposure did not appear to be differential with regard to musculoskeletal symptom status, as judged by calculated risk estimates. During the follow-up period (1970 to 1993) the proportion of subjects in blue-collar occupations and the physical work loads decreased among men, but both increased among women. Physical work loads were in general higher among men than among women at younger ages (below 30 years), but the difference was smaller at higher ages. Expert evaluations of the musculoskeletal load showed a pattern similar to that of self-reported work loads. Consistently with previous reports, but mainly among the women, prolonged physically heavy demands showed associations with low trunk flexion strength, squatting endurance and aerobic power. In contrast, low isometric hand grip strength and low weight-lifting endurance were seldom seen among those with high physical work loads, indicating a possible maintaining or training effect on the hand/arm/shoulder muscle groups. A consistent covariation between muscle strength and pain thresholds was found in both men and women. Increased sensory thresholds with age were observed even within the limited age span of this study. The sensory thresholds showed only slight covariation with physical work load.Syftet med denna undersökning var att beskriva fysisk belastning under en 24-års uppföljningsperiod (1970-1993) i relation till olika former av fysisk prestationsförmåga, vilka undersöktes vid uppföljningstillfället 1993. Dessutom undersöktes kvalitetaspekter på frågeformulärsdata om retrospektiv fysisk belastning i arbetet. Studien innefattar 484 män och kvinnor födda 1935-1954, slumpmässigt valda från Stockholms läns befolkning i samband med REBUS-undersökningen 1969. Test-retest reproducerbarhet (två veckors intervall), visade bättre resultat för frågor om fysisk belastning i yrkesarbete jämfört med frågor om belastning på fritiden. Resultaten var ungefär lika för nuvarande belastningar och belastningar bakåt i tiden. Ett-års reproducerbarhet visade ingen säker skillnad mellan män och kvinnor och ingen säker inverkan av ländryggsbesvär. Sex-års reproducerbarhet visade bästa resultat för frågor om sittande arbete och om upplevd allmän ansträngning, och lägsta resultat för frågor om arbete med framåtböjd nacke och framåtböjd bål. Validitet av frågeformulärsdata om fysisk arbetsbelastning sex år bakåt i tiden i relation till arbetsplatsmätningar genomförda för sex år sedan, visade bäst resultat för frågor om sittande arbete och repetetivt arbete och sämst resultat för frågor avseende rotation och framåtböjning av huvudet. Klassificering av fysisk arbetsbelastning med frågeformulär var inte relaterat förekomst av muskuloskeletala besvär. Under uppföljningsperioden 1970-1993 minskade andelen sysselsatta i arbetaryrken liksom den fysiska belastningen bland männen, men steg bland kvinnorna. Fysisk belastning i arbetet var högre bland yngre män jämfört med yngre kvinnor (under 30 år), men skillnaden utjämnades vid högre åldrar. Expertbedömning av fysisk belastning i arbetet baserat på yrkestitlar överensstämde med den belastning som studiepersonerna angav med frågeformulär. Mångårig (10-20 år) hög fysisk belastning i arbetet visade särskilt bland kvinnorna samband med låg muskelstyrka i bålens framåtböjare, låg uthållighet vid huksittning och låg kondition. Däremot var låg styrka i handgrepp och låg styrka i armarnas och skuldrans muskler mindre vanligt bland personer med fysisk hög belastning i arbetet, talande för en möjlig träningseffekt av yrkesarbete på dessa muskelgrupper. Vid undersökning av känslighet i huden för olika typer av sensoriska stimuli sågs tydligt samband mellan hög muskelstyrka och låg känslighet för trycksmärta. Minskad sensorisk känslighet med åldern framkom trots studiens begränsade åldersintervall (41-58 år). Påverkan på känseluppfattning i huden av fysisk belastning i yrkesarbete framkom endast i liten utsträckning. Nyckelord: fysisk belastning, ålder, kön, muskelstyrka, kondition, känseltrösklar, epidemiologi, frågeformulär, reproducerbarhet, validite

Preventing sickness absenteeism among employees with common mental disorders or stress-related symptoms at work: Design of a cluster randomized controlled trial of a problem-solving based intervention versus care-as-usual conducted at the Occupational Health Services

Abstract Background Common mental disorders (CMDs) are among the leading causes of sick leave in Sweden and other OECD countries. They result in suffering for the individual and considerable financial costs for the employer and for society at large. The occupational health service (OHS) can offer interventions in which both the individual and the work situation are taken into account. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of a study evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention given at the OHS to employees with CMDs or stress-related symptoms at work. In addition, intervention fidelity and its relation to the outcome will be assessed in a process analysis. Methods The study is designed as a cluster randomized trial in which the participating OHS consultants are randomized into either delivering the intervention or performing care as usual. Employees with CMDs or stress-related symptoms at work are recruited consecutively by the OHS consultants. The intervention aims to improve the match between the employee and the job situation. Interviews are held individually with the employee and the nearest supervisor, after which a joint meeting with both the employee and the supervisor takes place. A participatory approach is applied by which the supervisor and the employee are guided by the OHS consultant and encouraged to actively take part in problem solving concerning the work situation. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at six and 12 months. A long-term follow-up at 3 years will also be performed. The primary outcome is registered sickness absence during a 1-year period after study inclusion. Secondary outcomes are mental health and work ability. The intervention’s cost effectiveness, compared to treatment as usual, both for society and for the employer will be evaluated. A process evaluation by both the OHS consultants and the employee will be carried out. Discussion The study includes analyses of the effectiveness of the intervention (clinical and economic) as well as an analysis of its implementation at the participating OHSs. Possible methodological challenges such as selection bias and risk of contamination between OHS consultants delivering the experimental condition and consultants giving usual care are discussed. Trial registration ClinicalTrials NCT02563743 Sep 28 2015

Sweden: steeply rising older workers' employment rates in a late-exit country

Sweden has very high employment rates for all age groups and both men and women. Effective retirement age is even rising after pension reforms with a flexibilization of the statutory retirement age. Incentives are given for later withdrawal and longer working careers, since pensions are based on all earnings during working life. Disability pensions are the most important pathway for early exits out of the labor market for all age groups, even though the rules for eligibility had been restricted in the reforms. Occupational pensions as “early” exit gain importance for over 60-year-olds, with more highly educated workers being more likely to take advantage of occupational pensions as an early exit route. This highlights the importance of education for retirement timing