UPPER-LIMB WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG NEWSPAPER EMPLOYEES - CROSS-SECTIONAL SURVEY RESULTS

At a metropolitan newspaper office in Canada with extensive video disp lay terminal (VDT) use, researchers carried out a survey (n = 1,007, 8 4% response) to establish baseline prevalence of work-related musculos keletal disorders (WMSDs) and to identify demographic, postural, task, and psychosocial factors associated with WMSD symptoms. One-fifth of the respondents reported moderate or worse upper limb pain recurring a t least monthly or lasting more than a week over the previous year. Lo gistic regression showed that employees who faced frequent deadlines a nd high psychological demands (fast work pace and conflicting demands) , had low skill discretion and social support, spent more time keyboar ding, or who had their screen in a non-optimal position were more like ly to report moderate to severe symptoms. Women reported significantly higher levels of symptoms than men. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.