EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS ON NECK, SHOULDER AND LOW-BACK-PAIN IN FEMALE HOSPITAL STAFF

One hundred and eleven females volunteered to take part in this interv ention study of musculoskeletal pain. They all completed a survey of p ain among five hundred and eighty-six female hospital staff and presen ted mild to severe pain in the neck, shoulder and/or low back. They we re randomly assigned to one of the following groups; Focus on job-stre ss and psychosocial coping (Cognitive), relaxation training (Relaxatio n), the combination of the two (Combined) or to a control group (Contr ol). Musculoskeletal pain (intensity and duration) was assessed by sel f-report prior to interventions, immediately after interventions, and at a four months follow-up. Results from multivariate analyses of vari ance as well as covariance (pre-intervention levels of pain as covaria te) showed that magnitude of pain reduction was dependent upon the int eraction between area of the back and type of intervention. These tren ds were more significant for intensity than for duration scores. They were due to reductions of pain in (1) neck and shoulders for the Cogni tive and Combined groups and (2) in the low back and shoulders for the Relaxation group. The four month follow-up assessment revealed a sign ificant risk of relapse only for duration of low back pain among subje cts in the Combined group. Results from the Cognitive approach to inte rvention may reflect a causal role for ability to cope with psychosoci al job stress in the development of neck and shoulder pain in female h ospital staff.