THE PREVALENCE OF BACK PAIN, HAND DISCOMFORT, AND DERMATITIS IN THE US WORKING POPULATION

Objectives. The purpose of the study was to provide the health care an d public health communities with national prevalence estimates of sele cted conditions in the US working population. Methods. National preval ence estimates of self-reported conditions among working people were c alculated from data collected for the 1988 Occupational Health Supplem ent to the National Health Interview Survey. Results. The highest prev alence estimates were found among occupational groups. For example. th e prevalence of back pain due to an injury at work among truck drivers was 6.7%; back pain due to repeated activities at work among mechanic s and repairers of heavy equipment and machinery was 10.5%; hand disco mfort among operators of machines that process metal, plastic, stone, and glass was 23.5%; and dermatitis due to contact with substances at work among physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians w as 5.6%. Conclusions. A substantial proportion of these conditions amo ng occupational groups with the highest prevalence estimates are occup ational in origin. These prevalence estimates identify occupations in which efforts are needed to prevent these conditions.