RISK-FACTORS FOR BACK PAIN INCIDENCE IN INDUSTRY - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between ph ysical and psychological risk factors on the one hand, and the occurre nce of new episodes of back pain on the other hand. A prospective stud y was conducted with 12 months follow-up by means of self-administered questionnaires. The study took place in the Cargo Department of a maj or Dutch airline company. The subjects for this study were 270 workers involved in heavy physical work. Only workers without back pain at ba seline were included. Self-reported back pain and sick leave due to ba ck pain during the follow-up period were measured. Of the 238 workers included in the analysis, 73 (31%) developed a new episode of back pai n during the follow-up period, and 27 (11%) subjects reported sick lea ve due to back pain. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the history of back pain was the best predictor for the occurrence of a new episode of back pain during follow-up (OR 9.8; 95% CI 2.8-34.4 for subjects who had back pain more than twice in the past year). Low job satisfaction was also associated with an increased risk for the oc currence of back pain during follow-up (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.01-1.4). Ridi ng a forklift truck appeared to be a protective factor for the occurre nce of back pain (OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.5-0.99). In this study the best pre dictors for the occurrence of back pain were the history of back compl aints and low job satisfaction. Although it needs to be confirmed by f uture intervention studies, the results indicate that increasing job s atisfaction may be a successful (co-)intervention for the prevention o f back pain at the workplace. (C) 1998 International Association for t he Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.