PERCEIVED WORK CONDITIONS AND WORK-RELATED SYMPTOMS AMONG EMPLOYED FINNS

The aim of the study was to determine the number and nature of perceiv ed harmful work conditions and perceived work-related symptoms among e mployed Finns by sex and socioeconomic group. The associations between perceived harmful work conditions and perceived symptoms were also in vestigated. Knowledge of perceived work-related ill health can serve a s a basis for health promotion at work. In a computer-assisted telepho ne interview of 2744 salaried employees and wage-earners, the responde nts were asked about perceived harmful work conditions as well as perc eived health complaints, and their relatedness to work. At least one h armful factor at work was reported by 94% of the respondents, and half of them reported more than three such factors. The most commonly occu rring harmful factors were increased work pace, mental demand, repetit ive movements, and noise. Of the symptoms perceived as work-related, m usculoskeletal symptoms were the most common. They were reported by 44 % of the respondents, followed by mental symptoms (26%), psychosomatic symptoms (19%), and respiratory or sensory symptoms (15%). Both the r eporting of perceived harmful work factors and perceived work-related symptoms varied by socioeconomic group and sex. Perceived work-related musculoskeletal symptoms were associated with perceived ergonomic har mful work factors among both the men and the women, with physical or c hemical work factors among the men, and with psychosocial or work orga nizational factors among the women. Perceived work-related respiratory symptoms were associated with perceived harmful physical or chemical work factors among both the men and the women, and both groups also re ported mental and psychosomatic symptoms in relation to harmful psycho social or organizational work factors. Among the women psychosomatic s ymptoms and harmful ergonomic work factors were also related. Perceive d harmful factors at work and work-related symptoms are common among t he work force. Even though the degree of work-related ill health was r elated to socioeconomic group, the reporting of particular symptoms in dicated the probability of a particular work factor bring considered h armful independently of socioeconomic group, although there was some r elationship to sex. The implications for occupational health services are evident; employees' work-related symptoms can serve as an indicato r of (preventable) perceived problems at work. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.