Investigating Musculoskeletal Discomforts and their Relation to Workplace Ergonomic Conditions among Computer Office Workers at Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are relatively prevalent among office employees of hospitals. These disorders are related to several ergonomic risk factors including failure to cope with physical job demands, repetitive motions, contact stress, and poor or inappropriate body postures. This study was conducted to evaluate MSDs in computer office workers at Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study was performed at Alzahra Hospital in summer 2014. Overall, 71 office workers were enrolled in the study via systematic sampling method. Ergonomic risk factors were evaluated using the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) checklist. The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) was used to assess MSDs. The collected data were analyzed using Spearman and Pearson correlation tests in SPSS software.

Results: Musculoskeletal discomfort was mostly prevalent in the neck, low back, and shoulder area, respectively. Moreover, 97.2% of participants had final ROSA scores of 5 and higher. Spearman correlation test showed a direct relationship between the final ROSA score and severity of musculoskeletal discomfort in the upper limb area including arm, forearm, and wrist (P < 0.05); this relationship did not exist for other parts of the body.

Conclusion: Based on the ROSA scores, most individuals working with computers were prone to MSDs. Therefore, it is necessary to implement suitable ergonomic interventions targeting body postures and work place improvements.