Abstract
Background: Many sedentary workers will experience low back pain (LBP) whilst sitting, and some will believe that work caused their symptoms. They also report that their symptoms can be aggravated or relieved by work. Little is known about sedentary workers’ beliefs about the causes of back pain or symptom modifying factors (SMFs), and this study sought to determine their influence on absence.
Methods: 600 call centre workers completed validated questionnaires concerning beliefs about work-related causes of LBP in sedentary work and SMFs. Three constructs for work-related causes of LBP (physical demands; work environment; work organisation), and three groups of SMFs (physical aggravating; movement relieving; and postural relieving factors) were measured. A 6-month follow-up survey identified workers who did and did not take absence due to LBP. Logistic regression was used to predict future absence.
Results: Results indicated that, on their own, beliefs about the work environment (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4), and work organisation (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.3) were significant risks for future absence (P< 0.001). Physical aggravating factors also represented a significant risk (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.4, P< 0.001). Perceived physical demands and relieving factors were not significant (P> 0.05). The multivariable model showed that physical aggravating factors accounted for 16% of the variance (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.4).
Conclusions: Beliefs about the work environment/organisation and physical aggravating factors are significant risks for future absence, although when considered together, physical aggravating factors dominate. These results highlight the potential for ergonomic interventions to reduce symptom-aggravating aspects of work to reduce absence.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr J. O’Dowd, Honorary Secretary at SBPR c/o BOA, Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE.
