Perceived exertion, comfort and working technique in professional computer users and associations with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether perceived exertion, perceived comfort and working technique is associated with the incidence of neck and upper extremity symptoms among professional computer users.

Methods: At baseline a self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 853 participants from 46 different work sites (382 men and 471 women) who, at baseline, had been free from neck and upper extremity symptoms during the preceding month. Work-related exposures, individual factors, and symptoms from the neck and upper extremities were assessed.

Stress, energy and psychosocial conditions in different types of call centres.

Objective: To identify risk indicators for high stress and low mental energy as well as to describe psychosocial working conditions at different types of call centres.

Participants: 1183 operators from 28 call centres in Sweden, both external and internal, with different levels of task complexity, ownership and geographical location.

Method: A cross sectional questionnaire study.

The influence of working conditions and individual factors on the incidence of neck and upper limb symptoms among professional computer users.

Objectives: To assess the influence of working conditions and individual factors on the incidence of neck and upper limb symptoms among professional computer users.

Methods: The study is a prospective cohort study with an observation period of 10 months. A baseline questionnaire about symptoms in the neck, shoulder and arm/hand during previous month, individual factors, work content, physical and psychosocial work-related exposures was answered by 1,283 computer operators (response rate 84%).

Working conditions in a selected sample of call centre companies in Sweden.

Background: Call centres (CCs) are among the most rapidly growing forms of workplaces in Sweden. The purpose of the study was to describe and compare working conditions between operators at internal and external CC companies and work tasks of different complexity.

Method: A questionnaire was answered by 1183 operators, 848 women and 335 men, from 28 different CCs.

Musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to work exposures at call centre companies in Sweden.

Objectives: Call centres (CCs) are one of the most rapidly growing types of workplaces in Sweden. The purpose of the study was to assess associations between exposures at CC work and symptoms in the Neck/shoulders and Arm/hand. Comparisons were made between internal and external CCs.

Reliability of a questionnaire and an ergonomic checklist for assessing working conditions and health at call centres.

Background: The purpose was to study the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of questions in a questionnaire concerning working conditions and health and the inter-rater reliability of observations and measurements according to an ergonomic checklist.

Method: Fifty-seven operators participated in a retest questionnaire and 58 operators participated in an inter-observer test.

Results: The questions had fair to good or higher reliability in 142 of the total of 312.

Neck/shoulder disorders in a general population. Natural course and influence of physical exercise: a 5-year follow-up.

Study Design: A 5-year follow-up study was conducted of men and women seeking care for new incidents of neck/shoulder disorders (NSD).

Objectives: To study the natural course of pain and disability caused by NSD during a 5-year follow-up and to investigate the possible influence of regular physical exercise on recovery.

Summary Of Background Data: NSD are a major health problem, but their natural course is not very well studied.

Feedback of workplace data to individual workers, workgroups or supervisors as a way to stimulate working environment activity: a cluster randomized controlled study.

Objective: To test whether feedback and discussion of ergonomic and psychosocial working-environment data during one short session with individual, groups or supervisors of white-collar computer workers had an effect on activity to modify workplace design, working technique and psychosocial aspects of work.

Methods: A total of 36 workgroups from nine organizations representing different trades was randomized (stratified for organization) to three feedback conditions or control with no feedback. Data were collected 1 month before and 6 months after feedback sessions.

Working conditions and health among female and male employees at a call center in Sweden.

Background: The call center industry is one of the most expansive labor market sectors in Sweden today. The purpose of this study was to investigate the working conditions and symptoms among employees at a call center in Sweden.

Methods: This study represents the cross-sectional baseline survey, which was part of a prospective cohort study.

Seeking care for neck/shoulder pain: a prospective study of work-related risk factors in a healthy population.

This study estimated the 5-year cumulative incidence of neck/shoulder pain and identified work-related risk factors leading subjects to seek care for this problem. Four to six years after the case-referent MUSIC-Norrtälje Study, a postal questionnaire was sent to the referents of this study, and 81% responded. At baseline, 516 men and 697 women were assessed as to their work-related exposures.

Symptoms and clinical findings from the musculoskeletal system among operators at a call centre in Sweden--a 10-month follow-up study.

The musculoskeletal health among 57 operators at 1 call centre in Sweden was studied with 10 monthly follow-ups, parallel to a reference group of 1,226 professional computer users in other occupations. Operators at this call centre were more symptom-loaded than the other professional computer users in spite of their younger age and shorter exposure to computer work. Symptoms were long-lasting or recurrent.

Self-reported reduced productivity due to musculoskeletal symptoms: associations with workplace and individual factors among white-collar computer users.

The aim was to assess whether self-reported reduced productivity occurred in computer users due to musculoskeletal symptoms and the association to workplace, symptom, and individual factors. The study group consisted of 1283 computer users from different occupations, of whom 498 were men and 785 were women. Reduced productivity was self-assessed by two questions addressing if and how much productivity was reduced the previous month due to musculoskeletal symptoms.

Validity of occupational energy expenditure assessed by interview.

Measuring physical activity at work has been a field of growing interest in recent decades, and there is a need for reliable, standardized assessment instruments for application in large population studies. The present study examined the validity of a task-oriented interview for assessing energy expenditure in occupational work. The interview was developed for use in the MUSIC-Norrtälje study, a population study with the overall aim of identifying risk and preventive factors for musculoskeletal disorders.