ORIGINAL ARTICLE

High physical work load and low job satisfaction increase the risk of sickness absence due to low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study

W E Hoogendoorn^1,2,3, P M Bongers¹, H C W de Vet², G A M Ariëns^1,2,3, W van Mechelen^2,3, L M Bouter²

¹ TNO Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
² Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
³ Department of Social Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr P M Bongers, TNO Work and Employment, PO Box 718, 2130AS Hoofddorp, The Netherlands;
P.Bongers{at}arteid.tno.nl

Objective: To determine whether physical and psychosocial load at work influence sickness absence due to low back pain.

Methods: The research was a part of the study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health (SMASH), a 3 year prospective cohort study on risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. Workers from 21 companies located throughout The Netherlands participated in the part of this study on sickness absence due to low back pain. The study population consisted of 732 workers with no sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain in the 3 months before the baseline survey and complete data on the reasons for absences during the follow up period. The mean (range) period of follow up in this group was 37 (7–44) months. Physical load at work was assessed by analyses of video recordings. Baseline information on psychosocial work characteristics was obtained by a questionnaire. Data on sickness absence were collected from company records. The main outcome measure was the rate of sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain during the follow up period.

Results: After adjustment of the work related physical and psychosocial factors for each other and for other potential determinants, significant rate ratios ranging from 2.0 to 3.2 were found for trunk flexion, trunk rotation, lifting, and low job satisfaction. A dose-response relation was found for trunk flexion, but not for trunk rotation or lifting. Non-significant rate ratios of about 1.4 were found for low supervisor support and low coworker support. Quantitative job demands, conflicting demands, decision authority, and skill discretion showed no relation with sickness absence due to low back pain.

Conclusions: Flexion and rotation of the trunk, lifting, and low job satisfaction are risk factors for sickness absence due to low back pain. Some indications of a relation between low social support, either from supervisors or coworkers, and sickness absence due to low back pain are also present.

Keywords: absenteeism; job satisfaction; lifting; low back pain; posture; sick leave

Abbreviations: SMASH, study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health; JCQ, job content questionnaire; ICD-9, 9th revision of the international classification of diseases

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Campo, M. A., Weiser, S., Koenig, K. L. (2009). Job Strain in Physical Therapists. ptjournal 89: 946-956 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Saastamoinen, P, Laaksonen, M, Lahelma, E, Leino-Arjas, P (2009). The effect of pain on sickness absence among middle-aged municipal employees. Occup. Environ. Med. 66: 131-136 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Roelen, C. A. M., Koopmans, P. C., Notenbomer, A., Groothoff, J. W. (2008). Job satisfaction and sickness absence: a questionnaire survey. Occup Med (Lond) 58: 567-571 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Arendt, J. N., Lauridsen, J. (2008). Do risk factors explain more of the social gradient in self-reported health when adjusting for baseline health?. Eur J Public Health 18: 131-137 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Dekkers-Sanchez, P M, Hoving, J L, Sluiter, J K, Frings-Dresen, M H W (2008). Factors associated with long-term sick leave in sick-listed employees: a systematic review. Occup. Environ. Med. 65: 153-157 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Alamgir, H., Cvitkovich, Y., Yu, S., Yassi, A. (2007). Work-related injury among direct care occupations in British Columbia, Canada. Occup. Environ. Med. 64: 769-775 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bergstrom, G., Bodin, L., Bertilsson, H., Jensen, I. B (2007). Risk factors for new episodes of sick leave due to neck or back pain in a working population. A prospective study with an 18-month and a three-year follow-up. Occup. Environ. Med. 64: 279-287 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Labriola, M., Lund, T., Burr, H. (2006). Prospective study of physical and psychosocial risk factors for sickness absence. Occup Med (Lond) 56: 469-474 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Burdorf, A, Jansen, J P (2006). Predicting the long term course of low back pain and its consequences for sickness absence and associated work disability.. Occup. Environ. Med. 63: 522-529 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Lund, T., Labriola, M., Christensen, K. B., Bultmann, U., Villadsen, E. (2006). Physical work environment risk factors for long term sickness absence: prospective findings among a cohort of 5357 employees in Denmark. BMJ 332: 449-452 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bernaards, C M, Jans, M P, van den Heuvel, S G, Hendriksen, I J, Houtman, I L, Bongers, P M (2006). Can strenuous leisure time physical activity prevent psychological complaints in a working population?. Occup. Environ. Med. 63: 10-16 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Unruh, L. Y., Fottler, M. D. (2005). Projections and Trends in RN Supply: What Do They Tell Us About the Nursing Shortage?. Policy Politics Nursing Practice 6: 171-182 [Abstract]  
• Melchior, M., Krieger, N., Kawachi, I., Berkman, L. F., Niedhammer, I., Goldberg, M. (2005). Work Factors and Occupational Class Disparities in Sickness Absence: Findings From the GAZEL Cohort Study. AJPH 95: 1206-1212 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Aittomaki, A, Lahelma, E, Roos, E, Leino-Arjas, P, Martikainen, P (2005). Gender differences in the association of age with physical workload and functioning. Occup. Environ. Med. 62: 95-100 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hansson, T., Jensen, I. (2004). Chapter 6. Sickness absence due to back and neck disorders. Scand J Public Health 32: 109-151 [Abstract]  
• Eriksen, W, Bruusgaard, D, Knardahl, S (2004). Work factors as predictors of intense or disabling low back pain; a prospective study of nurses' aides. Occup. Environ. Med. 61: 398-404 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Anema, J R, Cuelenaere, B, van der Beek, A J, Knol, D L, de Vet, H C W, van Mechelen, W (2004). The effectiveness of ergonomic interventions on return-to-work after low back pain; a prospective two year cohort study in six countries on low back pain patients sicklisted for 3-4 months. Occup. Environ. Med. 61: 289-294 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Hartvigsen, J, Lings, S, Leboeuf-Yde, C, Bakketeig, L (2004). Psychosocial factors at work in relation to low back pain and consequences of low back pain; a systematic, critical review of prospective cohort studies. Occup. Environ. Med. 61: e2-2 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chee, H L, Rampal, K G (2003). Relation between sick leave and selected exposure variables among women semiconductor workers in Malaysia. Occup. Environ. Med. 60: 262-270 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fishbain, D A (2003). Sickness absence due to low back pain. Occup. Environ. Med. 60: 306-306 [Full Text]  
• Pope, D P, Hunt, I M, Birrell, F N, Silman, A J, Macfarlane, G J (2003). Hip pain onset in relation to cumulative workplace and leisure time mechanical load: a population based case-control study. Ann Rheum Dis 62: 322-326 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Comments on article by Hoogendorn

David A Fishbain

Occup Environ Med Online, 23 Aug 2002 [Full text]