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Occup Environ Med 2002;59:323-328 doi:10.1136/oem.59.5.323
  • 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

  1. W E Hoogendoorn1,2,3,
  2. P M Bongers1,
  3. H C W de Vet2,
  4. G A M Ariëns1,2,3,
  5. W van Mechelen2,3,
  6. L M Bouter2
  1. 1TNO Work and Employment, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands
  2. 2Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Social Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr P M Bongers, TNO Work and Employment, PO Box 718, 2130AS Hoofddorp, The Netherlands;
 P.Bongers{at}arteid.tno.nl
  • Accepted 8 November 2001

Abstract

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.

Footnotes

    Responses to this article

    • Comments on article by Hoogendorn
      • David A Fishbain
      Occup Environ Med published online August 23, 2002

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