Self-reports of musculoskeletal symptoms as predictors of work-related accidents: A hospital-based case-control study

Made available in DSpace on 2019-10-04T12:36:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2019-06-01 We present a hospital-based case-control study, which aimed to address the question: are self-reports of musculoskeletal symptoms associated with the occurrence of work-related accidents? The study was conducted among workers aged 17-59 years and residing in Botucatu, Brazil. Cases were workers who had had work-related accidents that required hospitalization, while controls included non-work-related accidents. Altogether, 80 cases and 125 controls were included. Self-reports of musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Associations between self-reports of musculoskeletal symptoms and work-related accidents were analyzed with logistic regression models. Our results show that self-reports of musculoskeletal symptoms in the upper limbs and in the vertebral column are associated with the occurrence of work-related accidents. Thus, this case-control study suggests (1) that musculoskeletal symptoms in the upper limbs and in the vertebral column are associated with increased odds of work-related accidents; and (2) that the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire may be used as a complementary screening tool for identifying workers at risk for work-related accidents. Sao Paulo State Univ, Publ Hlth Grade Program, Botucatu Med Sch, Prof Mario Rubens Guimaraes Montenegro Ave, BR-18618687 Sao Paulo, Brazil Univ Huelva, Dept Nursing, Tres Marzo Ave, Huelva 21071, Spain Univ Espiritu Santo, Samborondon Ave, Guayaquil 092301, Guayas, Ecuador Univ Huelva, Dept Sociol Social Work & Publ Hlth, Fuerzas Armadas Ave, Huelva 21071, Spain Sao Paulo State Univ, Publ Hlth Grade Program, Botucatu Med Sch, Prof Mario Rubens Guimaraes Montenegro Ave, BR-18618687 Sao Paulo, Brazil