Affiliations: Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology,
Trondheim, Norway
Note: [] Corresponding author: Gunn Robstad Andersen, NTNU, Department of Industrial Economics and Technology
Management, Alfred Getz veg 3, SB1, 12.etg, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Tel.: +47 73596816; E-mail: Gunn.Robstad.Andersen@iot.ntnu.no
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Home care workers are at risk of various harmful
occupational exposures, health complaints and sick leave. OBJECTIVE: Identifying occupational exposures related to shoulder-neck and low back pain,
and assessing the comparative importance of such exposures, for home care
workers. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-eight home care workers in a large municipality in Norway
participated in the study (response rate 76.2%). Questionnaire comprised a
combination of standardized items and context-specific VAS scales on mental,
social, emotional and physical work demands, perceived general tension and pain
in shoulder-neck and low back. RESULTS: Severe pain scores for both
shoulder-neck and low back regions were common, with individual variations. All
VAS measures on occupational exposures were significantly correlated with
shoulder-neck pain and all except social demands were significantly correlated
with low back pain. However, stronger associations were found with perceived
general tension, which proved to be the strongest predictor of shoulder-neck
and low back pain, indicating a mediating effect in the relationship between
occupational exposures and musculoskeletal pain. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying and alleviating occupational exposures is important to ensure a healthy and
sustainable work environment. Special attention should be drawn to early signs
of symptoms, such as general tension, preventing further development of musculoskeletal pain.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial risk factors, work environment, health care
