Abstract
A registration system for symptoms of occupational musculoskeletal injuries has been developed and evaluated. The system is based on the recording of two aspects of the pain sensation: the intensity (five point scale) and the frequency (three point scale) of pain. The two primary indicators are summed to give a combined symptom score. The scoring system was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict the probability of a medical consultation due to a musculoskeletal pain problem. The intensity and frequency parameters were shown to contribute significantly and to carry equal weight when optimising the symptom score by a logistic regression analysis. In the scoring of pain symptoms a distinction was made between pain experienced during and outside working hours and only the first category was included. The separation eliminated some symptoms that the workers did not consider work related (mostly due to migraine, arthritis). Repeated interviews of 14 subjects showed, however, that this procedure could cause classification problems.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Chapman C. R., Casey K. L., Dubner R., Foley K. M., Gracely R. H., Reading A. E. Pain measurement: an overview. Pain. 1985 May;22(1):1–31. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(85)90145-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hagberg M. Occupational musculoskeletal stress and disorders of the neck and shoulder: a review of possible pathophysiology. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1984;53(3):269–278. doi: 10.1007/BF00398820. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kuorinka I., Jonsson B., Kilbom A., Vinterberg H., Biering-Sørensen F., Andersson G., Jørgensen K. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987 Sep;18(3):233–237. doi: 10.1016/0003-6870(87)90010-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Melzack R. The McGill Pain Questionnaire: major properties and scoring methods. Pain. 1975 Sep;1(3):277–299. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(75)90044-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Simons D. G. Muscle pain syndromes--Part II. Am J Phys Med. 1976 Feb;55(1):15–42. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waersted M., Westgaard R. H. Working hours as a risk factor in the development of musculoskeletal complaints. Ergonomics. 1991 Mar;34(3):265–276. doi: 10.1080/00140139108967312. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Waris P. Occupational cervicobrachial syndromes. A review. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1979;5 Suppl 3:3–14. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2688. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Westgaard R. H., Jansen T. Individual and work related factors associated with symptoms of musculoskeletal complaints. II. Different risk factors among sewing machine operators. Br J Ind Med. 1992 Mar;49(3):154–162. doi: 10.1136/oem.49.3.154. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]