Experience of musculo-skeletal disorders, intensity of pain, and
general conditions in work -- The case of employees in non-private dental
clinics in a county in southern Sweden
Affiliations: University College of Health Sciences, Box 1038, 55111
Jönköping, Sweden. Tel.: +46 3632 4882; Fax: +46 3632 4939; E-mail:
{Bo.Rolander/Anna-Lena.Bellner}@hhj.hj.se
Abstract: {\it Objectives:} (1) To identify perceived musculo-skeletal
disorders and intensity of pain among the employees in the non-private dental
clinics; (2) To assess perceived psychosocial and physical work conditions on
the localization and intensity of musculo-skeletal disorders and pain. {\it Study design:} A questionnaire, comprising four sections
(demographic, self-reported psychosocial and physical work conditions,
self-reported disorders from the musculo-skeletal system, self-reported
intensity of pain on nine different localization on the body) was mailed to 391
employees. Of these, 338 reported musculo-skeletal disorders. In this latter
group, 239 reported work as the cause. These employees completed the
questionnaire. {\it Results:} The greatest amount of pain was reported for the
cervico-brachial region. Among all participants, a response pattern was found
where the physical work demands were very high, the psychosocial work demands
fairly high, the work climate supportive, and the control over work moderate.
At an occupational group level, theoretical inconsistencies were identified in
terms of a lack of anticipated relationships, especially for the dentist
groups. {\it Conclusions:} For a scientific and social purpose, more
research, which identifies relationships between work-related musculo-skeletal
pain and dos-response [8], effort-reward [16], and demand-control [12] aspects
of the working conditions, is clearly needed.
Keywords: physical and psychosocial work conditions, dos-response model, effort-reward model, demand-control model, musculo-skeletal disorders and pain
