Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran | [b] Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK | [c] Biostatistics Department, Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences University, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: David Coggon, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Tel.: +44 2380 777624; Fax: +44 2380 704021; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A previous survey had indicated high rates of low back
pain (LBP) in Iranian nurses and office workers. OBJECTIVE: To explore possible risk factors, we carried out a
longitudinal study of the same subjects. METHODS: Baseline information about risk factors and recent history
of LBP was collected by self-administered questionnaire from 246 nurses and
182 office workers. Approximately 12 months later, 385 (90%) answered a
second questionnaire about LBP in the past month. Predictors of LBP at
follow-up were assessed by Poisson regression and summarised by prevalence
rate ratios (PRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: In a regression model that included all risk factors, the
strongest predictor of LBP at follow-up was report of recent LBP at
baseline. In addition, LBP was associated with older age, adverse beliefs
about the work-relatedness of LBP (PRR 1.3, 95%CI 1.0-1.5), and
incentives from piecework or bonuses (PRR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.6). When
baseline report of LBP was omitted from the model, associations were also
observed with tendency to somatise, poor mental health and time pressures at
work. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the importance of psychosocial
risk factors for LBP, including adverse health beliefs and working
conditions that encourage higher output.
Keywords: Psychosocial, health beliefs, piecework, somatising, mental health
