Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2002 May;59(5):323-8.
doi: 10.1136/oem.59.5.323.

High physical work load and low job satisfaction increase the risk of sickness absence due to low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study

W E Hoogendoorn  1 , P M Bongers, H C W de Vet, G A M Ariëns, W van Mechelen, L M Bouter
Affiliations

High physical work load and low job satisfaction increase the risk of sickness absence due to low back pain: results of a prospective cohort study

W E Hoogendoorn et al. Occup Environ Med. 2002 May.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether physical and psychosocial load at work influence sickness absence due to low back pain.

Methods: The research was a part of the study on musculoskeletal disorders, absenteeism, stress, and health (SMASH), a 3 year prospective cohort study on risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders. Workers from 21 companies located throughout The Netherlands participated in the part of this study on sickness absence due to low back pain. The study population consisted of 732 workers with no sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain in the 3 months before the baseline survey and complete data on the reasons for absences during the follow up period. The mean (range) period of follow up in this group was 37 (7-44) months. Physical load at work was assessed by analyses of video recordings. Baseline information on psychosocial work characteristics was obtained by a questionnaire. Data on sickness absence were collected from company records. The main outcome measure was the rate of sickness absences of 3 days or longer due to low back pain during the follow up period.

Results: After adjustment of the work related physical and psychosocial factors for each other and for other potential determinants, significant rate ratios ranging from 2.0 to 3.2 were found for trunk flexion, trunk rotation, lifting, and low job satisfaction. A dose-response relation was found for trunk flexion, but not for trunk rotation or lifting. Non-significant rate ratios of about 1.4 were found for low supervisor support and low coworker support. Quantitative job demands, conflicting demands, decision authority, and skill discretion showed no relation with sickness absence due to low back pain.

Conclusions: Flexion and rotation of the trunk, lifting, and low job satisfaction are risk factors for sickness absence due to low back pain. Some indications of a relation between low social support, either from supervisors or coworkers, and sickness absence due to low back pain are also present.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

  • Sickness absence due to low back pain.
    Fishbain DA. Fishbain DA. Occup Environ Med. 2003 Apr;60(4):306. doi: 10.1136/oem.60.4.306. Occup Environ Med. 2003. PMID: 12660381 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

References

    1. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998 Oct 1;23(19):2091-5 - PubMed
    1. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998 Apr;24(2):145-52 - PubMed
    1. Am J Public Health. 1999 Jul;89(7):1029-35 - PubMed
    1. Int J Epidemiol. 1998 Dec;27(6):1011-8 - PubMed
    1. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1999 Oct;25(5):387-403 - PubMed

Publication types