%0 Journal Article %T Occupational factors affecting sick leave attributed to low back pain %A Wickström, G. J. %A Pentti, Jaana %J Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health %D 1998 %8 April 24 %N 2 %@ 0355-3140 %F Wickström1998 %X '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'The purpose of this study was to determine the occupational factors that cause workers to take sick leave.'

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METHODS ': 'Twice, with a 24-month interval, 117 white- and 189 blue-collar employees from 2 metal industry companies completed a questionnaire on recurrent low-back pain and exposure to potential risk factors (biomechanical loads, physical environment, psychosocial factors) at work. Sick leave was monitored for the period between the questionnaires.'

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RESULTS ': 'Low-back pain was predicted by exposure to harmful biomechanical loads among both white- and blue-collar workers [odds ratio (OR) 4.1 and 4.7, respectively), stress among white-collar workers (OR 2.4), and draft among blue-collar workers (OR 2.3). The take-up of sick leave was predicted by exposure to harmful biomechanical loads [rate ratio (RR) 1.7]; for sick leaves attributed to low-back pain the rate ratio was 3.1. Lack of recognition and respect at work predicted sick-leave attributed to low-back pain (RR 2.0), but not to other disorders.'

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CONCLUSION ': 'Recurrent low-back pain is preceded by reports of harmful biomechanical loads at work among white- and blue-collar workers, by stress among white-collar workers and by draft among blue-collar workers. The environmental and psychosocial factors under study did not modify the relation between biomechanical loads and the recurrent low-back pain. Sick leave attributed to back disorders is preceded by exposure to biomechanical loads at work and by a lack of recognition and respect at work among blue-collar workers. Biomechanical loading seems to be the most important occupational factor predicting both recurrent low-back pain and sick leave attributed to back disorders. Lack of recognition and respect at work appear to affect sick leave attributed to back disorders.

%K biomechanical load %K physical environment %K psychosocial load %K respect at work %K sickness absence %R 10.5271/sjweh.292 %U https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=292 %U https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.292 %P 145-152