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Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors in the Quebec working population

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Abstract

Background: While the determinants of musculoskeletal pain are numerous, few studies conducted among workers have taken into account, altogether, physical factors, psychosocial factors (personal and work-related) and individual characteristics. Objectives: To estimate the 1-year prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the Quebec working population by gender and anatomical site, and to determine which factors are associated with these prevalence figures. Methods: Data came from the 1998 Quebec Health Survey and included 9,496 individuals. One-year period prevalences for neck pain, back pain and pain in the upper and lower extremities were calculated for men and women. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between individual, physical and psychosocial work factors, on one hand, and musculoskeletal pain in the four body regions, on the other hand. Results: For both genders back pain was the most frequent musculoskeletal symptom that had disturbed their activities during the past year. The largest difference between genders was observed for neck pain (women: 18%; men: 11%). Multivariate analyses indicated that physical and psychosocial work factors, as well as psychological variables, were associated with musculoskeletal pain in different body regions. Body mass index was associated only with pain in lower extremities for both genders. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that interventions aimed at reducing musculoskeletal pain should take into account personal and work-related psychosocial variables, in addition to physical workload.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Quebec Health Research Fund (no. 2576), of which C.E. Dionne and R. Bourbonnais are also Research Scholars. C. Brisson holds a research scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). We thank the Quebec Institute of Statistics for providing access to data and Michel Gaudet, MSc, for statistical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Population Health Research Unit, Research Center of the Laval University Affiliated Hospital, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    Isabelle Leroux, Clermont E. Dionne & Chantal Brisson

  2. Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    Clermont E. Dionne & Renée Bourbonnais

  3. Local Community Health Care Center (CLSC), Haute-Ville-des-Rivières, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    Renée Bourbonnais

  4. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

    Chantal Brisson

  5. Unité de recherche en santé des populations, Centre de recherche du CHA de Québec, Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement, 1050, chemin Ste-Foy, Quebec, Quebec, G1S 4L8, Canada

    Clermont E. Dionne

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  1. Isabelle Leroux
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Correspondence to Clermont E. Dionne.

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Leroux, I., Dionne, C.E., Bourbonnais, R. et al. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated factors in the Quebec working population. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 379–386 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0578-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0578-2

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