Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Differences in physical workload, psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal disorders between two groups of female hospital cleaners with two diverse organizational models

Unge, Jeannette LU ; Ohlsson, Kerstina LU ; Nordander, Catarina LU orcid ; Hansson, Gert-Åke LU ; Skerfving, Staffan LU and Balogh, Istvan LU (2007) In International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 81(2). p.209-220
Abstract
Objectives To clarify if differences in the physical workload, the psychosocial factors and in musculoskeletal disorders can be attributed to work organizational factors. Methods The physical workload (muscular activity of m. trapezius, positions and movements of the head, upper arms and wrists and heart rate) was assessed in 24 female hospital cleaners working in a traditional work organization (TO) and in 22 working in an extended one (i.e. with an enlarged work content and more responsibilities; EO). The psychosocial work environment was assessed as job demand, decision latitude and social support in 135 (TO) and 111 (EO) cleaners, and disorders of the neck and upper extremity by a physical examination. Results The EO group was... (More)
Objectives To clarify if differences in the physical workload, the psychosocial factors and in musculoskeletal disorders can be attributed to work organizational factors. Methods The physical workload (muscular activity of m. trapezius, positions and movements of the head, upper arms and wrists and heart rate) was assessed in 24 female hospital cleaners working in a traditional work organization (TO) and in 22 working in an extended one (i.e. with an enlarged work content and more responsibilities; EO). The psychosocial work environment was assessed as job demand, decision latitude and social support in 135 (TO) and 111 (EO) cleaners, and disorders of the neck and upper extremity by a physical examination. Results The EO group was associated with lower physical workload, in terms of heart rate ratio (23 vs 32; P < 0.001), head and upper arm positions and movements (right upper arm, 50th percentile, 35 degrees/s vs 71 degrees/s; P < 0.001) and wrist movements (20 degrees/s vs 27 degrees/s; P = 0.001), than the TO group. The EO group reported higher decision latitude and lower work demand than the TO one, while we found no difference in social support. The prevalence of complaints and diagnoses in neck/shoulders were lower in the EO group (diagnoses 35% vs 48%; P = 0.04). Moreover, the prevalence of subjects with at least ten physical finding in elbows/hands was lower in the EO group (10 vs 29; P < 0.001). Conclusion Hospital cleaners have a high prevalence of neck and upper limb disorders and a high physical workload. Comparing two groups of cleaners, with differences in the way of organizing the work, lower physical workload, more beneficial psychosocial factors and a better musculoskeletal health was found in the group with an extended organization. Hence, the differences found can be attributed to the organizational factors. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cleaning, physical workload, psychosocial factors, work organization, musculoskeletal disorders
in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
volume
81
issue
2
pages
209 - 220
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000250206000009
  • scopus:35448942801
ISSN
1432-1246
DOI
10.1007/s00420-007-0208-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d35e36e5-9a99-4c09-be8c-adcfeb0442fd (old id 654343)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:47:23
date last changed
2022-04-15 07:05:18
@article{d35e36e5-9a99-4c09-be8c-adcfeb0442fd,
  abstract     = {{Objectives To clarify if differences in the physical workload, the psychosocial factors and in musculoskeletal disorders can be attributed to work organizational factors. Methods The physical workload (muscular activity of m. trapezius, positions and movements of the head, upper arms and wrists and heart rate) was assessed in 24 female hospital cleaners working in a traditional work organization (TO) and in 22 working in an extended one (i.e. with an enlarged work content and more responsibilities; EO). The psychosocial work environment was assessed as job demand, decision latitude and social support in 135 (TO) and 111 (EO) cleaners, and disorders of the neck and upper extremity by a physical examination. Results The EO group was associated with lower physical workload, in terms of heart rate ratio (23 vs 32; P &lt; 0.001), head and upper arm positions and movements (right upper arm, 50th percentile, 35 degrees/s vs 71 degrees/s; P &lt; 0.001) and wrist movements (20 degrees/s vs 27 degrees/s; P = 0.001), than the TO group. The EO group reported higher decision latitude and lower work demand than the TO one, while we found no difference in social support. The prevalence of complaints and diagnoses in neck/shoulders were lower in the EO group (diagnoses 35% vs 48%; P = 0.04). Moreover, the prevalence of subjects with at least ten physical finding in elbows/hands was lower in the EO group (10 vs 29; P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion Hospital cleaners have a high prevalence of neck and upper limb disorders and a high physical workload. Comparing two groups of cleaners, with differences in the way of organizing the work, lower physical workload, more beneficial psychosocial factors and a better musculoskeletal health was found in the group with an extended organization. Hence, the differences found can be attributed to the organizational factors.}},
  author       = {{Unge, Jeannette and Ohlsson, Kerstina and Nordander, Catarina and Hansson, Gert-Åke and Skerfving, Staffan and Balogh, Istvan}},
  issn         = {{1432-1246}},
  keywords     = {{cleaning; physical workload; psychosocial factors; work organization; musculoskeletal disorders}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{209--220}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health}},
  title        = {{Differences in physical workload, psychosocial factors and musculoskeletal disorders between two groups of female hospital cleaners with two diverse organizational models}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0208-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00420-007-0208-x}},
  volume       = {{81}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}