The relationship between mental workload and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in different working groups in a hospital

Kalantari, Reza; Zamanian, Zahra; Kamrani, Mehrdad; Bakhshi, Ehsan; Rostami, Matin; Mortazavi Mehrizi, Morteza; Nazari Far, Ebrahim

doi:10.30476/jhsss.2020.84973.1048

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ PhD candidate in Ergonomics, Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

² Associate professor, Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

³ M.Sc. in Occupational Health, Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

⁴ M.Sc. in Ergonomics, Health Center, Islamabad-e-Gharb Health Network, Kermanshah University of Medical Science, Kermanshah, Iran

⁵ M.Sc. in Ergonomics, Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

⁶ PhD in Occupational Health, Department of Occupational Health, School of Health, Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

⁷ M.Sc. student in Aging health, Department of Aging Health, Faculty of Public Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/jhsss.2020.84973.1048

Abstract

Background: Mental workloadis the operator´s mind effort, the excessive levels of which can endanger his/her health. Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) could be the result of a high mental workload. As the workload level depends on the task, this study aims to assess the relationship between mental workload and musculoskeletal symptoms in different working groups of a hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 240 employees in three main working groups including office staff, clinical employees, and service workers in a governmental hospital at Shiraz. Demographics, NASA Task Load Index, and Nordic musculoskeletal symptoms questionnaire were the data collection tools. SPSS, version 21, was used for data analysis.
Results: The mean mental workload was 66.03 in office staff, 67.86 in clinical employees, and 72.41 in service workers. The prevalence of WMSs was 67% in office staff, 62.5% in clinical employees, and 60.8% in service workers. The overall mental workload was related to symptom prevalence in the elbow, thighs, knee, and foot (P-value < 0.05).
Conclusion: Some domains of the mental workload are related to WMSs in the studied working groups. Paying attention to the special needs of each working group is necessary for reducing mental workload and WMSs.

Keywords

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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

The relationship between mental workload and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in different working groups in a hospital

References

References

Volume 7, Issue 2
April 2019
Pages 67-72

The relationship between mental workload and work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in different working groups in a hospital

References

References

Volume 7, Issue 2April 2019Pages 67-72

Volume 7, Issue 2
April 2019
Pages 67-72