engleski

Psychosocial work environment and health indicators among VDT operators

The aim of this paper is to assess the relationships between the measures of quality of working life (work overload, task control, skill variety, supervisor's support and communication with colleagues) and following health indicators: eyestrain, musculo-skeletal disorders, mental complaints (anxiety, dissatisfaction) and general fatigue in employees in an informatic counting service utilizing video display terminals (VDTs). Sample and method The study participants (N=312) were mainly female (68%), aged between 21 and 52, with an average exposure to VDT of 20 hours a week, with a continuative exposure of 3 hours a day, performing a range of routine clerical tasks (data entry, processing, counting). The method applied was a structured questionnaire including the questions about the individual factors, work organization, psychosocial aspects of work and health indicators and physical examination performed by occupational practician. Associations between workplace factors and health were assessed by multiple logistic models for each of the four groups of symptoms. Results The most common health symptoms were eyestrain and musculo-skeletal disorders. There are significant morbidity differences according to age and gender. Health symptoms daily (%) periodically (%) Eyestrain 21 51 Musculo-skeletal disorders 14 69 Fatigue 18 48 Anxiety/dissatisfaction 4-7 15-24 Among the factors related to the psychosocial environment the most important were small possibility of task control (56%) and monotonous work (49%). Reduced possibility of task control and work overload had associations in the final models (p<0.05) with at least one of the four group of symptoms although the strength of these associations was modest. Monotonous and routine tasks and lack of supervisor's support was related to the fatigue and musculo-skeletal disorders even after adjusting for age and sex. Conclusion The study indicates that work related health disorders are relatively common among VDT operators. The psychosocial work environment and VDT operators' perception of their work are related to these health and well-being symptoms, especially in female and younger workers.

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