The Prevalence of Work-Related Muskuloskeletal Disorders (WRMSDs) and Related Factors among Occupational Disease Clinic Patients

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are one of the common health problems of employees. WRMSDs are impairments of bodily structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and the localised blood circulation system, that are caused or aggravated primarily by work and by the effects of the immediate environment in which work is carried out. The aim of this study is; to determine the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders and the related factors such as socio-demographic characteristics and working conditions among occupational disease outpatient clinic patients. Methods: The files of 396 patients who applied to a Occupational Diseases Outpatient Clinic were examined retrospectively. Results: 216 (54%) patient had at least one occupational disease and 78 patients (19.7%) had at least one kind of WRMSDs. Employees’ informations, such as age, gender, marital status, educational status, smoking and alcohol consumption, height, weight, body mass index, working sector, job history, total working time (years), musculoskeletal complaints, psychosocial risk factors, were evaluated. Having at least one psychosocial risk factor (such as excessive workload, monotonous work, role ambiguity, role conflict, etc.) increases the frequency of WRMSD development. In addition, WRMSDs is more common in the petrochemical and metal metallurgical sector than in other sectors. Conclusion: In order to prevent WRMSDs, a systematic and analytical ergonomic risk assessment approach should be developed and implemented.