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EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN

OBJECTIVES: Computer workstations are considered a potential workplace hazard. This study sought to evaluate computer workstation ergonomics in a university office environment, and to determine its relationship with musculoskeletal (MS) and visual symptoms reported by employees. MATERIAL AND METHODS...

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Autores principales: Shahwan, Batool Sama’an, D’emeh, Waddah Mohammad, Yacoub, Mohammed Ibrahim
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10464782/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34605825
http://dx.doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01822
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author Shahwan, Batool Sama’an
D’emeh, Waddah Mohammad
Yacoub, Mohammed Ibrahim
author_facet Shahwan, Batool Sama’an
D’emeh, Waddah Mohammad
Yacoub, Mohammed Ibrahim
author_sort Shahwan, Batool Sama’an
collection PubMed
description OBJECTIVES: Computer workstations are considered a potential workplace hazard. This study sought to evaluate computer workstation ergonomics in a university office environment, and to determine its relationship with musculoskeletal (MS) and visual symptoms reported by employees. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 231 university employees were recruited using a stratified random sampling technique. By means of direct observation, computer workstations were evaluated using the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ergonomic Computer Workstation Evaluation Checklist. In addition, the participants reported MS and visual symptoms during the past week and 12 months by completing questionnaires. RESULTS: Several ergonomic deficiencies in computer workstations were identified. Seating, working area, and keyboard and input devices had the most documented deficits. A significant proportion of employees reported various MS symptoms during the past 12 months. The most affected body parts were the shoulders (37%), the lower back (34%), and the neck (29%). The most prevalent visual symptom was tired eyes (68%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that MS symptoms, such as ache, pain and discomfort, were significantly associated with the total scores on the OSHA components. Deficits in monitor ergonomics and its placement, particularly the presence of glare reflected on the screen, were also associated with reported visual symptoms. Independent variables, such as gender, age, employment duration, job type, daily computer work hours, and work pattern, reliably predicted the participants’ reported experience of various MS and visual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Both MS and visual symptoms are associated with deficits in computer workstation ergonomics. Appropriate strategies, work practices, and preventive measures are needed to eliminate occupational hazards associated with computer workstations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(2):141 – 56
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spelling pubmed-104647822023-08-29 EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN Shahwan, Batool Sama’an D’emeh, Waddah Mohammad Yacoub, Mohammed Ibrahim Int J Occup Med Environ Health Original Paper OBJECTIVES: Computer workstations are considered a potential workplace hazard. This study sought to evaluate computer workstation ergonomics in a university office environment, and to determine its relationship with musculoskeletal (MS) and visual symptoms reported by employees. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional observational study. A total of 231 university employees were recruited using a stratified random sampling technique. By means of direct observation, computer workstations were evaluated using the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Ergonomic Computer Workstation Evaluation Checklist. In addition, the participants reported MS and visual symptoms during the past week and 12 months by completing questionnaires. RESULTS: Several ergonomic deficiencies in computer workstations were identified. Seating, working area, and keyboard and input devices had the most documented deficits. A significant proportion of employees reported various MS symptoms during the past 12 months. The most affected body parts were the shoulders (37%), the lower back (34%), and the neck (29%). The most prevalent visual symptom was tired eyes (68%). Logistic regression analysis indicated that MS symptoms, such as ache, pain and discomfort, were significantly associated with the total scores on the OSHA components. Deficits in monitor ergonomics and its placement, particularly the presence of glare reflected on the screen, were also associated with reported visual symptoms. Independent variables, such as gender, age, employment duration, job type, daily computer work hours, and work pattern, reliably predicted the participants’ reported experience of various MS and visual symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Both MS and visual symptoms are associated with deficits in computer workstation ergonomics. Appropriate strategies, work practices, and preventive measures are needed to eliminate occupational hazards associated with computer workstations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(2):141 – 56 Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2022 2022-03-01 /pmc/articles/PMC10464782/ /pubmed/34605825 http://dx.doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01822 Text en © 2006-2022 Journal hosting platform by Bentus https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/pl/This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Poland License – http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/pl/deed.en (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/pl/) .
spellingShingle Original Paper
Shahwan, Batool Sama’an
D’emeh, Waddah Mohammad
Yacoub, Mohammed Ibrahim
EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title_full EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title_fullStr EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title_full_unstemmed EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title_short EVALUATION OF COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS ERGONOMICS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH REPORTED MUSCULOSKELETAL AND VISUAL SYMPTOMS AMONG UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES IN JORDAN
title_sort evaluation of computer workstations ergonomics and its relationship with reported musculoskeletal and visual symptoms among university employees in jordan
topic Original Paper
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10464782/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34605825
http://dx.doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01822
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