Associations between lean maturity in primary care and musculoskeletal complaints among staff: a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: This study had two aims: (1) to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among staff in primary care and (2) to determine to what extent lean maturity of the primary care unit can predict musculoskeletal complaints 1 year later. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational and longitudinal design. SETTING: Primary care units in mid-Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: In 2015, staff members responded to a web survey addressing lean maturity and musculoskeletal complaints. The survey was completed by 481 staff members (response rate 46%) at 48 units; 260 staff members at 46 units also completed the survey in 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES: Associations with musculoskeletal complaints were determined both for lean maturity in total and for four Lean domains entered separately in a multivariate model, that is, philosophy, processes, people and partners, and problem solving. RESULTS: The shoulders (12-month prevalence: 58%), neck (54%) and low back (50%) were the most common sites of 12-month retrospective musculoskeletal complaints at baseline. Shoulders, neck and low back also showed the most complaints for the preceding 7 days (37%, 33% and 25%, respectively). The prevalence of complaints was similar at the 1-year follow-up. Total lean maturity in 2015 was not associated with musculoskeletal complaints, neither cross-sectionally nor 1 year later, for shoulders (1 year β: −0.002, 95% CI −0.03 to 0.02), neck (β: 0.006, 95% CI −0.01 to 0.03), low back (β: 0.004, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.03) and upper back (β: 0.002, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.02). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints among primary care staff was high and did not change within a year. The extent of lean maturity at the care unit was not associated with complaints among staff, neither in cross-sectional analyses nor in a 1-year predictive analysis.