Document Detail


Correlates of upper extremity disability in medical transcriptionists.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20229330     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between disability and personal/lifestyle, medical, and psychosocial risk factors for upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders (UEMSDs) in medical transcriptionists.
METHODS: A web-based survey involving the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Overall Job Satisfaction (OJS) questionnaires of all medical transcriptionists working at a large healthcare facility.
RESULTS: Responses were received from 80% (251 of 314) possible participants. Mean DASH, PSS, and OJS scores for those working at their current position for at least 1 year were 8.5 +/- 10.1, 14.3 +/- 6.7 and 5.3 +/- 0.9. Personal/lifestyle factors including age (P < 0.001), lower educational level (P = 0.014), current or previous smoking (P = 0.012), and limited exercise (P = 0.013); medical conditions including diabetes mellitus (P = 0.015), carpal tunnel syndrome (P < 0.001), prior treatment for upper extremity symptoms (P < 0.001); prior workstation evaluation (P < 0.001) and psychosocial factors of perceived stress (P < 0.001), are associated with increased DASH scores. In these workers, multivariate analysis suggests that medical conditions (finger or other upper extremity symptoms requiring treatment or workstation evaluation; and diabetes mellitus) have a larger effect on the DASH than personal/lifestyle or psychosocial factors (age; previous or current smoking; and perceived stress).
CONCLUSIONS: Prior upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms requiring treatment or ergonomic assessment, high perceived stress and a history of smoking are associated with self-reported disability. Diabetics have significantly higher levels of upper extremity disability than non-diabetics. Prospective studies are needed to see if interventions addressing these factors will prevent future work disability.
Authors:
Russell Gelfman; Timothy J Beebe; Peter C Amadio; Dirk R Larson; Jeffrey R Basford
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of occupational rehabilitation     Volume:  20     ISSN:  1573-3688     ISO Abbreviation:  J Occup Rehabil     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-19     Completed Date:  2010-12-15     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9202814     Medline TA:  J Occup Rehabil     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  340-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. gelfman.russell@mayo.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disability Evaluation*
Disabled Persons
Educational Status
Female
Humans
Internet
Job Satisfaction
Life Style
Male
Medical Records*
Midwestern United States / epidemiology
Musculoskeletal Diseases / diagnosis*,  epidemiology,  etiology
Occupational Diseases / diagnosis*,  epidemiology,  etiology
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Stress, Psychological
Upper Extremity
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1UL1 RR024150/RR/NCRR NIH HHS

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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