Assessment of Job Related Factors as Determinants of Incidence of Herniated Lumbar Disc

Lee, Joong Jung; Chung, Jong Hak

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
A case-control study was conducted on 2,323 male soldiers(771 herniated nucleus pulposus patients and 1542 controls) to identify risk factors for cumulative trauma disorders especially lower back.
METHODS
The collecting data included individual physical, psychological, and work environmental factors. Korea Military Personality Inventory(KMPI) was used to examine the assess trait that have been associated with clinically with herniated nucleus pulposus. A measurement of the workplace support system was obtained by using of the modified work APGAR, a brief, seven-item workplace function questionnaire.
RESULTS
The herniated nucleus pulposus patients were more common among Artillerymen and Engineer than among infantrymen. In logistic regression analysis of military occupational specialties, Artillerymen, Engineer, radio operator, driver were higher risk of herniated nucleus pulposus than infantrymen. Multivariate analysis of KMPI scales found hypochondriasis scale, hysteria scale, hypomania scale, social introversion scale to have strong relationship to incidence of herniated nucleus pulposus. And 'can communicate with peers' and 'enjoy job task' item of modified work APGAR to have strong relationship to incidence of herniate nucleus pulposus
CONCLUSIONS
Study of the relative contributions of many physical and non physical variable shows that evaluations of back problems in workplace that exclude these highly significant work perception and psychosocial variables are of limited value. Simple, unidimensional approaches that ignore the effect of work perceptions and psychological factors on back problems reporting oversimplify a multifaceted problem. These findings emphasize the importance of adopting a broader approach to the multifaceted problem of back complaint in workplace.