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Effect of individually tailored biopsychosocial workplace interventions on chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress and work ability among laboratory technicians: randomized controlled trial protocol

Effect of individually tailored biopsychosocial workplace interventions on chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress and work ability among laboratory technicians: randomized controlled trial protocol
Effect of individually tailored biopsychosocial workplace interventions on chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress and work ability among laboratory technicians: randomized controlled trial protocol
Background
Among laboratory technicians, the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain is widespread possibly due to typical daily work tasks such as pipetting, preparing vial samples for analysis, and data processing on a computer including mouse work - all tasks that require precision in motor control and may result in extended periods of time spent in static positions.

In populations characterized by intense chronic musculoskeletal pain and diagnosed conditions in conjunction with psycho-physiological symptoms such as stress-related pain and soreness and other disabling conditions, multifactorial approaches applying a combination of individually tailored physical and cognitive strategies targeting the areas most needed, may be an effective solution to the physical and mental health challenges.

The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the effect of an individually tailored biopsychosocial intervention strategy on musculoskeletal pain, stress and work disability in lab technicians with a history of musculoskeletal pain at a single worksite in Denmark.

Methods/design
In this single-blind two-armed parallel-group randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment, participants receive either an individualized multifactorial intervention or “usual care” for 10 weeks at the worksite. Inclusion criteria: 1) female laboratory technician (18-67 years of age) and 2) Pain intensity ≥ 3 (0-10 Visual Analogue Scale) lasting ≥3 months with a frequency of ≥ 3 days per week in one or more of the following regions: i) upper back i) low back iii) neck, iv) shoulder, v) elbow and/or vi) hand. Exclusion criteria: 1) life-threatening disease and 2) pregnancy. Stress, as measured by Cohen´s perceived stress questionnaire is not an inclusion criteria, thus participants can participate regardless of their stress level.

We will implement an individualized intervention addressing biopsychosocial elements of musculoskeletal pain with the following components; i) increasing physical capacity through strength- and motor control training; ii) lowering or preventing development of stress through mindfulness practice and learning de-catastrophizing pain management strategies through cognitive training.

The primary outcome at 10-week follow-up is the between-group difference in intensity of perceived musculoskeletal pain during the last week (average value of back, neck, shoulder, elbow and hand) assessed by questionnaire (modified visual analogue scale 0-10).

Discussion
This study will provide experimental evidence to guide workplace initiatives designed towards reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain and stress.

Trial registration number
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02047669.
1-11
Jay, Kenneth
cb40dd68-57b6-478c-b51c-5021137bce51
Brandt, Mikkel
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Sundstrup, Emil
cdde3daa-655b-4993-b32d-3e4c09271b20
schraefel, m.c.
ac304659-1692-47f6-b892-15113b8c929f
Jakobsen, Markus D
d7e60f18-8352-4fb9-b0e3-a3ecdfd37d80
Sjøgaard, Gisela
39032d8d-fb2b-4afc-b753-2e2dcf841baf
Andersen, Lars L
1f944131-d570-4319-990e-bda13357bbaa
Jay, Kenneth
cb40dd68-57b6-478c-b51c-5021137bce51
Brandt, Mikkel
535e53c8-8423-4ebf-b523-c3c405dceaf2
Sundstrup, Emil
cdde3daa-655b-4993-b32d-3e4c09271b20
schraefel, m.c.
ac304659-1692-47f6-b892-15113b8c929f
Jakobsen, Markus D
d7e60f18-8352-4fb9-b0e3-a3ecdfd37d80
Sjøgaard, Gisela
39032d8d-fb2b-4afc-b753-2e2dcf841baf
Andersen, Lars L
1f944131-d570-4319-990e-bda13357bbaa

Jay, Kenneth, Brandt, Mikkel, Sundstrup, Emil, schraefel, m.c., Jakobsen, Markus D, Sjøgaard, Gisela and Andersen, Lars L (2014) Effect of individually tailored biopsychosocial workplace interventions on chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress and work ability among laboratory technicians: randomized controlled trial protocol. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 15, 1-11, [444]. (doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-444).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background
Among laboratory technicians, the prevalence of neck and shoulder pain is widespread possibly due to typical daily work tasks such as pipetting, preparing vial samples for analysis, and data processing on a computer including mouse work - all tasks that require precision in motor control and may result in extended periods of time spent in static positions.

In populations characterized by intense chronic musculoskeletal pain and diagnosed conditions in conjunction with psycho-physiological symptoms such as stress-related pain and soreness and other disabling conditions, multifactorial approaches applying a combination of individually tailored physical and cognitive strategies targeting the areas most needed, may be an effective solution to the physical and mental health challenges.

The aim of this study is therefore to investigate the effect of an individually tailored biopsychosocial intervention strategy on musculoskeletal pain, stress and work disability in lab technicians with a history of musculoskeletal pain at a single worksite in Denmark.

Methods/design
In this single-blind two-armed parallel-group randomized controlled trial with allocation concealment, participants receive either an individualized multifactorial intervention or “usual care” for 10 weeks at the worksite. Inclusion criteria: 1) female laboratory technician (18-67 years of age) and 2) Pain intensity ≥ 3 (0-10 Visual Analogue Scale) lasting ≥3 months with a frequency of ≥ 3 days per week in one or more of the following regions: i) upper back i) low back iii) neck, iv) shoulder, v) elbow and/or vi) hand. Exclusion criteria: 1) life-threatening disease and 2) pregnancy. Stress, as measured by Cohen´s perceived stress questionnaire is not an inclusion criteria, thus participants can participate regardless of their stress level.

We will implement an individualized intervention addressing biopsychosocial elements of musculoskeletal pain with the following components; i) increasing physical capacity through strength- and motor control training; ii) lowering or preventing development of stress through mindfulness practice and learning de-catastrophizing pain management strategies through cognitive training.

The primary outcome at 10-week follow-up is the between-group difference in intensity of perceived musculoskeletal pain during the last week (average value of back, neck, shoulder, elbow and hand) assessed by questionnaire (modified visual analogue scale 0-10).

Discussion
This study will provide experimental evidence to guide workplace initiatives designed towards reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain and stress.

Trial registration number
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02047669.

Text
1471-2474-15-444 - Version of Record
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
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More information

Published date: 18 December 2014
Organisations: Agents, Interactions & Complexity

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 405300
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/405300
PURE UUID: 2bc945af-1ed9-40de-a1e6-b77d55f7aa0a
ORCID for m.c. schraefel: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9061-7957

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 31 Jan 2017 12:07
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:32

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Contributors

Author: Kenneth Jay
Author: Mikkel Brandt
Author: Emil Sundstrup
Author: m.c. schraefel ORCID iD
Author: Markus D Jakobsen
Author: Gisela Sjøgaard
Author: Lars L Andersen

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