Evaluation of the effects of ergonomics and exercise training on pain and quality of life in desk workers

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise and ergonomics training on neck and low back pain and quality of life in secretaries working as office-based staff in a hospital setting. Methods: This semi-experimental pretest–posttest study was conducted with 100 secretaries working at a tertiary hospital. Participants received a 45-minute interactive training session including desk exercises and ergonomic principles. For four weeks following the training, weekly reminders were provided to support exercise implementation and adherence to ergonomic rules. Data were collected before and after the training using the Participant Information Form, the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Oswestry Low Back Pain Scale, and the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire. The dependent variables were neck and back pain levels, as well as quality of life scores. The independent variables were demographic and work-related characteristics. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for dependent group comparisons, and Mann–Whitney U test for between-group comparisons were applied. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 37.90±6.44 years, and 74% were female. Following the training, NDI and Oswestry scores significantly decreased (p=0.009; p=0.024, respectively), while SF-36 total score significantly increased (p=0.001). Significant improvements in pain and quality of life scores were also observed among women, daytime workers, and those who developed musculoskeletal pain after starting the job (p<0.05). Conclusion: Exercise and ergonomics training effectively reduce neck and low back pain and improve quality of life among desk-based employees.

Keywords

• Exercise
• education
• ergonomics
• desk workers
• quality of life

Masa Başı Çalışanlarına Verilen Ergonomi ve Egzersiz Eğitiminin, Ağrı ve Yaşam Kalitesine Etkisinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, hastane ortamında masa başı çalışan sekreterlerde egzersiz ve ergonomi eğitiminin boyun ve bel ağrısı ile yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkinliğini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yöntemler: Öntest-sontest desenli yarı deneysel bir araştırma olarak tasarlanan bu çalışma, bir üçüncü basamak hastanede görev yapan 100 sekreter ile yürütülmüştür. Katılımcılara 45 dakikalık interaktif bir eğitim verilmiş, ardından dört hafta boyunca haftada bir kez masa başı egzersizlerin uygulanması ve ergonomik ilkelerin hatırlatılması sağlanmıştır. Veriler müdahale öncesi ve sonrası dönemde toplanmıştır. Bağımlı değişkenler boyun ve bel ağrısı düzeyi ile yaşam kalitesi skorları; bağımsız değişkenler ise demografik ve iş yaşamıyla ilgili özelliklerdir. Veri toplama araçları; Katılımcı Bilgi Formu, Boyun Disabilite İndeksi, Oswestry Bel Ağrısı Skalası ve SF-36 Yaşam Kalitesi Anketi’dir. Veriler SPSS 18.0 ile analiz edilmiş; tanımlayıcı istatistiklerin yanı sıra bağımlı grup karşılaştırmalarında Wilcoxon işaretli sıra testi, gruplar arası karşılaştırmalarda Mann–Whitney U testi kullanılmıştır. Anlamlılık düzeyi p<0,05 olarak kabul edilmiştir. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 37,90±6,44 yıl olup %74’ü kadındı. Müdahale sonrasında Boyun Disabilite İndeksi ve Oswestry Bel Ağrısı Skalası puanlarında anlamlı azalma (p=0,009; p=0,024) ve SF-36 toplam puanında anlamlı artış (p=0,001) gözlenmiştir. Kadınlarda, sadece gündüz vardiyasında çalışanlarda ve işe başladıktan sonra kas-iskelet sistemi ağrısı gelişenlerde, ağrı ve yaşam kalitesi skorlarında müdahale sonrası anlamlı iyileşme saptanmıştır (p<0,05). Sonuç: Egzersiz ve ergonomi eğitimi, masa başı çalışan sekreterlerde boyun ve bel ağrısını azaltmakta; yaşam kalitesini artırmaktadır.

Keywords

• Egzersiz
• eğitim
• ergonomi
• masa başı çalışanı
• yaşam kalitesi.

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