Relationship between Musculoskeletal Discomfort and Workstyle Risk Factors among Information Technology Professionals in India

Introduction
Musculoskeletal discomfort among the IT professional is an area of concern for occupational health professionals worldwide. A recent study carried out in India reported that 64% IT professionals were suffering from musculoskeletal pain or discomfort (Sharan D, et. al., 2011). The association between psychosocial risk factors and the prevalence of work related musculoskeletal discomfort has been studied for different occupations. This study was aimed to find out the relationship of work related musculoskeletal disorders and work-style risk factors among IT professionals.

Methods
The questionnaire survey was conducted among 4512 Indian Computer Professionals .The study consisted of self reported musculoskeletal problems and the working posture evaluation. The short form workstyle questionnaire with 32 items was used in the study to assess workstyle in the participants.

Results
The average age of participants was 29.9 ± 10.2 years. Descriptive analysis of the demographic data indicated that the majority (76%) of respondents were males; 64% of participants worked nearly 8-12 hours on a computer and 75% used a desktop computer. The short form workstyle questionnaire score analysis indicated 22% of overall participants were at a high risk of adverse workstyle. Loss of strength in hands was reported by 33% of participants. Correlation analyses revealed that pain was significantly correlated with the total workstyle score (r= 0.39). Duration of computer use per day and loss of hand strength were also significant predictors of loss of productivity.

Discussion
This study further validates the workstyle measure and pain observations with a larger cohort and extends support for the assessment of workstyle behaviours during the design of treatment of work related musculoskeletal discomfort. As the workplace environment affects an individual’s motivation to work safely and willingness to seek health care, intervention targeted towards behavioural changes at the workplace may result in improved recovery of musculoskeletal symptoms.