Colombian Experience in the Prevention of Muscle-Skeletal Diseases (MSD)

Introduction:

According to the Colombian Professional Illness Report 2001-2004, muscle-skeletal diseases (MSD) represented 65% of total diagnostics. The Ministry of Social Protection estimated 23.477 cases of MSD in 2005, which represented 11,6 cases for every 10.000 workers.

In 2009, the main professional illnesses found by Positiva Compañía de Seguros/ARP were MSD (88,24% - 728 cases). In response to these results, the Management Office of Research and Risk Control of the Company, as part of its professional risks promotion and prevention strategies, decided to develop a project which allowed the company to develop and implement protocols for the prevention of these diseases.

Method:

The intervention process that has been developed is constructed on a proactive and integral global research, based on scientific knowledge. The process takes into account the group of determinant factors that affect MSD. 

Results:

The protocols that result from this project represent new evidence for long term prevention for MSD, based on international scientific evidence that promise to have great impact on Colombian companies.

Discussion:

While person comprehend the complexity of MSD, an organization may invest to guarantee integral protection. Because of this, the design of protocols for Positiva Compañía de Seguros S.A. is seen as one of the most important issues to offer support to its affiliated companies and generate scientific knowledge on this matter.