Effects of ergonomic education on office workers working with computer on

Objectives: Aim of the study is to determine the effect of education and risk assessment using participatory ergonomics method on upper extremity disorders, functional disability, attitudes on musculoskeletal disorders, preventive behavior and workplace score among office workers.Method: A cluster randomized controlled intervention study conducted between November 2008 ? November 2009. Study group consist 116 office workers using computer at Balcova Municipality who were agreed to participate.Individuals were trained on office ergonomics and how to make risk assessment using participatory ergonomics method used for training and risk assessment was provided with a standardized form at their own working conditions. Workers were monthly screened 3 times before and 10 times after the intervention. In the statistical analyses Mantel-Haenszel rate ratio, Cox proportional hazard model, generalized estimating equations and repeated measures ANOVA were used with Stata 11.1 and SPSS 15.0 statistical package programs.Results: Among participants, 58 were in intervention and 58 were in control group. Mean age was 36.1±8.2, 54.5% participant were female, 64.5% had a university degree.Probability of developing wrist-hand and neck symptom were significantly lower at intervention group in the multivariate analysis(p<0.05). Neck disability score value was lower at intervention group when varying effect of time was taken into account. In addition, frequency of office exercise, frequency of micro pause and appropriateness of workplace score of intervention group were significantly higher than control group(p<0.05).Conclusion: Application of education and risk assessment using participatory ergonomics method reduced the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms and it improved preventive behavioral practice and working conditions.Key words: office worker, participatory ergonomics, work related musculoskeletal disorders