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Title [sv]
Forte-centrum Arbetsliv: Kroppen i arbete - från problem till potential
Title [en]
Forte-centre Working Life: The Body at Work - from problem to potential
Abstract [en]
Musculoskeletal disorders caused by unfavourable physical or mental loads are still a major health problem in many sectors of working life. In spite of considerable research, basic questions as to the origin, prevention and treatment of these disorders are still unsolved. This stands in the way of developing evidence based practices for designing safe work and proper rehabilitation, and it impedes a political vision of working life being inclusive, i.e. giving room even for individuals with decreased capacities. At the same time, other occupations now exhibit a critical lack of physical activity, which also entails profound consequences for public health. Thus, working life offers an arena for prevention of ill-health as well as for promotion of good health. In this context, and with a basis in a strong research environment at the University of Gävle, the FAS centre The Body at Work - from problem to potential operates with a wide research agenda. The eight Centre programs span from studies of biochemical res
Publications (10 of 13) Show all publications
Jackson, J., Sund, M., Barlari Lobos, G., Melin, L. & Mathiassen, S. E. (2023). Assessing the efficacy of a job rotation for improving occupational physical and psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, social equality, production quality, and resilience at a commercial laundromat: Protocol for a longitudinal case study. BMJ Open, 13(5), Article ID e067633.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Assessing the efficacy of a job rotation for improving occupational physical and psychosocial work environment, musculoskeletal health, social equality, production quality, and resilience at a commercial laundromat: Protocol for a longitudinal case study
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2023 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 13, no 5, article id e067633Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Introduction: Job rotation is a work organization strategy used to reduce work‐related exposures and musculoskeletal complaints, yet evidence for the efficacy of the approach is weak. Mismatch between job rotation and company needs, lack of full implementation, lack of exposure variation in included tasks, and failure to assess variation may underlie inconclusive research findings to date. The study aims to develop a job rotation with company stakeholders, perform a process evaluation of the implementation, and determine the extent to which the intervention improves the physical and psychosocial work environment, indicators of health, gender and social equality among workers, and production quality and resilience.

Methods and analysis: Approximately 60 production workers at a Swedish commercial laundromat will be recruited. Physical and psychosocial work environment conditions, health, productivity and gender and social equality will be assessed pre‐ and post‐ intervention using surveys, accelerometers, heart rate, electromyography and focus groups. A task‐based exposure matrix will be constructed, and exposure variation estimated at the level of the individual worker pre‐ and post‐ intervention. An implementation process evaluation will be conducted. Job rotation efficacy will be assessed in terms of improvement in work environment conditions, health, gender and social inequality, and production quality and resilience. This study will provide novel information on the effects of the job rotation on physical and psychosocial work environment conditions, production quality and rate, health, and gender and social inequality among blue‐collar workers in a highly multicultural workplace.

Ethics and dissemination: The study received approval from the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. Results of the project will be shared directly with the employees, managers and union representatives from the participating company, other relevant labour market stakeholders, and with researchers at national and international conferences and via scientific publication.

Trial registration: The study is pre‐registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/zmdc8/).

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ, 2023
Keywords
repetitive work, variation, work task organization, work rotation, job rotation, musculoskeletal health, intervention, implementation, co‐creation, co‐created program logic, process and outcome evaluation
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work; Intelligent Industry
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-38429 (URN)10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067633 (DOI)001001500800007 ()37173106 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85159738922 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761
Available from: 2022-04-20 Created: 2022-04-20 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Jackson, J., Srinivasan, D. & Mathiassen, S. E. (2020). Consistent individual motor variability traits demonstrated by females performing a long-cycle assembly task under conditions differing in temporal organisation. Applied Ergonomics, 85, Article ID 103046.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Consistent individual motor variability traits demonstrated by females performing a long-cycle assembly task under conditions differing in temporal organisation
2020 (English)In: Applied Ergonomics, ISSN 0003-6870, E-ISSN 1872-9126, Vol. 85, article id 103046Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Research suggests an association between motor variability (MV) during repetitive work and work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). However, whether MV is a consistent individual trait, even across working conditions or tasks, remains unknown. This study assessed whether individual MV traits were consistent during complex work performed under different temporal conditions. Fifteen women performed cyclic assembly under four conditions differing in pace and organisation (line-type, batch-type). MV of trapezius muscle activity and upper arm elevation was quantified and partitioned into variance components. For all MV metrics, a non-zero between-subjects variance was found, indicating consistent individual MV traits across conditions. Variance between subjects was higher for electromyography (EMG) MV metrics compared with kinematic metrics. Our results showed individuals exhibited consistent MV traits across working conditions differing in pace and production process. Further research is needed to understand whether MV is an individual predictive factor for MSD onset or progression.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2020
Keywords
motor control, trapezius electromyography, upper arm elevation angle
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30605 (URN)10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103046 (DOI)000526996900009 ()32174342 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85077950581 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-1761
Available from: 2019-08-28 Created: 2019-08-28 Last updated: 2021-04-01Bibliographically approved
Jahncke, H. & Hallman, D. (2020). Objective measures of cognitive performance in activity based workplaces and traditional office types. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 72, Article ID 101503.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Objective measures of cognitive performance in activity based workplaces and traditional office types
2020 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Psychology, ISSN 0272-4944, E-ISSN 1522-9610, Vol. 72, article id 101503Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Distraction from the background environment while performing concentrationdemanding tasks is a common issue for office employees in shared work areas. However, few field studies have been conducted on the effects of different office types and work areas on objective measurements of cognitive performance. The first aim of the present field study was to investigate, before relocation to an activity-based workplace (ABW), differences in performance on a concentration-demanding cognitive task between individuals in shared/open-plan offices compared to cell offices. The second aim was to investigate, after relocation, how performance differs (withinperson) between different work areas within the ABW. This study included employees from five offices (n = 113), of which four relocated into an ABW. An acoustician measured the equivalent sound levels of the work areas. Data were analyzed using linear regression (aim 1) and mixed models (aim 2). Before relocation, employees working in shared/open-plan offices performed significantly worse (14%) than those in cell-offices, which had a 15 LAeq lower noise level. After relocation, employees performed significantly worse in the active zone without noise restrictions, compared to all other work areas. When shifting open-plan area from the active zone to the quiet zone cognitive performance increased significantly by 16.9%, and switching to individual working rooms increased performance by 21.9%. The results clearly demonstrate the importance for organizations to provide quiet areas or rooms with few distractions for employees working on tasks that demand concentration in an ABW. A daily drop in performance for each employee may be expensive for the organization in the long run.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2020
Keywords
cognitive task; memory; noise; cell office; flex office; open-plan office
National Category
Applied Psychology
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-32013 (URN)10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101503 (DOI)000600919400007 ()2-s2.0-85092503300 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761Swedish Transport Administration, 2015/43010
Available from: 2020-03-08 Created: 2020-03-08 Last updated: 2021-06-02Bibliographically approved
Hallman, D., Holtermann, A., Dencker-Larsen, S., Birk Jorgensen, M. & Nørregaard Rasmussen, C. (2019). Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study. BMJ Open, 9, Article ID e022006.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Are trajectories of neck-shoulder pain associated with sick leave and work ability in workers? A 1-year prospective study
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2019 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 9, article id e022006Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

ObjectivesThe study aimed to determine the extent to which latent trajectories of neck–shoulder pain (NSP) are associated with self-reported sick leave and work ability based on frequent repeated measures over 1 year in an occupational population.

MethodsThis longitudinal study included 748 Danish workers (blue-collar, n=620; white collar, n=128). A questionnaire was administered to collect data on personal and occupational factors at baseline. Text messages were used for repeated measurements of NSP intensity (scale 0–10) over 1 year (14 waves in total). Simultaneously, selfreported sick leave (days/month) due to pain was assessed at 4-week intervals, while work ability (scale 0–10) was assessed using a single item (work ability index) at 12-week intervals over the year. Trajectories of NSP, distinguished by latent class growth analysis, were usedas predictors of sick leave and work ability in generalised estimation equations with multiple adjustments.

ResultsSick leave increased and work ability decreased across all NSP trajectory classes (low, moderate, strong fluctuating and severe persistent pain intensity). In the adjusted model, the estimated number of days on sickleave was 1.5 days/month for severe persistent NSP compared with 0.1 days/month for low NSP (relativ risk=13.8, 95% CI 6.7 to 28.5). Similarly, work ability decreased markedly for severe persistent NSP (OR=12.9,95% CI 8.5 to 19.7; median 7.1) compared with low NSP (median 9.5).

ConclusionSevere persistent NSP was associatedwith sick leave and poor work ability over 1 year amongworkers. Preventive strategies aiming at reducing severepersistent NSP among working populations are needed.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ Journals, 2019
Keywords
LCGA; chronic pain; neck pain; occupational; pain trajectories
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-25568 (URN)10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022006 (DOI)000471144900020 ()30898794 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85063278240 (Scopus ID)
Projects
PAINclass
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare
Note

Funding agency:

- Danish Government (Satspulje) 

Available from: 2017-11-22 Created: 2017-11-22 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Hallman, D., Mathiassen, S. E., van der Beek, A., Jackson, J. & Coenen, P. (2019). Calibration of self-reported time spent sitting, standing and walking among office workers: a compositional data analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), Article ID 3111.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Calibration of self-reported time spent sitting, standing and walking among office workers: a compositional data analysis
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2019 (English)In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, ISSN 1661-7827, E-ISSN 1660-4601, Vol. 16, no 17, article id 3111Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

We developed and evaluated calibration models predicting objectively measured sitting, standing and walking time from self-reported data using a compositional data analysis (CoDA) approach. A total of 98 office workers (48 women) at the Swedish Transport Administration participated. At baseline and three-months follow-up, time spent sitting, standing and walking at work was assessed for five working days using a thigh-worn accelerometer (Actigraph), as well as by self-report (IPAQ). Individual compositions of time spent in the three behaviors were expressed by isometric log-ratios (ILR). Calibration models predicting objectively measured ILRs from self-reported ILRs were constructed using baseline data, and then validated using follow-up data. Un-calibrated self-reports were inaccurate; root-mean-square (RMS) errors of ILRs for sitting, standing and walking were 1.21, 1.24 and 1.03, respectively. Calibration reduced these errors to 36% (sitting), 40% (standing), and 24% (walking) of those prior to calibration. Calibration models remained effective for follow-up data, reducing RMS errors to 33% (sitting), 51% (standing), and 31% (walking). Thus, compositional calibration models were effective in reducing errors in self-reported physical behaviors during office work. Calibration of self-reports may present a cost-e_ective method for obtaining physical behavior data with satisfying accuracy in large-scale cohort and intervention studies.

Keywords
physical activity; sedentary behavior; oce work; accuracy; calibration; compositional data analysis
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30597 (URN)10.3390/ijerph16173111 (DOI)000487037500106 ()31461868 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85071631368 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761
Available from: 2019-08-28 Created: 2019-08-28 Last updated: 2021-04-01Bibliographically approved
Domkin, D., Forsman, M. & Richter, H. O. (2019). Effect of ciliary-muscle contraction force on trapezius muscle activity during computer mouse work. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 119(2), 389-397
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effect of ciliary-muscle contraction force on trapezius muscle activity during computer mouse work
2019 (English)In: European Journal of Applied Physiology, ISSN 1439-6319, E-ISSN 1439-6327, Vol. 119, no 2, p. 389-397Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The present study aimed to identify whether or not an increase in ciliary-muscle contraction force, when the eye-lens is adjusted for viewing at a near distance, result in an increase in trapezius muscle activity, while performing a natural work task. Twelve participants, ranging in age from 21 to 32 years, performed a computer-mouse work task during free gaze conditions. A moving visual target was tracked with a computer mouse on a screen placed at two different distances from the eyes, 25 cm and 50 cm. Tracking performance, eye accommodation, and bilateral trapezius muscle activity were measured continuously. Ciliary-muscle contraction force was computed according to a formula which takes into account the age-dependent, non-linear relationship between contraction force of the ciliary muscle and the produced level of eye accommodation. Generalized Estimating Equations analyses were performed. On the dominant hand side and for the nearest screen distance, there was a significant effect of ciliary-muscle contraction force on the trapezius muscle activity (p<0.001). No other effects were significant (p>0.05). The results support the hypothesis that high visual demands, during computer mouse work, increase ciliary muscle contraction force and contribute to a raise of the sustained level of trapezius muscle activity. The current study specifically clarifies the validity of the relationship between ciliary-muscle contraction force and trapezius muscle activity and demonstrates that this relationship is not due to a general personal trait. We conclude that a high level of ciliary muscle contraction force can contribute to a development of musculoskeletal complaints in the neck-shoulder area.

Keywords
Ciliary-muscle contraction force; Computer mouse work; Electromyography; Eye-accommodation; Trapezius muscle; Visual ergonomics
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work; Health-Promoting Work, Digital shapeshifting
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-26194 (URN)10.1007/s00421-018-4031-8 (DOI)000457735500006 ()30430279 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85056460114 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-1761
Available from: 2018-03-01 Created: 2018-03-01 Last updated: 2023-08-29Bibliographically approved
Bohman, T., Bottai, M. & Björklund, M. (2019). Predictive models for short-term and long-term improvement in women under physiotherapy for chronic disabling neck pain: a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open, 9(4), Article ID e024557.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Predictive models for short-term and long-term improvement in women under physiotherapy for chronic disabling neck pain: a longitudinal cohort study
2019 (English)In: BMJ Open, E-ISSN 2044-6055, Vol. 9, no 4, article id e024557Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objectives To develop predictive models for short-term and long-term clinically important improvement in women with non-specific chronic disabling neck pain during the clinical course of physiotherapy. Design Longitudinal cohort study based on data from a randomised controlled trial evaluating short-term and long-term effects on sensorimotor function over 11 weeks of physiotherapy. Participants and settings Eighty-nine women aged 31-65 years with non-specific chronic disabling neck pain from Gavle, Sweden. Measures The outcome, clinically important improvement, was measured with the Patient Global Impression of Change Scale (PGICS) and the Neck Disability Index (NDI), assessed by self-administered questionnaires at 3, 9 and 15 months from the start of the interventions (baseline). Twelve baseline prognostic factors were considered in the analyses. The predictive models were built using random-effects logistic regression. The predictive ability of the models was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Internal validity was assessed with cross-validation using the bootstrap resampling technique. Results Factors included in the final PGICS model were neck disability and age, and in the NDI model, neck disability, depression and catastrophising. In both models, the odds for short-term and long-term improvement increased with higher baseline neck disability, while the odds decreased with increasing age (PGICS model), and with increasing level of depression (NDI model). In the NDI model, higher baseline levels of catastrophising indicated increased odds for short-term improvement and decreased odds for long-term improvement. Both models showed acceptable predictive validity with an AUC of 0.64 (95% CI 0.55 to 0.73) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.75), respectively. Conclusion Age, neck disability and psychological factors seem to be important predictors of improvement, and may inform clinical decisions about physiotherapy in women with chronic neck pain. Before using the developed predictive models in clinical practice, however, they should be validated in other populations and tested in clinical settings.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 2019
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-30510 (URN)10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024557 (DOI)000471157200062 ()31023751 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85065220930 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2006-1162Länsförsäkringar AB, 51-1010/06Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-1761
Note

Funding: Alfta Research Foundation

Available from: 2019-08-16 Created: 2019-08-16 Last updated: 2023-08-28Bibliographically approved
Holtermann, A., Mathiassen, S. E. & Straker, L. (2019). Promoting health and physical capacity during productive work: the Goldilocks Principle. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 45(1), 90-97
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Promoting health and physical capacity during productive work: the Goldilocks Principle
2019 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, ISSN 0355-3140, E-ISSN 1795-990X, Vol. 45, no 1, p. 90-97Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objectives

In spite of preventive efforts, organizations and employees face several challenges related to working life and occupational health, such as a substantial prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, social inequality in health and physical capacity, multi-morbidity, an obesity epidemic and an aging workforce. We argue that a new approach for occupational ergonomics and health is required, going beyond prevention of harm caused by work. We propose the ´Goldilocks Principle´ as a new approach of how productive work can be designed to literally promote health and physical capacity.

Methods                 

Physical (in)activity profoundly influences health and physical capacity, with effects depending on the extent and temporal structure of the (in)activity. Like the porridge, chair and bed that needed to be ‘just right’ for Goldilocks in the fairy-tale of ´The Three Bears´, physical activity during productive work needs to be ‘just right’ for promoting rather than deteriorating health and capacity. In many jobs, physical activity is, however, either ’too much/high/frequent’ or ’too little/low/infrequent’ to give positive biomechanical and cardiometabolic stimuli.

Results

The paper presents the rationale, concept, development, application and prospects of the Goldilocks Principle for how productive work can be designed to promote health and physical capacity.

Conclusions

We envision a great potential to promote health and physical capacity by designing productive work according to the Goldilocks Principle, thus leading to benefits with respect to the current challenges related to working life and occupational health for society, organizations and employees.

Keywords
Physical activity; Physical work demands; Sedentary behaviour; Workplace health promotion; Ergonomics; Occupational health
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-26505 (URN)10.5271/sjweh.3754 (DOI)000466176700010 ()30021029 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85055081942 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761
Available from: 2018-04-25 Created: 2018-04-25 Last updated: 2021-04-01Bibliographically approved
Hallman, D., Holtermann, A., Björklund, M., Gupta, N. & Nørregaard Rasmussen, C. D. (2019). Sick leave due to musculoskeletal pain : determinants of distinct trajectories over 1 year. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 92(8), 1099-1108
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Sick leave due to musculoskeletal pain : determinants of distinct trajectories over 1 year
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2019 (English)In: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, ISSN 0340-0131, E-ISSN 1432-1246, Vol. 92, no 8, p. 1099-1108Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Purpose

This study aimed to identify sub-groups of workers with different trajectories of sick leave due to musculoskeletalpain over 1 year, and to investigate the extent to which the identified trajectories are associated with personal, occupational,lifestyle, and pain-related factors at baseline.

Methods

Data on 981 blue- and white-collar workers were analyzed in the DPHACTO cohort (2012–2014). The numberof days on sick leave due to pain was reported using text messages at 4-week intervals across 1 year. Latent class growthanalysis was used to distinguish sub-groups with different trajectories of sick leave. A web-based questionnaire at baselinewas used to assess personal, occupational (physical and psychosocial), lifestyle, and pain-related factors. Multinomial regressionmodels were constructed to determine associations between baseline factors and trajectories of sick leave (referencingno sick leave), with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Four distinct sub-groups were identified, with trajectories of sick leave due to pain ranging from no sick leave(prevalence 76%; average 0.5 days/year) to some days and increasing sick leave due to pain over 1 year (2%; 89 days/year).The increasing trajectory of sick leave was associated with higher perceived physical exertion, more time in manual work,less social community and influence at work, less leisure-time physical activity, smoking, and more severe symptoms (e.g.,multisite pain, low back pain intensity, and pain interference).

Conclusions

We identified four distinct trajectories of sick leave due to musculoskeletal pain. The sub-group with increasingsick leave due to pain was associated with several modifiable physical and psychosocial factors at work and outside work,which may have implications for prevention.

Keywords
Longitudinal, Risk factors, Sickness absence, Workers
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-29674 (URN)10.1007/s00420-019-01447-y (DOI)000492593000003 ()31165308 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85067077539 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761
Note

Danish Working Environment Research Fund Grant no. 01-2015-09

Available from: 2019-06-05 Created: 2019-06-05 Last updated: 2021-04-01Bibliographically approved
Gupta, N., Heiden, M., Mathiassen, S. E. & Holtermann, A. (2018). Is self-reported time spent sedentary and in physical activity differentially biased by age, gender, body mass index and low-back pain?. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 44(2), 163-170
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Is self-reported time spent sedentary and in physical activity differentially biased by age, gender, body mass index and low-back pain?
2018 (English)In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, ISSN 0355-3140, E-ISSN 1795-990X, Vol. 44, no 2, p. 163-170Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Objectives We aimed at determining the extent to which age, gender, BMI and low back pain (LBP) influence bias in self-reported sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among blue-collar workers. 

Methods 147 workers wore an Actigraph accelerometer on the thigh for 2-4 consecutive working days. Proportional time spent sedentary and in MVPA was determined using the Acti4 software. The same variables were also self-reported in a questionnaire. The difference between self-reported and accelerometer-based sedentary time and MVPA was calculated and linearly regressed against age, gender, BMI, and self-reported LBP intensity as main effects, as well as interaction terms combining each of these factors with objectively measured exposure.   

Results Workers objectively spent 64% of their time sedentary and 9% in MVPA. On average, self-reports underestimated sedentary time by 1.5 time percentage points and overestimated MVPA by 5.5%. Workers with mild/no LBP appeared to have the same size of self-report bias in MVPA regardless of how much MVPA they actually had, while workers with high LBP overestimated MVPA to an increasing extent with increasing exposure (interaction: B 0.29, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.53). Age was positively associated with self-report bias in sedentary time (B=0.31, 95%CI=0.09 - 0.54, P=0.008) regardless of actual sedentary time.

Conclusions LBP and age, but not BMI and gender, introduced differential bias in self-reported information on sedentary behavior and MVPA among blue-collar workers. This result suggests that bias correction in future studies based on self-reports of sedentary time and MVPA should account for LBP and age.

Keywords
Measurement error, exposure modelling, questionnaire, musculoskeletal pain
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Research subject
Health-Promoting Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-24600 (URN)10.5271/sjweh.3693 (DOI)000427107100006 ()29184965 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-85042866971 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Forte, Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, 2009-01761
Note

Funding agency: Danish Work Environment Research Fund  Grant no: 20130069161/9

Available from: 2017-06-28 Created: 2017-06-28 Last updated: 2020-11-23Bibliographically approved
Principal InvestigatorMathiassen, Svend Erik
Co-InvestigatorBjörklund, Martin
Co-InvestigatorRichter, Hans
Co-InvestigatorZetterberg, Camilla
Co-InvestigatorLindberg, Per
Co-InvestigatorKarlsson, Thomas
Co-InvestigatorRudolfsson, Thomas
Coordinating organisation
University of Gävle
Funder
Period
2009-10-01 - 2018-12-31
National Category
Occupational Health and Environmental Health
Identifiers
DiVA, id: project:315Project, id: 2009-01761_Forte

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