PREVENTING MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS AMONG VDT OPERATORS

第一个随机试验的特定的人体工程学和姿势干预措施，以预防颈部，肩部和上肢肌肉骨骼疾病的计算机用户提出。 将研究两组特定的姿势干预：1）基于VDT使用者肌肉骨骼疾病前瞻性研究的初步结果的姿势干预（“Emory/GT干预”）和2）基于OSHA和其他建议的姿势干预（“常规干预”）。具体目标是：1）招募318名新雇用的计算机操作员参与研究，2）将这些参与者随机分为三个研究组（每组106人）：a）Emory/GT干预，B）常规干预，c）对照组，不接受任何干预; 3）比较颈/肩症状和手/肩综合征的发生率和无瘤生存时间。在6个月的随访期内，每个干预组的手臂症状与对照组相比。在确定并招募合格受试者后，研究者将收集人体工程学、个人健康和其他信息，并将受试者随机分配至三个研究组之一。 然后将重新配置受试者的工作站，以确保其符合指定干预组的要求。 此外，还将管理一份记录心理社会压力源经历的标准问卷。 在6个月随访期间，将要求受试者完成每日日记，记录一系列职业和非职业活动以及他们的肌肉骨骼症状经历。 在0-10视觉模拟量表上超过“6”值或需要使用镇痛药物的肌肉骨骼不适将是分析中使用的不良肌肉骨骼结局。 将计算颈部和肩部以及手部和手臂肌肉骨骼不适的发生率和无瘤生存时间，并估计相对风险，以确定与非干预组成员相比，任一干预组成员的不良肌肉骨骼结局风险是否显著降低。此外，将比较两个干预组之间不良肌肉骨骼结局的风险。

The first randomized trial of specific ergonomic and postural interventions for prevention of neck, shoulder, and upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among computer users is proposed. Two specific sets of postural interventions will be studied: 1) postural interventions based on the preliminary results of a prospective study of musculoskeletal disorders among VDT users (the "Emory/GT intervention") and 2) postural interventions based on recommendations of OSHA and others (the "conventional intervention"). The specific aims are to: 1) recruit 318 newly hired computer operators to participate in the study, 2) randomize these participants to one of three study groups (106 per group): a) the Emory/GT intervention, b) the conventional intervention, and c) a control group that receives no intervention and 3) compare the incidence and symptom-free survival time of neck/shoulder symptoms and hand/arm symptoms of each of the intervention groups to the control group during a six month follow-up period. After identification and enrollment of eligible subjects, the investigators will collect ergonomic, personal health, and other information and randomly allocate the subjects to one of the three study groups. The subject's workstation will then be reconfigured to ensure that it meets the requirements of the assigned intervention group. In addition, a standard questionnaire documenting experience of psychosocial stressors will be administered. During the six month follow-up period, subjects will be asked to complete a daily diary documenting a range of occupational and non-occupational activities as well as their experience of musculoskeletal symptoms. Musculoskeletal discomfort in excess of a value of "6" on a 0-10 visual analog scale or requiring use of analgesic medication will be the adverse musculoskeletal outcome used in the analyses. Incidence rates and symptom-free survival times for musculoskeletal discomfort of the neck and shoulder region as well as for the hand and arm region will be calculated and relative risks estimated to determine whether members of either intervention group had significantly reduced risk of adverse musculoskeletal outcomes in comparison to members of the non-intervention group. In addition, risk of adverse musculoskeletal outcomes will be compared between the two intervention groups.