I disturbi muscolo-scheletrici lavoro-correlati in una casistica di operatori della sanità: prima applicazione del questionario Nordic e del questionario parestesie

Data on symptoms and/or functional impairments are essentials in research on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). The use of standardized questionnaires is extremely important, since they permit comparison of different working conditions, and a comparison among different studies. We have applied the validated italian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and a new questionnare on paresthesias, to study work-related MS symptoms in a group of 317 health personnel, engaged in different tasks in 8 different hospitals. The questionnaire was completed by 206 workers (65%). In the whole group the prevalence of symptoms ranged from 18 % in lower limbs up to 79 - 82 % in the vertebral column, with relatively large difference among different workig activities. The overall prevalence of spine symptoms was high: poor working conditions in the examined hospitals, relatively high age (median age: > 40 y/o), may account for the high proportion of workers with symptoms, but the the low response rate (65%) should be considered among possibile causes. An assessment of the musculoskeletal risk in the hospitals involved in the study is in progress, to compare symptoms and working conditions.