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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-02-2014 | Original Article

Organizational and psychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome: a cross-sectional study of French workers

Authors: Pascal Rigouin, Catherine Ha, Julie Bodin, Audrey Petit Le Manac’h, Alexis Descatha, Marcel Goldberg, Yves Roquelaure

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 2/2014

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to examine the organizational and psychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in workers exposed to various levels of work-related constraints, with a special focus on factors related to the work organization.

Methods

From 3,710 workers, representative of a French region’s working population, trained occupational physicians diagnosed a total of 156 cases of CTS between 2002 and 2005. Diagnoses were established by standardized physical examination, while personal factors and work exposure were assessed by self-administered questionnaires. Statistical associations between CTS and personal and work-related factors were analyzed for each gender using logistic regression modeling.

Results

Among the factors related to work organization, working with temporary workers was associated with CTS for women (OR = 1.99, 95 % CI 1.23–3.25), but not for men. Task rotation during the job (OR = 2.45 95 % CI 1.41–4.24) and work pace dependent on quantified targets (OR = 1.93 95 % CI 1.08–3.46) were associated with CTS only for men. The work-related psychosocial factors highlighted by the logistic modeling were high psychological demand for women (OR = 1.90, 95 % CI 1.17–3.09) and low skill discretion (OR = 1.77, 95 % CI 1.01–3.11) for men.

Conclusion

This study has identified some psychosocial factors and factors related to work organization associated with clinically diagnosed and symptom-only cases of CTS as well as personal and biomechanical factors. However, due to the cross-sectional design of the study, no causal conclusion could be drawn and longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these results.

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Title: Organizational and psychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome: a cross-sectional study of French workers
Authors: Pascal Rigouin
Catherine Ha
Julie Bodin
Audrey Petit Le Manac’h
Alexis Descatha
Marcel Goldberg
Yves Roquelaure
Publication date: 01-02-2014
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 2/2014
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0846-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Organizational and psychosocial risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome: a cross-sectional study of French workers

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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