Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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Association between Physical Workload and Work-related Back Pain: A Nationwide Study

전국표본조사를 통한 근골격계 부담 작업과 작업 관련 요통의 연관성 연구

  • Oh, Jae-Il (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Yoo, Dong-Hyun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Paek, Do-Myung (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Park, Jung-Sun (Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Cho, Sung-Il (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 오재일 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 유동현 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 백도명 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실) ;
  • 박정선 (한국산업안전보건공단) ;
  • 조성일 (서울대학교 보건대학원 직업환경의학교실)
  • Published : 2011.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives: To date, no population-based epidemiological studies have estimated the association between physical workload (standing or walking, carrying heavy loads, carrying people, repetitive hand or arm movements, wearing protective equipment) and work-related back pain in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between physical workload and work-related back pain using a nationwide survey. Methods: We analyzed data obtained from working men and women age 15 to 64 (n=10,043) who participated in the 2006 national working condition survey of random sample workers in Korea. Using both simple and multiple logistic regression analysis, the association between physical workload and workrelated back pain was evaluated. Results: Carrying heavy loads, repetitive hand or arm movements, and wearing protective equipment were associated with an increased risk of work-related back pain. Conclusions: This study identifies that an increased risk of work-related back pain related to the nature and intensity of the physical workload of the general working population in Korea. We also found a strong association between repetitive hand or arm movements and back pain.

목적: 본 연구는 근골격계 부담 작업과 작업 관련 요통 사이의 연관성을 확인하기 위해 설계되었다. 또한 본 연 구 결과를 다른 나라의 근로환경조사 결과와 비교하고 작업 관련 요통의 관리와 예방에 필요한 기초 자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 방법: 본 연구는 2006년도에 산업안전보건원구원에서 실시한 취업자 근로환경 전국표본조사 자료를 이용하여 실시되었다. 근골격계 부담 작업은 '서있거나 걸어 다니는 작업', '사람을 옮기는 작업', '중량물을 옮기는 작업', '손 팔을 반복적으로 움직이는 작업', '개인 보호구를 착용하는 작업'으로 구분하였다. 노출 정도는'거의 노출 안 됨', '근무시간의 1/4 노출됨', '근무시간의 1/2에서 3/4 노출됨', '거의 항상 노출됨'으로 구분하였다. 종적으로 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 이용하여 작업별 노출 수준과 요통 사이의 연관성을 분석하였다. 결과: 분석 결과 '중량물을 옮기는 작업' ,'손 팔을 반복적으로 움직이는 작업'은 모든 노출군에서, '개인 보호구를 착용하는 작업'은 일부 노출군에서 연관성을 보였다. '서있거나 걸어 다니는 작업', '사람을 옮기는 작업'은 모든 노출군에서 연관성이 없는 것으로 나타났다. 결론: 이 연구는 특정 직종이나 사업장이 아닌 우리나라 전체 근로자를 대상으로 한 표본조사를 바탕으로 이루어졌다. 이를 통해 '중량물을 옮기는 작업', '손 팔을 반복적으로 움직이는 작업', '보호 장비를 착용하는 작업'이 작업 관련 요통과 연관성이 있는 것으로 나타났다. 특히 상지에 발생하는 근골격계 질환의 위험 요인으로 알려져 있는 '손 팔을 반복적으로 움직이는 작업'이 작업 관련 요통의 발생 위험도 증가시킬 가능성이 있다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

Keywords

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