IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i7p5307-d1110334.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Construction of a Musculoskeletal Discomfort Scale for the Lower Limbs of Workers: An Analysis Using the Multigroup Item Response Theory

Author

Listed:
  • Joel Gomes da Silva

    (Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil)

  • Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva

    (Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil)

  • Lucas Gomes Miranda Bispo

    (Department of Production and Transport Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90010-190, RS, Brazil)

  • Deividson Sá Fernandes de Souza

    (Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Caruaru 55040-900, PE, Brazil)

  • Rômulo Silva Serafim

    (Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil)

  • Manoel Gerônimo Lino Torres

    (Production Engineering Course, Backland Campus, Federal University of Alagoas, Delmiro Gouveia 57480-000, AL, Brazil)

  • Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite

    (Physiotherapy Course, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá 68903-419, AP, Brazil)

  • Elamara Marama de Araujo Vieira

    (Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil)

Abstract

Musculoskeletal symptoms are a major occupational health problem in workers, and these can affect all professional occupations. Previous studies have proposed metrics capable of evaluating the musculoskeletal discomfort experienced by workers. However, no study has developed a metric that considers professional groups. Thus, this study aimed to develop a scale for musculoskeletal discomfort in the lower limbs to compare self-reported symptoms among education, health, and industry professionals. The sample included 159 teachers, 167 health professionals, and 401 industrial operators who relayed their symptoms using a diagram of the hips, thighs, knees, lower legs, and feet. Factor and multigroup item response theory analyses were used to construct a musculoskeletal discomfort scale consisting of seven levels and to assess and compare the identified symptoms. The results showed that the progressive evolution of discomfort differed for each profession, demonstrating that each context and work environment affects workers differently, which may explain the different patterns of symptom responses among professional groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Joel Gomes da Silva & Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva & Lucas Gomes Miranda Bispo & Deividson Sá Fernandes de Souza & Rômulo Silva Serafim & Manoel Gerônimo Lino Torres & Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite & , 2023. "Construction of a Musculoskeletal Discomfort Scale for the Lower Limbs of Workers: An Analysis Using the Multigroup Item Response Theory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:7:p:5307-:d:1110334
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5307/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5307/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Julien Jacquier-Bret & Philippe Gorce, 2023. "Prevalence of Body Area Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-26, January.
    2. Hai Ba Mai & Jiyun Kim, 2022. "The Role of Job Resources in the Relationship between Job Demands and Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Hospital Nurses in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Elamara Marama de Araújo Vieira & Jonhatan Magno Norte da Silva & Wilza Karla dos Santos Leite & Ruan Eduardo Carneiro Lucas & Luiz Bueno da Silva, 2022. "Team Workload and Performance of Healthcare Workers with Musculoskeletal Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Lucas Miguel Alencar Correia & Jonhatan Magno Norte Silva & Wilza Karla Leite & Ruan Eduardo Carneiro Lucas & Geraldo Alves Colaço, 2022. "A multicriteria decision model to rank workstations in a footwear industry based on a FITradeoff-ranking method for ergonomics interventions," Operational Research, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3335-3371, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kagiso Kgakge & Paul Kiprono Chelule & Morris Kahere & Themba Geoffrey Ginindza, 2024. "Investigating the Risk of Patient Manual Handling Using the Movement and Assistance of Hospital Patients Method among Hospital Nurses in Botswana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Philippe Gorce & Julien Jacquier-Bret, 2023. "Effect of Assisted Surgery on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevalence by Body Area among Surgeons: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-29, July.
    3. Wita Anggraini & Dewi Ranggaini & Annisaa Putri Ariyani & Indrani Sulistyowati, 2024. "World Trends in Dental Ergonomics Research: A Bibliometric Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-21, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:7:p:5307-:d:1110334. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.