Effect of smartphone applications on reducing the pain of office syndrome among staff at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University: a quasi-experimental design 10.55131/jphd/2024/220306
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Office syndrome is a term used to describe musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) occurring in the workplace. The persistent problem of office syndrome means that constant efforts are required to find a solution. This study was a quasi-experimental investigation. The aim was to examine the impact of a smartphone application on reducing the pain associated with office syndrome in a group of participants. The purposive selection technique was employed to obtain a certain sample group from the staff of Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University who spend 6–8 hours per day working on computers and experience pain in their muscles in eight areas, namely the neck, shoulders, back, wrists, waist, hips, legs, and calves. The sample size was 30. The data analysis requires the use of both descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically generalised estimating equations (GEE). The study found that the group of 30 staff at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University had an average overall pain score of 3.31 (SD = 0.40) at the baseline, which decreased to 2.17 (SD = 0.17) in week 4, and 1.47 (SD = 0.21) at week 8. The comparative analysis of the baseline, week 4, and week 8 revealed a significantly higher average pain level before smartphone application use (baseline) than after weeks 4–8, at the statistical significance level of 0.05. Therefore, the institution should promote the usage of the NotifyOfficeSyndrome application among staff who regularly use computer screens to improve their overall health and eliminate the discomfort associated with office syndrome.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Mohammadipour F, Pourranjbar M, Naderi S, Rafie F. Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Iranian Office Workers: Prevalence and Risk Factors. J Med Life. 2018;11(4):328-33. doi: 10.25122/jml-2018-0054.
Treaster D, Marras WS, Burr D, Sheedy JE, Hart D. Myofascial trigger point development from visual and postural stressors during computer work. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2006;16(2): 115-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2005. 06.016.
Tembo LN, Munyikwa JP, Musoro C, Majonga G, Mavindidze E. Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences non-academic workers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023;24(1):792. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06900-1.
AlOmar RS, AlShamlan NA, Alawashiz S, Badawood Y, Ghwoidi BA, Abugad H. Musculoskeletal symptoms and their associated risk factors among Saudi office workers: a cross-sectional study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):763. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04652-4.
Wu S, He L, Li J, Wang J, Wang S. Visual display terminal use increases the prevalence and risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among Chinese office workers: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Health. 2012; 54(1):34-43. doi: 10.1539/joh.11-0119-oa.
Rawdeng S, Sihawong R, Janwantanakul P. Work ability in aging office workers with musculoskeletal disorders and non-communicable diseases and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(4):2582-7. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2021.2010405.
Putsa B, Jalayondeja W, Mekhora K, Bhuanantanondh P, Jalayondeja C. Factors associated with reduced risk of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers: a cross-sectional study 2017 to 2020. BMC public health. 2022; 22(1):1503. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13940-0.
Ojule IN, Dokubo SS, Emmanuel BCE. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorde Symptoms and Relationship with Work Posture among Staff of a Nigerian University. Int. J. Trop. Dis. Health. 2020;41(14):1-8.
Meaza H, Temesgen MH, Redae G, Hailemariam TT, Alamer A. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain Among Academic Staff of Mekelle University, Ethiopia. Clin Med Insights Arthritis Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;13: 1179544120974671. doi: 10.1177/ 1179544120974671.
Ojo OA, Temiloluwa AO, Olusegun AT, Ayomide AD. Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Quality of Work Life Among a Nigerian University Academic Staff. Int J Med Rev Case Rep. 2023;1(1).
Insin N, Sornsoon K, Chomchaipol J, Sasiwan. Prevalence of Muscle Pain and Muscle Pain Management among Personnel of Rajabhat Sakon Nakhon University. J Health & Health Manag. 2022;8(1):194-207.
White AP, Arnold PM, Norvell DC, Ecker E, Fehlings MG. Pharmacologic management of chronic low back pain: synthesis of the evidence. Spine. 2011;36(21 Suppl):S131-43. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31822f178f.
Scott NA, Guo B, Barton PM, Gerwin RD. Trigger point injections for chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review. Pain Med. 2009;10(1):54-69. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2008.00526.x.
Siriteerathitikul P, Sornsakdanuphap J, Wongphon S, Amput P. Effects of acupuncture on chronic neck and shoulder pain in individuals with office syndrome in Phayao, Thailand. J Public Hlth Dev. 2022;20(2):126-36.
Sihawong R, Janwantanakul P, Jiamjarasrangsi W. A prospective, cluster-randomized controlled trial of exercise program to prevent low back pain in office workers. Eur Spine J. 2014;23(4):786-93. doi: 10.1007/ s00586-014-3212-3.
Ma C, Szeto GP, Yan T, Wu S, Lin C, Li L. Comparing biofeedback with active exercise and passive treatment for the management of work-related neck and shoulder pain: a randomized controlled trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;92(6):849-58. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2010.12.037.
Parry S, Straker L, Gilson ND, Smith AJ. Participatory workplace interventions can reduce-sedentary time for office workers--a randomised controlled trial. PLOS ONE. 2013; 8(11):e78957. doi: 10.1371/journal. pone.0078957.
Keogh JW, Espinosa HG, Grigg J. Evolution of Smart Devices and Human Movemebt Apps: Recommendations for use in Sports Science Education and Practice. J Fitness Res. 2016;5:14-5.
Hewitt S, Sephton R, Yeowell G. The Effectiveness of Digital Health Interventions in the Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions: Systematic Literature Review. J Med Internet Res. 2020;22(6):e15617. doi: 10.2196/15617.
Abadiyan F, Hadadnezhad M, Khosrokiani Z, Letafatkar A, Akhshik H. Adding a smartphone app to global postural re-education to improve neck pain, posture, quality of life, and endurance in people with nonspecific neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021;22(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05214-8.
Alasfour M, Almarwani M. The effect of innovative smartphone application on adherence to a home-based exercise programs for female older adults with knee osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia: a randomized controlled trial. Disabil Rehabil. 2022;44(11):2420-7. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1836268.
Anan T, Kajiki S, Oka H, Fujii T, Kawamata K, Mori K, et al. Effects of an Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Health Program on Workers With Neck/Shoulder Pain/Stiffness and Low Back Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021;9(9):e27535. doi: 10.2196/27535.
Chow SC, Wang H, Shao J. Sample Size Calculations in Clinical Research, Second Edition: Taylor & Francis; 2007.
Tunwattanapong P, Kongkasuwan R, Kuptniratsaikul V. The effectiveness of a neck and shoulder stretching exercise program among office workers with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2016;30(1):64-72. doi: 10.1177/0269215515575747.
Katz J, Melzack R. Measurement of pain. The Surgical clinics of North America. 1999;79(2):231-52.
Ministry of Public Health. Guidelines for promoting health and environmental health in workplaces: PACKAGE 6 Office Syndrome Management: MD All Graphic Company Limited; 2019.
Irvine AB, Russell H, Manocchia M, Mino DE, Cox Glassen T, Morgan R, et al. Mobile Web app to self-manage low back pain: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2015;17(1):e1. doi: 10.2196/jmir.3130.
Page P. Current concepts in muscle stretching for exercise and rehabilitation. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012;7(1):109-19.
Kietrys DM, Galper JS, Verno V. Effects of at-work exercises on computer operators. Work. 2007;28(1): 67-75.
Moraska AF, Hickner RC, Kohrt WM, Brewer A. Changes in blood flow and cellular metabolism at a myofascial trigger point with trigger point release (ischemic compression): a proof-of-principle pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94(1):196 200. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2012.08.216.
Woolf AD, Brooks P, Åkesson K, Mody GM. Prevention of musculoskeletal conditions in the developing world. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2008;22(4):759-72. doi: 10.1016/j.berh.2008.07.003.
Howarth A, Quesada J, Silva J, Judycki S, Mills PR. The impact of digital health interventions on health-related outcomes in the workplace: A systematic review. Digit Health. 2018; 4:2055207618770861. doi: 10.1177/ 2055207618770861.
Lee K, Kim S, Kim SH, Yoo S-H, Sung JH, Oh EG, et al. Digital Health Interventions for Adult Patients With Cancer Evaluated in Randomized Controlled Trials: Scoping Review. J Med Internet Res. 2023;25:e38333. doi: 10.2196/38333.