Factors related to musculoskeletal disorders, computer vision syndrome (CVS), and stress among university library staff in Lampang province, Thailand
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The university library staff engage in multifaceted tasks, primarily focused on computer-related activities aimed at enhancing information services and library resources. Consequently, they are at risk of experiencing musculoskeletal disorders, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), and stress. This study aims to assess the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, CVS, and stress among university library staff, and to identify factors related with these issues by utilizing a cross-sectional analytical study design. Data were collected from 30 full-time university library staff members who had been employed in information services and library resources for a minimum of one year at a university library in Lampang province, Thailand. Data collection methods included interviews, questionnaires assessing musculoskeletal abnormalities, ergonomics risk assessment, CVS-Q evaluation, light intensity measurement, and stress assessment. The study was conducted during regular university academic semesters. Results indicate that over 30% of our sample reported musculoskeletal abnormalities in the neck, upper back, and lower back regions. Additionally, over 50% of the sample experienced CVS with low stress levels. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was employed to assess ergonomic risks in computer workstation settings, revealing that most of our sample fell within the moderate-risk category. However, when the Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) was used, the majority scored in the high-risk category. Notably, no significant relationship was found between the ergonomic risk levels assessed using RULA and ROSA and the occurrence of musculoskeletal abnormalities in any part of the body. However, musculoskeletal abnormalities in the shoulder area were related with the occurrence of CVS and stress levels in our sample. Factors related with the occurrence of CVS and stress levels included a medical history of allergies and insomnia, respectively. Meanwhile, the computer workstation settings and light intensity levels did not exhibit a significant relationship with the occurrence of CVS and stress levels in our sample. This study reveals several work-related health effects among university library staff and how these health effects influence each other. It is urgent need to plan policies or initiate an appropriate safety, occupational health, and working environment measures to be applied to control and prevent long term work-related health effects for university library staff.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Asaolu AO, Itsekor V. Ergonomic computer workstation considerations for library Staff. International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science. 2014;2(3):22-6.
Silva A. Computer ergonomics related health problems of library staff: a case study at the University of Colombo. Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka. 2021;24(1):57-75.
Adeyemi AO. ICT Facilities: Ergonomic effects on academic library staff. Library Philosophy and Practice. 2010:1-5.
Rajan Pillai CV, Jayalatha KT. Ergonomics and library professionals-a case study of the University of Kerala. SRELS JIM. 2016;53(3):221-7.
Pawar NS, Asalkar M, Bajpai SK, Soni SK, editors. Computer vision syndrome among library professionals. re-defining the strategic role of libraries in Indian culture and modern society; 2015; Udaipur, India.
Ranasinghe P, Wathurapatha WS, Perera YS, Lamabadusuriya DA, Kulatunga S, Jayawardana N, et al. Computer vision syndrome among computer office workers in a developing country: an evaluation of prevalence and risk factors. BMC Res Notes. 2016;9:150.
Tesfaye AH, Alemayehu M, Abere G, Mekonnen TH. Prevalence and associated factors of computer vision syndrome among academic staff in the University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia: an institution-based cross-sectional study. Environ Health Insights. 2022;16:11786302221111865.
Teo C, Giffard P, Johnston V, Treleaven J. Computer vision symptoms in people with and without neck pain. Appl Ergon. 2019;80:50-6.
Adeniran PO, Alabi SO. Occupational Stress and psychological health of employees of university libraries in Osun state, Nigeria. International Journal of Library and Information Services (IJLIS). 2021;10(2):1-17.
Ikonne CN. Job stress and pyschological well-being among library employees: a survey of library staff in selected university libraries in South-West Nigeria. Open Access Library Journal. 2015;2(6):e1632.
Eijckelhof BHW, Huysmans MA, Bruno Garza JL, Blatter BM, van Dieën JH, Dennerlein JT, et al. The effects of workplace stressors on muscle activity in the neck-shoulder and forearm muscles during computer work: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013;113(12):2897-912.
Putri M, Rahmaniar S.P A, Djayanti F. Risk factor analysis of work stress and muscle pain among high school teachers in Makassar. Enfermería Clínica. 2020;30:444-8.
Akiki M, Obeid S, Salameh P, Malaeb D, Akel M, Hallit R, et al. Association between computer vision syndrome, insomnia, and migraine among lebanese adults: the mediating effect of stress. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2022;24(4):21m03083.
Kuorinka I, Jonsson B, Kilbom A, Vinterberg H, Biering-Sørensen F, Andersson G, et al. Standardised Nordic questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Appl Ergon. 1987;18(3):233-7.
McAtamney L, Nigel Corlett E. RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Appl Ergon. 1993;24(2):91-9.
Sonne M, Villalta DL, Andrews DM. Development and evaluation of an office ergonomic risk checklist: ROSA--rapid office strain assessment. Appl Ergon. 2012;43(1):98-108.
Seguí Mdel M, Cabrero-García J, Crespo A, Verdú J, Ronda E. A reliable and valid questionnaire was developed to measure computer vision syndrome at the workplace. J Clin Epidemiol. 2015;68(6):662-73.
Labour Department, The government of the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People's Republic of China [Internet]. Lighting Assessment in the Workplace: Government Logistics Department; 2008 [cited 2023 Nov 7]. Available from:
https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/oh/Lighting.pdf.
กรมสวัสดิการและคุ้มครองแรงงาน [อินเทอร์เน็ต]. ประกาศกรมสวัสดิการและคุ้มครองแรงงาน เรื่อง มาตรฐานความเข้มของแสงสว่าง; 2561 [เข้าถึงเมื่อ 9 พฤศจิกายน 2566]. Available from:
https://dl.parliament.go.th/handle/20.500.13072/528606.
สุวัฒน์ มหัตนิรันดร์กุล, วนิดา พุ่มไพศาลชัย, พิมพ์มาศ ตาปัญญา. การสร้างแบบวัดความเครียดสวนปรุง. วารสารสวนปรุง. 2540;13(3):1-20.
Davudian-Talab A, Azari G, Badfar G, Shafeei A, Derakhshan Z. Evaluation and correlation of the rapid upper limb assessment and rapid office strain assessment methods for predicting the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Intern Med MedInvestig J. 2017;2(4):155-60.
ปริญญา เลิศสินไทย, จุฑารัตน์ นนทโคตร์, ณัฐฐา เทิดกวินกุล, อริสรา วีระชัย, โอปอร์ วีรพันธุ์. การสำรวจความชุกของอาการปวดคอและความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างอาการปวดคอกับกลุ่มอาการทางตาจากจอภาพคอมพิวเตอร์ในนักศึกษาคณะสหเวชศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยนเรศวร. วารสารกายภาพบำบัด 2563;42(2):101-17.
Iskandar MC, Meryana P, Supit PA. Correlation between computer vision syndrome and upper limb disorders at Widya Mandala Catholic University Surabaya. Journal of Widya Medika Junior. 2023;5(2):80-5.
Kaiti R, Shah P, Bogati B, Shyangbo R, Dahal M, Hamal B. Computer vision syndrome: is it being diagnosed and managed properly? Acta Sci Ophthalmol. 2020;3(7):13-20.
Lin Y, Zhang X, Li H, Huang Y, Zhang W, Zhang C. Musculoskeletal pain is prevalent in Chinese medical and dental students: A cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2022;10:1046466.
เฉลิมรัฐ มีอยู่เต็ม. การศึกษาความชุกและปัจจัยที่เกี่ยวข้องกับอาการปวดหลังส่วนล่างของบุคลากรทางการพยาบาลในโรงพยาบาลนครปฐม. วารสารแพทย์เขต 4-5. 2563;39(4):578-90.
ทิพานันท์ ตุ้นสังข์, ภัทรพรรณ บุญศิริ, วิภาดา ศรีเจริญ, นิธิพงศ์ ศรีเบญจมาศ, กิ่งแก้ว สำรวยรื่น, เอกภพ จันทร์สุคนธ์, อนงค์นาฏ คงประชา. ปัจจัยที่มีผลต่ออาการปวดเมื่อยกล้ามเนื้อของพนักงานโรงงานอุตสาหกรรมอิเล็กทรอนิกส์แห่งหนึ่ง อำเภอคลองหลวง จังหวัดปทุมธานี. วารสารวิชาการมหาวิทยาลัยอีสเทิร์นเอเชีย ฉบับวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี. 2562;13(2):254-66.
Daher A, Halperin O. Association between psychological stress and neck pain among college students during the coronavirus disease of 2019 pandemic: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(11):1526.
Artime-Ríos E, Suárez-Sánchez A, Sánchez-Lasheras F, Seguí-Crespo M. Computer vision syndrome in healthcare workers using video display terminals: an exploration of the risk factors. J Adv Nurs. 2022;78(7):2095-110.
Zayed HAM, Saied SM, Younis EA, Atlam SA. Digital eye strain: prevalence and associated factors among information technology professionals, Egypt. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021;28(20):25187-95.
Boadi-Kusi SB, Adueming PO, Hammond FA, Antiri EO. Computer vision syndrome and its associated ergonomic factors among bank workers. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2022;28(2):1219-26.
Wangsan K, Upaphong P, Assavanopakun P, Sapbamrer R, Sirikul W, Kitro A, et al. Self-reported computer vision syndrome among Thai university students in virtual classrooms during the COVID-19 Pandemic: prevalence and associated factors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(7):3996.
Leonardi A, Modugno RL, Salami E. Allergy and dry eye disease. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2021;29(6):1168-76.