[Need adjustment of utilization of occupational health promotion for reducing back pain? Results of an employee survey of the metal industry].

We analysed data of a cross-sectional survey of 974 employees in the German metal industry to determine the degree to which worksite health promotion matches the needs of employees. 27% of study participants have already taken part in individually oriented health promotion, and another 48% want to participate most readily in activities aiming at preventing and reducing musculo-skeletal complaints. Recent participation (within a fourteen-month period) in these classes was low among male blue collar workers (7%) compared to male and female white collar employees (18 and 26%). Among blue collar workers the percentage of subjects who suffered from chronic back pain and did not recently participate in the relevant classes of the company health insurance plan (unserved prevalence) was 30%, compared to 17 and 26% in male and female white collar employees. Participants were less exposed to work-related predictors of chronic back pain than non-participants. Participants were, however, more often afflicted with chronic back pain than non-participants. In addition, the intention to participate was strongly associated with this type of complaint. Shift work was the most important single explanation for the low participation rates of blue collar workers. Suggestions are advanced to neutralise the adverse effects of shift work on participation, to strengthen the primary preventive functions of individual worksite health promotion, and to integrate it with structural measures of health and safety at work.