Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Han Chung Hospital, Taichung 420, Taiwan.
Department of Occupational Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Chiayi 622, Taiwan.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 9;17(9):3310. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17093310.
This study aimed to investigate level of work ability and quality of life (QOL) as well as the relationship between them among patients suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in Taiwan. A cross-sectional study design with continuous sampling and a questionnaire were used to obtain the research data. Controlling for personal characteristics, pain, psychological distress, and social support, multiple linear regressions were adopted to explore the relationship between work ability and overall QOL. Further analyses were also made to clarify the relationships between work ability and each domain of QOL. In total, 165 patients with WMSDs were recruited. Compared with general workers, the participants reported a lower level of work ability and overall QOL. Work ability was significantly associated with overall QOL when covariates were controlled. Among the four domains of QOL, work ability was significantly associated with both the physical and psychological domains. The conclusion was that work ability is a definite factor of QOL for patients with WMSDs; the essence of work ability may be beyond economic function or social support. Strategies to help workers with WMSDs enhance their work ability to fit their new or temporary jobs would be beneficial to their QOL.
本研究旨在探讨工作能力和生活质量（QOL）水平，以及台湾职业性肌肉骨骼疾病（WMSDs）患者之间的关系。采用横断面研究设计，连续抽样和问卷调查获得研究数据。控制个人特征、疼痛、心理困扰和社会支持后，采用多元线性回归探讨工作能力与整体 QOL 的关系。进一步分析以阐明工作能力与 QOL 各领域之间的关系。共招募了 165 名患有 WMSDs 的患者。与一般工人相比，参与者报告的工作能力和整体 QOL 较低。在控制了混杂因素后，工作能力与整体 QOL 显著相关。在 QOL 的四个领域中，工作能力与身体和心理领域显著相关。结论是工作能力是 WMSDs 患者 QOL 的一个确定因素；工作能力的本质可能超出了经济功能或社会支持。帮助患有 WMSDs 的工人提高工作能力以适应新的或临时工作的策略将有利于他们的 QOL。
