Publication: The prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among subcontracted hospital cleaners in Thailand
15
Issued Date
2021-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
2586940X
08574421
08574421
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2-s2.0-85121477849
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Health Research. (2021)
Suggested Citation
Thanaphum Laithaisong, Wichai Aekplakorn, Paibul Suriyawongpaisal, Chanunporn Tupthai, Chathaya Wongrathanandha The prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among subcontracted hospital cleaners in Thailand. Journal of Health Research. (2021). doi:10.1108/JHR-01-2021-0040 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/78545
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Title
The prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal disorders among subcontracted hospital cleaners in Thailand
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Abstract
Purpose: This research aimed to explore the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and related factors among subcontracted cleaners in a teaching hospital in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 393 subcontracted cleaners in a teaching hospital, from May to June 2020. Face-to-face interviews were carried out using a standard questionnaire, consisting of four parts: (1) participant characteristics, (2) stress test, (3) work characteristics and (4) standardized Nordic questionnaire, Thai version, for MSDs outcome. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between MSDs and related factors. Findings: The prevalence of MSDs was 81.9%, involving mostly the lower back (57.7%), followed by the shoulder (52.6%). Factors significantly associated with MSDs were as follows: male gender (OR = 3.06, 95% CI [1.19, 7.87]), severe stress (OR = 2.72, 95% CI [1.13, 6.54]), history of injuries (OR = 4.37, 95% CI [1.27, 15.11]), mopping posture (OR = 2.81, 95% CI [1.43, 5.50]) and task duration (OR = 1.90, 95% CI [1.01, 3.57] for 2–4 h and OR = 3.39, 95% CI [1.17, 9.86] for more than 4 h). Sick leave due to MSDs was associated with history of injuries, Thai nationality and having another part-time job. Originality/value: The study findings about MSDs in terms of prevalence and related factors contributed to limited pool of the knowledge among subcontracted hospital cleaners in Thailand and middle-income country settings. With growing popularity in outsourcing cleaning services among hospitals in these countries, the study findings could raise a concern and inform policymakers and hospital administrators the importance of the magnitude and risk factors for MSDs necessitating design of preventive strategies.