Musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial work environment, among Swedish commercial pilots

• Published in: International archives of occupational and environmental health 2014-10, Vol.87 (7), p.685-693
• Main Authors: Runeson-Broberg, Roma, Lindgren, Torsten, Norbäck, Dan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aircraft; Airlines; Biological and medical sciences; Commercial pilots; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Health; Female; Humans; Job strain; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Musculoskeletal diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases - epidemiology; Musculoskeletal Diseases - psychology; Musculoskeletal symptoms; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Occupational Diseases - psychology; Occupational health; Occupational medicine; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Pilots; Psychosocial work environment; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Rehabilitation; Risk Factors; Self Report; Sex Factors; Social psychology; Social Support; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Sweden; Time Factors; Work environment; Working conditions; Workplace - psychology; Workplace - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0340-0131; 1432-1246; 1432-1246
• DOI: 10.1007/s00420-013-0911-8

Purpose The associations between psychosocial work conditions and health in pilots are understudied, and therefore, the associations between the psychosocial work conditions and musculoskeletal problems among Swedish commercial pilots were investigated. Methods In 2010, a self-administered questionnaire study was performed among pilots in one Swedish commercial airline: 354 pilots participated (61 %). Musculoskeletal symptoms and the psychosocial work conditions measured by the demand control social support model were investigated. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) were expressed per change of one unit on the interquartile score scale. Results Pilots on long-haul flights had less elbow symptoms (OR 0.34, 95 % CI 0.14–0.85), and women had more hand symptoms (OR 2.90, 95 % CI 1.11–7.52). There were associations between high work demands and symptoms from the neck (OR 2.04, 95 % CI 1.45–2.88), shoulders (OR 1.46, 95 % 1.05–2.03), elbows (OR 1.79, 95 % CI 1.10–2.90) and low back (OR 1.42, 95 % CI 1.02–1.96) in pilots. Low social support was associated with symptoms from the neck (OR 1.87, 95 % 1.35–2.58), shoulders (OR 1.56, 95 % CI 1.14–2.14) and low back (OR 1.63, 95 % CI 1.18–2.24). Low supervisor support was associated with neck (OR 1.67, 95 % CI 1.22–2.27), shoulders (OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.02–1.87) and low back symptoms (OR 1.48, 95 % CI 1.09–2.01). The associations were mainly found among first officers. Conclusions Musculoskeletal symptoms in pilots can be affected by poor psychosocial work conditions such as high demands and low social support, especially for first officers. The psychosocial aspects of organisational changes in commercial airlines should be taken into consideration.