David Coggon|Georgia Ntani|Sergio Vargas-Prada|José Miguel Mart??nez|Consol Serra|Fernando G. Benavides|Keith T. Palmer
International variation in absence from work attributed to musculoskeletal illness: findings from the CUPID study
MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit|Medical Research Council|University of Southampton|University of Southampton|Pompeu Fabra University|Pompeu Fabra University|Pompeu Fabra University|Pompeu Fabra University|University of Southampton
quantify variation rates absence due musculoskeletal pain across 47 occupational groups mostly nurses office workers 18 countries explore personal grouplevel risk factors might explain observed differencesa standardised questionnaire used obtain information musculoskeletal pain sickness absence possible risk factors crosssectional survey 12 416 workers 921017 per occupational group additionally grouplevel data socioeconomic variables sick pay unemployment rates assembled members study team country associations sickness absence risk factors examined poisson regressionoverall 30fold differences occupational groups 12month prevalence prolonged musculoskeletal sickness absence even among office workers carrying similar occupational tasks variation tenfold personal risk factors included older age lower educational level tendency somatise physical loading work prolonged absence nonmusculoskeletal illness however explained little variation occupational groups adjustment individual characteristics prolonged musculoskeletal sickness absence frequent groups greater time pressure work lower job control adverse beliefs workrelatedness musculoskeletal disordersmusculoskeletal sickness absence might reduced eliminating excessive time pressures work maximising employees responsibility control providing flexibility duties disabling symptoms care taken overstate work cause musculoskeletal injury