Rodriguez Herrera YP1, Hernandez Alvarez ED1, Prieto Mondragon LDP1, Lozada MA2
1Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cundinamarca, Bogotá, Colombia, 2Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Background: The construction sector is one of the sectors with the highest risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) because the tasks carried out in the work process require a high physical demand. Therefore, it´s very important to recognize the strategies that demonstrate the most effective intervention for the prevention of MSD in the workplace.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of interventions implemented to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers.
Methods: The search was made in the databases: Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), LILACS and SCOPUS, with cut to June of 2017. ECAS that applied intervention programs focused on the prevention of MSD in construction were selected. The primary variables were: musculoskeletal symptoms, work capacity, absence due to illness and changes in behavior. Data analysis was performed based on quality assessment, risk of bias, clinical and statistical heterogeneity, and meta-analysis of the selected studies.
Results: Seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified. 4 groups were identified according to intervention protocols, the analysis of clinical heterogeneity established great variety in the intervention protocols and in the outcome variables. The analysis of statistical heterogeneity performed for the intervention group of a specific education program in musculoskeletal symptoms for 7 variables showed statistical homogeneity: I² of 0% and one variable with moderate heterogeneity: I² of 37%. The effect between the studies isn´t clear in the experimental group, because it´s distributed from the experimental group to the control group, the results weren´t statistically significant. The qualitative analysis showed that the specific educational programs have positive effects in the decrease of the musculoskeletal symptoms and the absence of them.
Conclusion(s): It can be concluded that although different intervention strategies have been implemented, there is insufficient evidence on the efficacy of the interventions found. Although epidemiologically it wasn´t possible to demonstrate that the interventions found had the expected impact, it isn´t ruled out that preventive intervention measures should be applied to construction workers. It´s of great importance to carry out more research type ECAS with rigorous methodology, which due to the multifactorial nature of the MSD and the work capacity, the interventions have integral approaches directed to the working conditions and to the personal characteristics of the workers that could show greater effectiveness.
Implications: This research contributes to the development of the knowledge and practice of the physiotherapist in the health of construction workers based on evidence and to demonstrate the need to investigate in this specific area.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Construction industry, Prevention
Funding acknowledgements: None declared by the authors.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of interventions implemented to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in construction workers.
Methods: The search was made in the databases: Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), LILACS and SCOPUS, with cut to June of 2017. ECAS that applied intervention programs focused on the prevention of MSD in construction were selected. The primary variables were: musculoskeletal symptoms, work capacity, absence due to illness and changes in behavior. Data analysis was performed based on quality assessment, risk of bias, clinical and statistical heterogeneity, and meta-analysis of the selected studies.
Results: Seven studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified. 4 groups were identified according to intervention protocols, the analysis of clinical heterogeneity established great variety in the intervention protocols and in the outcome variables. The analysis of statistical heterogeneity performed for the intervention group of a specific education program in musculoskeletal symptoms for 7 variables showed statistical homogeneity: I² of 0% and one variable with moderate heterogeneity: I² of 37%. The effect between the studies isn´t clear in the experimental group, because it´s distributed from the experimental group to the control group, the results weren´t statistically significant. The qualitative analysis showed that the specific educational programs have positive effects in the decrease of the musculoskeletal symptoms and the absence of them.
Conclusion(s): It can be concluded that although different intervention strategies have been implemented, there is insufficient evidence on the efficacy of the interventions found. Although epidemiologically it wasn´t possible to demonstrate that the interventions found had the expected impact, it isn´t ruled out that preventive intervention measures should be applied to construction workers. It´s of great importance to carry out more research type ECAS with rigorous methodology, which due to the multifactorial nature of the MSD and the work capacity, the interventions have integral approaches directed to the working conditions and to the personal characteristics of the workers that could show greater effectiveness.
Implications: This research contributes to the development of the knowledge and practice of the physiotherapist in the health of construction workers based on evidence and to demonstrate the need to investigate in this specific area.
Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Construction industry, Prevention
Funding acknowledgements: None declared by the authors.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: National University of Colombia
Ethics committee: Faculty of nursing
Ethics number: Resolution No. 008430 of 1993 of the Ministry of Health.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
