Structural equation model analysis of risk factors for low back pain among greenhouse vegetable-planting farmers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the risk factors of low back pain (LBP) among greenhouse vegetable planting farmers and estimate the level of the effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A self-made questionnaire based on the Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Nordic Questionnaire was conducted to 639 greenhouse vegetable planting farmers and then structural equation model was used to analyze the risk factors of LBP in SmartPLS software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The coefficient of determination of the model was 0.827, and the structural coefficients of dynamic loads, static loads, force exertion, ergonomic environment and repetitive loads on LBP were 0.21, 0.43,0.27, 0.045 and 0.034 respectively, and the total effects of the above latent variables on LBP were 0.21, 0.43,0.27, 0.33 and 0.034 respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The main risk factors of LBP among greenhouse vegetable planting farmers were static loads, ergonomic environment, force exertion and dynamic loads.</p>

Analyzing the factors of influencing the musculoskeletal disorders of greenhouse vegetable farmers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among greenhouse vegetable farmers and to explore the risk factors of MSDs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A household questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate 203 greenhouse vegetable farmers and 127 non-greenhouse vegetable farmers in February, 2011.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The one-year prevalence rates of MSDs were 70.0% and 33.9% among greenhouse vegetable farmers and non-greenhouse vegetable farmers, respectively. The three main positions of MSDs in greenhouse farmers were low back, knee (s) and shoulder (s). Age, working years, body weight and usage of rolling machine were statistically associated with MSDs of greenhouse farmers, ORadj values were 1.17, 1.82, 1.08 and 0.07, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of MSDs is high in greenhouse workers. Low back pain, knee (s), and shoulder (s) disorders are the main disorders. Age, working years, body weight and usage of rolling machine are main risk factors for the development of MSDs in greenhouse farmers.</p>