The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Symptoms During Work From Home Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Background: Online teaching and learning extend the duration of using gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets. A prolonged usage of these gadgets in a static position can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). Therefore, this study aims to identify the risk factors related to musculoskeletal symptoms while using gadgets during work from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A cross-sectional survey with online-based questionnaires was collected from the University of Indonesia, consisting of lecturers, students, and managerial staff. The minimum number of respondents was 1,080 and was defined by stratified random sampling. Furthermore, the dependent variable was musculoskeletal symptoms, while the independent were age, gender, job position, duration, activity when using gadgets, and how to hold them. Result: Most of the respondents had mobile phones but only 16% had tablets. Furthermore, about 56.7% have used a mobile phone for more than 10 years, while about 89.7% have used a tablet for less than 10 years. A multivariate analysis found factors that were significantly associated with MSD symptoms while using a mobile phone, such as age, gender, web browsing activity, work, or college activities. These activities include doing assignments and holding the phone with two hands with two thumbs actively operating. The factors that were significantly associated with MSD symptoms when using tablets were gender, academic position, social media activity, and placing the tablet on a table with two actively working index fingers. Conclusion: Therefore, from the results of this study it is necessary to have WFH and e-learning policies to reduce MSD symptoms and enhance productivity at work.

The prevalence of bad posture and musculoskeletal symptoms originating from the use of gadgets as an impact of the work from home program of the university community.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Universitas Indonesia (UI) implemented a work from home program (WFH) to curb the spread of the coronavirus, as the use of gadgets including mobile phones and tablets were becoming prolonged and more frequent. As a result, musculoskeletal symptoms in certain limbs due to awkward posture sprang up. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the degree of the use of these devices among UI community during the WFH initiative, as well as to identify musculoskeletal complaints resulting from defective postures. Consequently, this cross-sectional survey employed an online-based questionnaire, and the minimum number of respondents was 1080, as calculated using Slovin Formula. Meanwhile, a total of 1083 individuals, including lecturers (118), students (709), and managerial staff (256), obtained from 14 faculties, three schools, as well as administrative centres, volunteered to respond to the online poll. Apparently, 95% of the scholars owned mobile phones while only 16% possessed tablets, and 56% had used phones for over 10 years. The typical posture when using mobile devices was a reclining position on a sofa or mattress for a duration of 1-3 h as recounted by 34.6%. Also, sitting at a table for less than 30 min was reported by 25.3% of the subjects who used tablets. Furthermore, 70.5% of the respondents complained of musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly in the neck (86.4%), lower back (75.9%), and right & left shoulders (76.2%). In addition, the postures significantly related to these grievances included sitting at a table, alongside a prone position whilst using a mobile phone, as well as a latent or floor-sitting posture when using a laptop, whether at a table or not. Therefore, it is essential to do stretching, limiting usage time, look away every 20 min at an object that is about 20 feet away for a full 20 s when using a gadget and having adequate rest time to reduce musculoskeletal complaints.

Mental fatigue and its associated factors among coal mining workers after one year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

Mental fatigue among coal mining operators was related to driving activities that require high concentration. This study aimed to determine factors that contributed to mental fatigue among coal mine operators in Indonesia specifically in Kalimantan and Sumatra after a one-year COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 operators from two companies and seven sites. A self-administrated questionnaire in the Google Form was used to measure mental fatigue, the non-work-related factors (age education marital status residence and stress level) and work-related factors (working periods shift pattern type of shift and work area in mining). The data analyzed using Chi-square and binomial logistic regression showed that the prevalence of mental fatigue was 32.3%. Operators with moderate stress and working in the pit area demonstrated a significant association with mental fatigue (p-value<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that medium stress (ORadj: 2.11 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.15) and working in the pit (ORadj: 2.27 95% CI: 1.45 to 3.57) had a positive association with mental fatigue. Thus the pit condition and stress levels were the dominant factors influencing mental fatigue and became points to manage mental fatigue in coal mining operators in Kalimantan and Sumatra.