Musculoskeletal Pain and Health-Related Quality of Life of Occupational Drivers in Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) can be work-related and common among occupational drivers (OPDs). There is a scarcity of data on MSP among OPDs in Nigeria. This study therefore determined the 12-months prevalence and the influence of socio-demographic factors on the prevalence of MSP and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of OPDs in Ogbomosho, Oyo State. METHODS: A total 120 occupational drivers participated in the study. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was used to measure the prevalence and pattern of MSP and the Medical Outcome Study (MOS), a 36-item short form version 1.0 of the Research and Development (RAND) to measure HRQoL. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, and frequency. A chi-square test with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05 was used to determine the relationship between variables. RESULTS: Mean age was 46.55±9.21 years. Musculoskeletal pain occurred in 85.8% of the drivers, with the shoulder and neck being most common. In 64.2% of the cases, the health-related quality of life score was higher than the national average. A significant association occurred between MSP and years of experience (p = 0.049). Significant associations occurred between HRQoL and age (p = 0.037), marital status (p = 0.001), and years of experience (p = 0.002). There was a significant association between MSP and HRQoL (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MSP was high among the OPDs. There was a significant association between MSP and HRQoL among OPDs. Sociodemographic factors play a significant influence on the HRQoL of drivers. Occupational drivers should be educated on the risks and dangers involved with their occupation and the steps they can take to improve their quality of life.

CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIF: Les douleurs musculo-squelettiques (DMS) peuvent être liées au travail et sont courantes chez les chauffeurs professionnels. Les données sur les douleurs musculosquelettiques chez les chauffeurs professionnels au Nigeria sont rares. Cette étude a donc déterminé la prévalence sur 12 mois et l'influence des facteurs sociodémographiques sur la prévalence des douleurs musculo-squelettiques et la qualité de vie liée à la santé (QVLS) des chauffeurs professionnels à Ogbomosho, dans l'État d'Oyo. MÉTHODES: 120 conducteurs professionnels ont participé à l'étude. Le Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) a été utilisé pour mesurer la prévalence et l'évolution de la PSM et le Medical Outcome Study (MOS), un formulaire court de 36 items version 1.0 du Research and Development (RAND) pour mesurer la QVLS. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de statistiques descriptives (moyenne, écart-type et fréquence). Un test de chi-deux avec un niveau de signification de p ≤ 0.05 a été utilisé pour déterminer la relation entre les variables. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen était de 46,55±9,21 ans. Des douleurs musculo-squelettiques sont apparues chez 85,8 % des conducteurs, l'épaule et le cou étant les plus fréquents. Une qualité de vie liée à la santé supérieure à la moyenne a été constatée chez 64,2 % des conducteurs. Une association significative est apparue entre la PSM et les années d'expérience (p=0,049). Il existe une association significative entre la QVLS et l'âge (p=0,037), l'état civil (p=0,001) et les années d'expérience (p=0,002). Il y avait une association significative entre le MSP et la QVLS (p=0,001). CONCLUSION: La prévalence de la PSM était élevée parmi les OPD. Il existe une association significative entre la PSM et la QVLS dans les services de santé publique. Les facteurs sociodémographiques ont une influence significative sur la QVLS des conducteurs. Les conducteurs professionnels devraient être sensibilisés aux risques et dangers liés à leur profession et aux mesures à prendre pour améliorer leur qualité de vie. Mots clés: Conducteurs professionnels, douleurs musculosquelettiques, qualité de vie liée à la santé.

Relationship between spasticity and health related quality of life in individuals with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: There is growing awareness of health related quality of life in cerebral palsy patients, though there is paucity of data in determining its relationship with spasticity in cerebral palsy patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between spasticity and health related quality of life in cerebral palsy patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey design was employed in this study. A total of fifty individuals with cerebral palsy, males (54%) and females (46%) within the age range of 5 years and 18 years (9.06 +/- 3.38 years) participated in the study. Measurement of spasticity was done by the researcher using the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the parents or primary caregivers of the participants were required to complete the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) questionnaire, which is a 37-item questionnaire that collects information on the health related quality of life. Data was analysed separately for each of the six domains of the questionnaire using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation coefficient on SPSS version 17 and the level of significance was set at p=0.05. RESULTS: According to the results, the domains of comfort and emotions with communication and social interaction do not have an influence on spasticity. The results also revealed that there was a significant relationship between spasticity and health related quality of life in cerebral palsy patients (p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Personal care and mobility which are aspects of the health related quality of life should be paid more attention to, as they are negatively affected by spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy.