 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Benjamin C. Amick, PhD1, Nathaniel Hupert, MD2, Michelle Robertson, PhD, CPE3, Jessica Tullar, BS1, and Jeffrey N. Katz, MD, MS4. (1) School of Public Health, University of Texas-Houston Health Sciences Center, PO Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, 713-500-9496, bamick@sph.uth.tmc.edu, (2) Weil Medical College, Cornell University, 411 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10003, (3) Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety, 71 Frankland Road Rd., Hopkinton, MA 01748, (4) Division of Rheumatology, Brigham & Womens' Hospital, PBB-B3, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115
Computer use has increased markedly over the last decade in all facets of American society, especially among the approximately 14.5 million students in undergraduate colleges. If students’ computer use leads to the development of upper-extremity disorders prior to entry in the work force, the consequences, both for the affected individual and for the nation, may be serious. We surveyed two private colleges to determine the relationship between computing and musculoskeletal symptoms and student functioning. Information was collected on regular daily computing hours (<4, 4-6,>6) and binge computing hours (spending more than 4 hours working on a computer without a break at any time during the semester). The Brigham and Women’s Upper Extremity Symptom Severity Scale was used as one outcome and the student role functioning measure as the other. Each were coded high (top 20%) versus low. There was a dose-response relationship between regular computing and student functioning (odds ratio = 1 for < 4 hrs; OR = 1.31 for 4-6, p=.43; OR 2.50 for 6-8, p=.01) and engaging in any binge computing during the semester increased the risk (OR=2.30, p=005). The trend was significant for regular computing. A similar dose response relationship was observed for regular computing symptom severity (odds ratio = 1 for < 4 hrs; OR = 1.60 for 4-6, p=.17; OR 2.29 for 6-8, p=.02) and engaging in any binge computing during the semester increased the risk (OR=1.87, p=03). The development of early onset musculoskeletal injuries in working life could be related to the creation of a new vulnerable population - injured students.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Ergonomics, Water Test
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.