The Effect of Two Office Ergonomics Field Interventions and their Replication on Visual Symptoms

Abstract

Upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders in the workplace continue to be a significant public health burden (National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2001). These outcomes, as they relate to computer use, are important as greater than 50% of employed adults in the United States use a computer at work (U.S. Census Bureau, 2003). Visual symptoms are also known to often coexist with upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms with computer workers. This study examines the effect of two office ergonomic interventions, a highly adjustable chair and an office ergonomics training, on the reduction of specific visual symptoms. Additionally, findings from a replicated study site are compared with those of the original study. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect. In comparing the original and replication worksites we find specific visual symptom reductions occurred for the group receiving both the chair with training at the original and replicated worksite. However, the group receiving only the office ergonomics training experienced individual visual symptom reductions at the replication worksite but not the original worksite. There were differences in the specific visual symptoms affected by the office ergonomics interventions when comparing worksites.