A study on the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain among university academic staff in Hong Kong

J Occup Rehabil. 2002 Jun;12(2):77-91. doi: 10.1023/a:1015008513575.

Abstract

The 1-year prevalence of neck pain and possible risk factors among university academic staff were investigated. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all the full-time academic staff in one of the universities in Hong Kong. The 1-year prevalence of neck pain was investigated. The relationship between individual factors, job nature, psychosocial factors, and neck pain were also analyzed. The 1-year prevalence of neck pain among after being an academic staff was 46.7%. A significant association was found between gender and neck pain (p = 0.02). The percentage of female academic staff with neck pain (62%) was higher than that in male staff (38%). This matched the results of other studies, which demonstrated that neck pain was more prevalent in women. There was a significant association between head posture during computer processing and neck pain (p = 0.02). Among those with neck pain during computer processing, 60.5% had a forward head posture. However, a low correlation between psychosocial factors and neck pain was demonstrated (r = 0.343). Academic staff in tertiary institutions could be considered as a high-risk group of job-related neck pain.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Faculty*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck Pain / epidemiology
  • Neck Pain / prevention & control*
  • Neck Pain / psychology
  • Posture
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Social Environment
  • Task Performance and Analysis