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Is musculoskeletal pain associated with work engagement?

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Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 1. April 2017
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Scandinavian Journal of Pain
Aus der Zeitschrift Scandinavian Journal of Pain Band 15 Heft 1

In this issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Pain Kirsi Malmberg-Ceder and co-workers from Helsinki, Turku, Kuopio, and Pori in Finland publish their cross-sectional study on possible factors associated with lower work-engagement, such as burden of pain and several psychosocial issues [1].An apparent statistically highly significant association between medium and severe burden of pain and work-engagement became less impressive after multivariate ordered logistic regression analyses. Still, duration of sick-leave due to musculoskeletal pain did lower work-engagement significantly. They concluded that psychosocial and life-style factors significantly correlated with work-engagement. Uncomplicated pain per se did not have this effect [1].

1 How disabling a pain condition becomes is determined by many add-on factors, in addition to the pain per se

Work, health, and work ability should be discussed within a bio-psycho-social framework since biological/medical, psychological, and social factors contribute to health and function. Retirement due to disability is a result of a series of processes. Medical condition, physiological and psychological function, competence, job characteristics, individual appraisal of work ability, physician’s assessment of work ability, job motivation, availability of alternative work tasks, legislation, economical incentives, macroeconomic conditions, may contribute in the processes leading from good health and high work ability to disability and exit from working life.

In Norway the presence of chronic pain increases the risk of early retirement by a factor of more than 4 [2,3], increasing age and the presence of anxiety and depression contribute significantly, but not by far as much as chronic pain to the risk of early disability retirement [2,3].

2 Factors at the workplace

Work factors may contribute to early retirement with disability by influencing several of these factors. Many studies have shown that psychological, social, and organizational factors at work contribute to health in general and to musculoskeletal pain disorders in particular (e.g. [4]). While health and pain may influence function and the ability to perform work tasks, the individuals’ subjective appraisal of the cause(s), threat, and consequences of a health problem may influence illness perceptions and illness behaviours. In combination with the appraisal of demands posed by the work tasks, illness perceptions and behaviours may influence the individuals’ appraisal of work ability.

Hence, factors pertaining to individual-, workplace-, and society-levels may contribute to work disability. Examples of individual-level psychological factors that seem to contribute to the prognosis of chronic musculoskeletal pain and disability are fear avoidance (e.g. [5,6]) and catastrophizing pain beliefs (e.g. [7]).

3 Work motivation, loyalty and responsibility at work

Work motivation may moderate effects of health on work ability. Motives and expectations need to be satisfied for employees to perceive the job as satisfactory and motivating. Several decades of studies of management and organizational psychology have delineated attitudes that contribute to job satisfaction and sickness absence:Job involvement is the individual’s identification with the job, i.e. the attitude that one’s work activities are important to his or her identity or self-image (e.g. [8]). Commitment to the workplace is the identification with, loyalty to, and engagement in the employing organization (e.g. [9]). Several factors that determine work motivation have also been documented (e.g. [10,11]).

4 Work engagement and perception of pain

Work engagement is a recent popular construct to describe positive states related to work. This construct is a compound of factors related to motivation: “vigour, dedication, absorption” [12]. It seems possible that having pain may influence one’s perception of work tasks and psychological states related to work.

The study that Kirsi Malmberg-Ceder and co-workers publish in the present issue of Scandinavian Journal of Pain aimed to determine if female employees with or without musculoskeletal pain report different levels of work engagement. Of the 702 employees examined, 465 (77%) reported pain lasting for more than three months and 101 reported no pain at all [1].

This study found that the musculoskeletal pain per se was not related to self-reported work engagement. Factors pertaining to personal economy (financial satisfaction), psychological state and traits (depression, anxiety, sleep quality, hostility, type D personality), leisure time physical activity, and “work and family stress” were all related to self-reported job engagement in this crosssectional study [1].

With the cross-sectional design and all variables measured by subjective reports there is no way to draw conclusions of the nature of associations between these variables and work engagement, i.e. the direction of any causation cannot be determined.

5 Implications of the study by Kirsi Malmberg-Ceder and co-workers

Their study illustrates the need for knowledge of interactions between pain and health, job motivation, competence, and work ability [1]. Future studies should have full-panel prospective designs and incorporate adequate measurement of work factors to allow evidence-based conclusions of risks, prognosis, and should enable researchers to propose hypothesis of mechanisms. Furthermore, the “classical” factors of job motivation, involvement, and commitment should be taken into consideration in studies of pain-related risk of disability and well-being at work.

DOI of refers to article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.11.018.

  1. Conflict of interest: None declared.

References

[1] Malmberg-Ceder K, Haanpää M, Korhonen PE, Kautiainen H, Soinila S. Relationship of musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work – does pain matter? Scand J Pain 2017;15:38–43.Suche in Google Scholar

[2] Nielsen CS. Chronic pain is strongly associated with work disability. Scand J Pain 2013;4:180–1.Suche in Google Scholar

[3] Landmark T, Romundstad P, Dale O, Borchgrevink PC, Vatten L, Kaasa S. Chronic pain: one year prevalence and associated characteristics (the HUNT pain study). Scand J Pain 2013;4:182–7, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2013.08.002.Suche in Google Scholar

[4] Christensen JO, Knardahl S. Work and neck pain: a prospective study of psychological, social, and mechanical risk factors. Pain 2010;151:162–73.Suche in Google Scholar

[5] Lethem J, Slade PD, Troup JDG, Bentley G. Outline of a fear-avoidance model of exaggerated pain perception-I. Behav Res Ther 1983;21:401–8.Suche in Google Scholar

[6] Crombez G, Eccleston C, Van Damme S, Vlaeyen JWS, Karoly P. Fear-avoidance model of chronic pain: the next generation. Clin J Pain 2012;28:475–83, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e3182385392.Suche in Google Scholar

[7] Wertli MM, Eugster R, Held U, Steurer J, Kofmehl R, Weiser S. Catastrophizing – a prognostic factor for outcome in patients with low back pain: a systematic review. Spine J 2014;14:2639–57.Suche in Google Scholar

[8] Lodahl TM, Kejner M. The definition and measurement of job involvement. J Appl Psychol 1965;49:24–33.Suche in Google Scholar

[9] Blau GJ, Boal KB. Conceptualizing how job involvement and organizational commitment affect turnover and absenteeism. Acad Manag Rev 1987;12:288–300.Suche in Google Scholar

[10] Hackman JR, Oldham GR. Motivation through the design of work: test of a theory. Organ Behav Human Perform 1976;16:250–79.Suche in Google Scholar

[11] Adams JS. Toward an understanding of inequity. J Abnorm Soc Psychol 1963;67:422–36.Suche in Google Scholar

[12] Schaufeli WB, Salanova M, Gonzales-Roma V, Bakker AB. The measurement of engagement and burnout: a confirmatory analytic approach. J Happiness Stud 2002;3:71–92.Suche in Google Scholar
Published Online: 2017-04-01
Published in Print: 2017-04-01

© 2016 Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain

Artikel in diesem Heft

  2. Scandinavian Journal of Pain
  3. Editorial comment
  4. Cardiovascular risk reduction as a population strategy for preventing pain?
  5. Observational study
  6. Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia as risk factors for frequent pain in the back, neck and/or shoulders/arms among adults in Stockholm 2006 to 2010 – Results from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort
  7. Editorial comment
  8. Exercising non-painful muscles can induce hypoalgesia in individuals with chronic pain
  9. Clinical pain research
  10. Exercise induced hypoalgesia is elicited by isometric, but not aerobic exercise in individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorders
  11. Editorial comment
  12. Education of nurses and medical doctors is a sine qua non for improving pain management of hospitalized patients, but not enough
  13. Observational study
  14. Acute pain in the emergency department: Effect of an educational intervention
  15. Editorial comment
  16. Home training in sensorimotor discrimination reduces pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  17. Original experimental
  18. Pain reduction due to novel sensory-motor training in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I – A pilot study
  19. Editorial comment
  20. How can pain management be improved in hospitalized patients?
  21. Original experimental
  22. Pain and pain management in hospitalized patients before and after an intervention
  23. Editorial comment
  24. Is musculoskeletal pain associated with work engagement?
  25. Clinical pain research
  26. Relationship of musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work – Does pain matter?
  27. Editorial comment
  28. Preoperative quantitative sensory testing (QST) predicting postoperative pain: Image or mirage?
  29. Systematic review
  30. Are preoperative experimental pain assessments correlated with clinical pain outcomes after surgery? A systematic review
  31. Editorial comment
  32. A possible biomarker of low back pain: 18F-FDeoxyGlucose uptake in PETscan and CT of the spinal cord
  33. Observational study
  34. Detection of nociceptive-related metabolic activity in the spinal cord of low back pain patients using 18F-FDG PET/CT
  35. Editorial comment
  36. Patients’ subjective acute pain rating scales (VAS, NRS) are fine; more elaborate evaluations needed for chronic pain, especially in the elderly and demented patients
  37. Clinical pain research
  38. How do medical students use and understand pain rating scales?
  39. Editorial comment
  40. Opioids and the gut; not only constipation and laxatives
  41. Observational study
  42. Healthcare resource use and costs of opioid-induced constipation among non-cancer and cancer patients on opioid therapy: A nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark
  43. Editorial comment
  44. Relief of phantom limb pain using mirror therapy: A bit more optimism from retrospective analysis of two studies
  45. Clinical pain research
  46. Trajectory of phantom limb pain relief using mirror therapy: Retrospective analysis of two studies
  47. Editorial comment
  48. Qualitative pain research emphasizes that patients need true information and physicians and nurses need more knowledge of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  49. Clinical pain research
  50. Adolescents’ experience of complex persistent pain
  51. Editorial comment
  52. New knowledge reduces risk of damage to spinal cord from spinal haematoma after epidural- or spinal-analgesia and from spinal cord stimulator leads
  53. Review
  54. Neuraxial blocks and spinal haematoma: Review of 166 case reports published 1994–2015. Part 1: Demographics and risk-factors
  55. Review
  56. Neuraxial blocks and spinal haematoma: Review of 166 cases published 1994 – 2015. Part 2: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
  57. Editorial comment
  58. CNS–mechanisms contribute to chronification of pain
  59. Topical review
  60. A neurobiologist’s attempt to understand persistent pain
  61. Editorial Comment
  62. The triumvirate of co-morbid chronic pain, depression, and cognitive impairment: Attacking this “chicken-and-egg” in novel ways
  63. Observational study
  64. Pain and major depressive disorder: Associations with cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjpain.2016.12.003

Artikel in diesem Heft

  2. Scandinavian Journal of Pain
  3. Editorial comment
  4. Cardiovascular risk reduction as a population strategy for preventing pain?
  5. Observational study
  6. Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidaemia as risk factors for frequent pain in the back, neck and/or shoulders/arms among adults in Stockholm 2006 to 2010 – Results from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort
  7. Editorial comment
  8. Exercising non-painful muscles can induce hypoalgesia in individuals with chronic pain
  9. Clinical pain research
  10. Exercise induced hypoalgesia is elicited by isometric, but not aerobic exercise in individuals with chronic whiplash associated disorders
  11. Editorial comment
  12. Education of nurses and medical doctors is a sine qua non for improving pain management of hospitalized patients, but not enough
  13. Observational study
  14. Acute pain in the emergency department: Effect of an educational intervention
  15. Editorial comment
  16. Home training in sensorimotor discrimination reduces pain in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  17. Original experimental
  18. Pain reduction due to novel sensory-motor training in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I – A pilot study
  19. Editorial comment
  20. How can pain management be improved in hospitalized patients?
  21. Original experimental
  22. Pain and pain management in hospitalized patients before and after an intervention
  23. Editorial comment
  24. Is musculoskeletal pain associated with work engagement?
  25. Clinical pain research
  26. Relationship of musculoskeletal pain and well-being at work – Does pain matter?
  27. Editorial comment
  28. Preoperative quantitative sensory testing (QST) predicting postoperative pain: Image or mirage?
  29. Systematic review
  30. Are preoperative experimental pain assessments correlated with clinical pain outcomes after surgery? A systematic review
  31. Editorial comment
  32. A possible biomarker of low back pain: 18F-FDeoxyGlucose uptake in PETscan and CT of the spinal cord
  33. Observational study
  34. Detection of nociceptive-related metabolic activity in the spinal cord of low back pain patients using 18F-FDG PET/CT
  35. Editorial comment
  36. Patients’ subjective acute pain rating scales (VAS, NRS) are fine; more elaborate evaluations needed for chronic pain, especially in the elderly and demented patients
  37. Clinical pain research
  38. How do medical students use and understand pain rating scales?
  39. Editorial comment
  40. Opioids and the gut; not only constipation and laxatives
  41. Observational study
  42. Healthcare resource use and costs of opioid-induced constipation among non-cancer and cancer patients on opioid therapy: A nationwide register-based cohort study in Denmark
  43. Editorial comment
  44. Relief of phantom limb pain using mirror therapy: A bit more optimism from retrospective analysis of two studies
  45. Clinical pain research
  46. Trajectory of phantom limb pain relief using mirror therapy: Retrospective analysis of two studies
  47. Editorial comment
  48. Qualitative pain research emphasizes that patients need true information and physicians and nurses need more knowledge of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  49. Clinical pain research
  50. Adolescents’ experience of complex persistent pain
  51. Editorial comment
  52. New knowledge reduces risk of damage to spinal cord from spinal haematoma after epidural- or spinal-analgesia and from spinal cord stimulator leads
  53. Review
  54. Neuraxial blocks and spinal haematoma: Review of 166 case reports published 1994–2015. Part 1: Demographics and risk-factors
  55. Review
  56. Neuraxial blocks and spinal haematoma: Review of 166 cases published 1994 – 2015. Part 2: diagnosis, treatment, and outcome
  57. Editorial comment
  58. CNS–mechanisms contribute to chronification of pain
  59. Topical review
  60. A neurobiologist’s attempt to understand persistent pain
  61. Editorial Comment
  62. The triumvirate of co-morbid chronic pain, depression, and cognitive impairment: Attacking this “chicken-and-egg” in novel ways
  63. Observational study
  64. Pain and major depressive disorder: Associations with cognitive impairment as measured by the THINC-integrated tool (THINC-it)
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