Trial reportBMC musculoskeletal disorders2010
Effectiveness of a questionnaire based intervention programme on the prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms, risk factors and sick leave in computer workers: a cluster randomised controlled trial in an occupational setting.
Trial report in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The Effectiveness of Workplace Musculoskeletal Injury Risk Factor Screening Tools for Reducing Injury: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Interventions for preventing back pain among office workers - a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health · 2023Pooled it
- Workplace interventions for increasing standing or walking for decreasing musculoskeletal symptoms in sedentary workers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019Pooled it
- Ergonomic interventions for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and neck among office workers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018Pooled it
- Effectiveness of workplace interventions in the prevention of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders and symptoms: an update of the evidence.Occupational and environmental medicine · 2016Pooled it
- Conservative interventions for treating work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013Pooled it
- Systematic review of active workplace interventions to reduce sickness absence.Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) · 2013Pooled it
- Effect of training supervision on effectiveness of strength training for reducing neck/shoulder pain and headache in office workers: cluster randomized controlled trial.BioMed research international · 2014Trial
- The cost-effectiveness of the RSI QuickScan intervention programme for computer workers: Results of an economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2010Trial
- Philippine Clinical Practice Guidelines for Periodic Health Examination: Screening for Musculoskeletal Disorders.Acta medica Philippina · 2026Article
- Article
- Therapeutic Approaches for the Prevention of Upper Limb Repetitive Strain Injuries in Work-Related Computer Use: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2025Article
- Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among undergraduate students.Frontiers in medicine · 2024Article
- Multilevel, risk group-oriented strategies to decrease sickness absence in the public sector: evaluation of interventions in two regions in Sweden.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2022Article
- Prevalence of neck and shoulder pain among Saudi universities' students who are using smartphones and computers.Journal of family medicine and primary care · 2022Article
- Behavior Change Techniques in mHealth Apps for the Mental and Physical Health of Employees: Systematic Assessment.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2018Article
- Evaluating an mHealth App for Health and Well-Being at Work: Mixed-Method Qualitative Study.JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 2018Article
- Comparison of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms between male cameramen and male office workers.Annals of occupational and environmental medicine · 2018Article
- Clinical Decision Support Tools for Selecting Interventions for Patients with Disabling Musculoskeletal Disorders: A Scoping Review.Journal of occupational rehabilitation · 2016Article
- Concurrent validity of questions on arm, shoulder and neck symptoms of the RSI QuickScan.International archives of occupational and environmental health · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundArm, shoulder and neck symptoms are very prevalent among computer workers. In an attempt to reduce these symptoms, a large occupational health service in the Netherlands developed a preventive programme on exposure to risk factors, prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms, and sick leave in computer workers. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of this intervention programme.
methodsThe study was a randomised controlled trial. The participants were assigned to either the intervention group or the usual care group by means of cluster randomisation. At baseline and after 12 months of follow-up, the participants completed the RSI QuickScan questionnaire on exposure to the risk factors and on the prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms. A tailor-made intervention programme was proposed to participants with a high risk profile at baseline. Examples of implemented interventions are an individual workstation check, a visit to the occupational health physician and an education programme on the prevention of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms. The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms. Secondary outcome measures were the scores on risk factors for arm, shoulder and neck symptoms and the number of days of sick leave. Sick leave data was obtained from the companies. Multilevel analyses were used to test the effectiveness.
resultsOf the 1,673 persons invited to participate in the study, 1,183 persons (71%) completed the baseline questionnaire and 741 persons participated at baseline as well as at 12-month follow-up. At 12-month follow-up, the intervention group showed a significant positive change (OR = 0.48) in receiving information on healthy computer use, as well as a significant positive change regarding risk indicators for work posture and movement, compared to the usual care group. There were no significant differences in changes in the prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms or sick leave between the intervention and usual care group.
conclusionsThe effects of the RSI QuickScan intervention programme were small, possibly as a result of difficulties with the implementation process of the proposed interventions. However, some significant positive effects were found as to an increase in receiving education and a decrease in exposure to adverse postures and movements. With regard to symptoms and sick leave, only small and non-significant effects were found.
trial registrationNetherlands National Trial Register NTR1117.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.