Computer-related musculoskeletal dysfunction among adolescent school learners in the Cape Metropolitan region

[摘要] INTRODUCTIONComputer use has been identified as a risk factor for the development of musculoskeletaldysfunction among children and adolescents internationally. Computer exposure hasincreased in the Western Cape since 2002, with the inception of a project to install computerlaboratories in all schools in the province. As musculoskeletal dysfunction experiencedduring adolescence is predictive of musculoskeletal disorders in adulthood, it is essential toidentify all risk and/or associative factors.METHODOLOGYA descriptive study was conducted with the aim to investigate whether the musculoskeletaldysfunction of high school learners in the Cape Metropolitan region was related to theircomputer use. This study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 of the study entailed thecompletion of a new questionnaire, the Computer Usage Questionnaire, by grade 10-12learners. The learner sample was divided in a computer and a non-computer groupdepending on their exposure to the school computer. Phase 2 of the study involved theassessment of the ergonomic design of the computer laboratories at randomly selected highschools within the Cape Metropolitan region.RESULTSA total of 1073 learners (65% girls & 35% boys), aged 14-18 years, completed the CUQ inphase 1 of the study. The results indicated that learners in the computer group had greaterweekly exposure to computers than the non-computer group. The prevalence ofmusculoskeletal dysfunction among this learner sample was 74%. The most common bodyareas of dysfunction were the head, low back and neck. The female gender, playing sportand using the school computer for more than three years were associated withmusculoskeletal dysfunction. Weekly computer use of more than seven hours waspredictive of general musculoskeletal dysfunction, low back pain and neck pain.Twenty nine computer laboratories within 16 selected high schools were assessed bymeans of the Computer Workstation Design Assessment (CWDA). Out of a total score of40, the computer laboratories obtained average scores of less than 45%, indicatingcompliance with less than half of the standard ergonomic requirements.The average scores for the workspace environment was less than 40%. The design of thedesk, chair and computer screen had the poorest compliance to ergonomic guidelines.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of musculoskeletal dysfunction among this sample was higher than amongother similar samples on the same study topic. The higher prevalence may be attributed tothe poor ergonomic design of the computer laboratories in the Cape Metropolitan region.Learners' reduced participation in activities such as sport and working on a computer due totheir musculoskeletal dysfunction, may impact on their choice of a future career. Thetendency of learners not to seek medical advice for their musculoskeletal dysfunction maypredispose the development of chronic musculoskeletal disorders.Education of related parties on safe computing habits as well as advice on the ergonomicdesign of computer laboratories is recommended to prevent the progression of adolescentmusculoskeletal dysfunction into chronic disorders in adulthood.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University