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Biomedical subjects

S J Linton

Publications and source records attributed to S J Linton.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Musculoskeletal health surveillance. Eight simple, self-administered tests to add to symptom registration: a preliminary report.

STUDY DESIGN: A population-based evaluation including cross-sectional comparisons of eight simple function tests (mobility and strength) and answers on questions concerning lifestyle factors, work environment, and health. The study population was randomly selected among people 35-45 years old. OBJECTIVES: To construct a simple, self-administered surveillance system to test musculoskeletal function to be mailed to a sample population along with a questionnaire. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A surveillance system should be easy to use, detect treatable symptoms at an early stage, and detect change of function or symptoms. METHOD: Questionnaires, which also contained instructions in performing the eight tests of musculoskeletal function, were sent to a randomly selected sample population. The questionnaire covered type and level of musculoskeletal problems, and lifestyle and occupational factors. RESULTS: The questionnaire and the self-administered test were completed by 834 people. The test movements could be performed and the questions answered by the study population. The tests discriminated between those with and without moderate or severe problems. Performance of physically heavy work did not significantly correlate with the test results. The results of the physical function test discriminated significantly between those with different levels of fear of movement (odds ratio, 2.2) and the degree of current somatic distress (odds ratio, 5.9). CONCLUSION: The test of physical function could be performed and the questionnaire completed by this randomly selected cohort, and the results discriminated significantly between groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A population-based study of the relationship between sexual abuse and back pain: establishing a link.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse in the general population as well as to investigate the link between abuse and pain. From a pool of randomly selected people 35-45-years-old, three groups were selected based on their reports of their musculoskeletal pain. These were the No Pain Group (n = 449), the Mild Pain Group (n = 229), and the Pronounced Pain Group (n = 271). A group of 142 consecutive patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain was used as a clinical reference group. A standardized questionnaire was employed to determine self-reported physical and sexual abuse. Sexual abuse was more frequently reported than physical abuse and women tended to report more sexual abuse than did men. For women the prevalence of physical abuse ranged from 2% in the No Pain Group to 8% in the Pronounced Pain Group. The total amount of self-reported sexual abuse ranged from 23% in the No Pain Group to 46% in the Pronounced Pain Group. The prevalence of self-reported abuse for the Patient Group differed little from the Pronounced Pain Group and was 35%. For females only, there was a clear link between self-reported abuse and pain as physical abuse increased the risk of pronounced pain by five-fold and sexual abuse increased this risk by four-fold. These data provide the prevalence of self-reported abuse in a 'normal' population base and moreover demonstrate an important link between self-reported abuse and pain for women. The findings show that self-reported abuse may be an important predictor for chronic pain and provide support for the idea that abuse may indirectly or directly be implicated in the chronification of pain.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bridging the gap: support groups do not enhance long-term outcome in chronic back pain.

OBJECTIVE: Because back pain patients often relapse within months of treatment, the effects of two types of support groups as a complement to usual medical treatment was investigated on long-term outcome. DESIGN: Regular treatment was compared with an "educational" support group and a professional support group before and 1 year after intervention in a randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS: A total of 76 women and 27 men, average age of 50 years and with an accumulated sick leave for musculoskeletal pain of 2-24 weeks during the past year, were randomly assigned to the three groups. OUTCOME MEASURES: Sick leave records were obtained from the National Insurance Authority. A battery of standardized instruments was employed, which featured the Sickness Impact Profile, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale, the Pain and Discomfort Scale, the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory, and the Outcome Evaluation Questionnaire. RESULTS: The Educational Support Group demonstrated greater attendance than did the Professional Support Group. However, long-term outcome was not significantly different between any of the groups for sick leave, coping, function, or experienced pain. Both support groups, relative to the Regular Treatment Group, made greater improvements on the Sickness Impact Profile. CONCLUSION: This study provides little evidence that support groups, as a complement to regular treatment, enhance long-term outcome for subacute musculoskeletal pain problems. Specific treatment techniques, matched to the patient's needs, stringently taught, and delivered in a more compact form, may be necessary for enhancing outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Sexual abuse and chronic musculoskeletal pain: prevalence and psychological factors.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of a history of sexual abuse among patients with long-term musculoskeletal pain. Psychological factors associated with abuse and pain were also studied. DESIGN: First, the prevalence of abuse was determined based on self-report on a valid and reliable abuse questionnaire. Subsequently, a cross-sectional method, in which patients were categorized as abused or nonabused, was employed and responses to a battery of questionnaires compared. PATIENTS: Seventy-five consecutive patients undergoing assessment for chronic musculoskeletal pain participated. OUTCOME MEASURES: These included Beck's Depression Inventory, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, the Uppsala Type A Behavior Questionnaire, the Pain and Impairment Rating Scale, as well as ratings of pain intensity. RESULTS: Thirty-eight percent of the women and 10% of the men reported some form of sexual abuse, usually during adulthood. A majority (77%) had disclosed the abuse to someone, but >85% did not believe that the abuse negatively affected their pain or sex lives. Abused women, relative to nonabused ones, had poorer scores on 27 of the 29 assessment variables. Abused female patients had significantly higher levels of depression, stress from daily hassles, affective distress, and more frequent negative responses from spouses, in addition to having lower levels of social activities, life control and effective coping for pain than did the nonabused female patients. CONCLUSION: These data extend the relationship between sexual abuse and pain to a Swedish population suffering from musculoskeletal complaints. Our findings suggest that intervention in the pain treatment setting may need to address further the problems of effective coping strategies and depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Working despite pain: factors associated with work attendance versus dysfunction.

A cross-sectional investigation of psychosocial variables in 63 female employees matched for experienced pain was conducted to study the difference between back pain sufferers who were working (Copers) and those who were off work (Dysfunctional). The subjects reported moderate to severe pain often or always during the past year and were employed at the same hospital. Thirty-seven women who had not been off work for pain made up the Copers group, whereas 26 women who had been off work for their pain made up the Dysfunctional group. Subjects were interviewed and completed a battery of questionnaires designed to penetrate level of dysfunction, perceived health, work and social satisfaction, perceived workload, coping strategies, and pain beliefs. Multiple covariate analyses that controlled for perceived workload, smoking, low-back mobility, and obesity revealed significant differences between the groups on levels of functioning, pain beliefs, and coping strategies used. Dysfunctional subjects had stronger beliefs that pain was directly related to activities that they had little control over their pain, that their health was poor, and that they tended to focus more on their pain. A discriminant analysis correctly classified 83% of the subjects as to work status based on six psychosocial variables. These results not only demonstrate the importance of psychosocial factors in back pain, but underscore the fact that work absence for back pain may he controlled by psychological factors related to beliefs and coping strategies. Future research may attempt to use these factors in the screening of patients.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

An overview of psychosocial and behavioral factors in neck-and-shoulder pain.

Psychological factors are suspected to be pertinent in the etiology, maintenance, treatment and prevention of neck and shoulder pain problems. I present a broad overview of current knowledge and trends concerning cognitive-behavioral factors for these pain problems. Although there is a dire lack of research concerning cognitive-behavioral approaches and no psychological theory specific to neck and shoulder problems is currently available, a good deal is nevertheless known about musculoskeletal pain in general. Consequently, there is reason to believe that these factors may be involved in the etiology of neck-and-shoulder disorders. In particular, psychological factors appear to be important in the development and maintenance of subacute and chronic problems. Treatment techniques, adherence, and prevention are examined from a psychological perspective. The application of cognitive-behavioral factors to the treatment and prevention of neck and shoulder pain should provide new avenues which enhance results. It is concluded that while a lack of research precludes definite conclusions, there is ample reason to believe that research into psychological factors may well result in a better understanding of neck and shoulder pain and enhanced treatment and prevention outcomes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

The effects of ergonomically designed school furniture on pupils' attitudes, symptoms and behaviour.

We tested the effects of implementing ergonomically designed school furniture on measures of comfort, sitting posture and symptoms. Three classes of fourth graders (10 years old) were randomly assigned either to a control group using traditional furniture or to an experimental group which received the ergonomically designed furniture. In both groups questionnaires were completed and sitting behaviour was observed twice before and after the intervention as well as at a five-month follow-up period. Although the experimental groups rated their furniture as being significantly more comfortable, differences in actual sitting behaviour were small. The experimental class experienced a reduction in musculoskeletal symptoms relative to the control group after implementing the ergonomically designed furniture. Since pupils did not automatically sit 'properly' in the ergonomic furniture, these results demonstrate the need for proper instructions and adjustment. Increased comfort and decreased symptoms may be used to motivate pupils to sit correctly. Our results suggest that furniture design is one aspect of a multidimensional problem.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1994

Chronic back pain: integrating psychological and physical therapy--an overview.

Chronic back pain is a major consumer of costly healthcare resources in the Western world. Patients' suffering affects their families and associates, leads to diminished self-confidence, and prevents their effective participation in the workplace. Although medical treatments and analgesics are generally successful in treating acute back pain, and some patients recover spontaneously, conventional approaches are less successful in dealing with chronic pain and may be contraindicated. In the first of two articles, the author offers an overview of research on cognitive-behavioral programs, using operant activity and relaxation training, that have led to reductions in patients' pain and to increases in their activity levels. Part 2 provides a step-by-step description of how to incorporate basic psychological techniques and physical therapy procedures for chronic pain sufferers. Patient and therapist cooperate in operant activities, with the patient monitoring progress and carrying out regular home-work assignments as he or she seeks to perform target activities; applied relaxation encourages the patient to cope with pain by disrupting the connection between anxiety, despair, and pain. The techniques outlined are suitable for dealing with other musculoskeletal conditions as well as with chronic back pain.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1994

A prospective study of patients with acute back and neck pain in Sweden.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This community-based investigation studied patients with acute back/neck pain and prospectively examined risk factors for chronic pain. SUBJECTS: One hundred twenty residents (64 men, 56 women) of a rural community in Sweden who were off work or had been examined by a physician rural community in Sweden who were off work or had been examined by a physician because of acute low back/neck pain during a 1-year period were randomly selected to participate in the study. METHODS: All subjects were examined by a physical therapist and completed questionnaires relating to their functional ability during activities of daily living. The subjects were then prospectively followed to examine treatment content and possible factors for predicting the development of chronic pain. RESULTS: The most common symptom was a dull ache (44%), mostly in the low back (56%). In spite of early care, 16 patients who were randomly selected for further study developed chronic pain during the follow-up year. The patients with chronic pain did not differ from those without chronic pain in age, amount of pain, or handicaps. The risk of developing chronic pain, however, was nearly five times higher for those patients whose pain was provoked by trunk movements in several directions at the first clinical examination. When signs of possible nerve root affection were present, the risk for chronic pain development was nearly eight times higher. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: These results suggest that more attention may need to be paid to patients with these risk factors, so that effective preventive measures may be developed.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1993

Ergonomic education for nursing students.

An educational package of common ergonomic training as well as behavioural training was implemented in nursing education. The teaching methods also had the aim of increasing students' awareness of the importance of total work environment for the prevention of back injuries. The experimental group was, on the whole, more pleased with their education than the control group. The experimental group judged their ability to analyse the work environment higher than the control group did. Observations in some practical work-tasks showed that students from the experimental group worked in physically more favourable positions with less strain on the body.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1993

Attributions (beliefs) and job satisfaction associated with back pain in an industrial setting.

We investigated possible differences between management and workers in attributions about the cause and prevention of industrial back pain. 145 employees from upper management, lower management, and blue-collar ranks completed several questionnaires. Age, sex, job satisfaction, and history of back pain were also examined for possible confounding effects. There were significant differences in attributions between job levels, with upper management believing more strongly in causal factors related to the individual, while blue-collar workers attributed back pain more frequently to the work environment. This difference was significant even when the effects of age, sex, job satisfaction, and pain were controlled. A history of back pain increased attributions of cause related to the work environment. Job dissatisfaction increased the risk for back pain nearly sevenfold and dissatisfied people tended to attribute the cause of their pain to the work environment. These results highlight the intricate relationship between attributions, job satisfaction, and pain. Compliance and motivation for interventions might be enhanced by taking into account differences in attributions of cause and effective prevention.

Administrative Personnel↗
PubMed1992

An 18-month follow-up of a secondary prevention program for back pain: help and hindrance factors related to outcome maintenance.

Thirty-six subjects participated in an 18-month follow-up of a secondary prevention program for back pain of recent onset. The follow-up assessment included most of the same instruments used in the original study. In addition, interviews were conducted to ascertain help and hindrance factors for maintaining improvements during the follow-up period. Results showed that subjects had significantly less pain, used fewer medications, and were more active at 18-month follow-up than at baseline. All subjects had returned to work, and one third had no pain-related work absences during the follow-up. A cost-benefit analysis indicated substantial economic savings when follow-up sick-listing data were compared with estimates based on an increasing trend for pain-related absenteeism found during the baseline period. Hindrance factors reported by subjects were related to personal time-management and workplace factors, especially psychosocial aspects of the work environment. It was concluded that the secondary prevention program was effective and that future maintenance programs should focus more on personal time-management and workplace factors.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1991

Memory for chronic pain intensity: correlates of accuracy.

In this study the effects of psychosocial factors on chronic pain recall were investigated. 61 female back pain patients first rated their pain intensity on visual analogue scales during a baseline period. At follow-up 18 mo. later the participants were asked to recall their pain. In addition, they completed a battery of questionnaires including such factors as current depression, pain, helplessness, activities of daily living, and psychosocial work environment, to assess whether these factors affect memory. The results indicated that about 70% of the participants "overestimated" their remembered pain. No significant relationships between recall accuracy and current depression, pain, activities of daily living, or sleep quality were found. However, moderate and significant correlations were found for helplessness and four psychosocial work environment items. These results replicate other reports showing poor memory for intensity of pain and underscore the possible importance of psychosocial work environment factors in memory for intensity of chronic pain.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

A behavioral workshop for training immediate supervisors: the key to neck and back injuries?

This study investigated the short-term effects of a workshop for 22 immediate supervisors designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain injuries. One group of supervisors received training on how to deal with musculoskeletal injuries, while the control group of 14 received no training. 36 male immediate supervisors and 171 male employees within the Swedish railroad system completed questionnaires before and after the intervention. The trained supervisors' ratings showed that they enjoyed the workshop and believed that it improved their skills. Moreover, trained supervisors significantly more often than the controls showed target behaviors and attitudes compatible with course content. Finally, employees of the trained supervisors reported significantly more often than the control group that their supervisor used target behaviors. It is concluded that an educational program for immediate supervisors is viable and may lead to changes in attitude and behavior. Teaching supervisors to work with employees is a rich field for future investigation; the long-term effects of such programs need to be studied.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1991

Neck and shoulder disorders in medical secretaries. Part I. Pain prevalence and risk factors.

420 medical secretaries took part in a cross-sectional study at examining the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders as well as the relationship between neck and shoulder pain and possible risk factors. Sixty-three percent had experienced neck pain sometime during the previous year and while 15% had suffered almost constant pain 32% had experienced neck pain only occasionally. Shoulder pain during the previous year had been experienced by 62%, 17% had suffered almost constant pain while 29% experienced pain only occasionally. Fifty-one percent had experienced low back pain. Age and length of employment were significantly related to neck and shoulder pain. Furthermore, working with office machines 5 hours or more per day was associated with a significantly increased risk for neck pain (OR 1.7), shoulder pain (OR 1.9) and headache (OR 1.8). Finally, a poorly experienced psychosocial work environment was significantly related to headache, neck, shoulder and low back pain. The results of this study suggest that work with office machines as well as the psychosocial work environment are important factors in neck and shoulder pain.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed1991

Neck and shoulder disorders in medical secretaries. Part II. Ergonomical work environment and symptom profile.

Seventy-nine medical secretaries with neck and shoulder pain were included in a study aimed at an in-depth description of the ergonomical work environment and the participant's symptom profile, as well as analysing relationships between ergonomical factors and symptoms. Data were collected by daily ratings, questionnaires, and direct observation. The symptom profile showed low mean daily ratings of perceived fatigue and pain, a low medicine consumption, and few stress symptoms. A mean number of 2.1 undesirable work postures was observed. The correlations between perceived fatigue, pain, and well-being with number of shifts from sitting to standing and time spent typing, were generally small. This study suggests that risk factors for neck and shoulder pain are individual and multifactorial.

Academic Medical Centers↗