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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Musculoskeletal disorders and disability among forest industry workers in lower and higher sickness absence groups: a case-control study

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Background: Musculoskeletal wellbeing and disorders and explanatory factors were investigated among forest industry employees. Methods: A new positive approach to maintenance of working ability focuses on being present at work. 140 individuals with low sickness absence (≤1.5% in hours during the past 6.5 years) and 140 controls with higher sickness absence (>1.5%), randomly selected from the source population (n = 636) in workplace clusters (n = 5), were studied. Questionnaire data on functioning, musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and disability, work ability and wellbeing were collected (response rate 65%) during December 2012–January 2013. 183 employees (mean age 48.5; females 32%) participated. Differences between cases and controls were studied with t- and Mann–Whitney tests and between age groups with Kruskal–Wallis tests. Associations between dependent and independent variables were studied using linear and logistic regression. Results: The sickness absence groups showed no statistically significant difference in MSD prevalence, although the lower sickness absence group reported less musculoskeletal disability than controls (p<.001). Across all participants, a low prevalence of MSD was explained by good work ability (p<.001) and high maximal oxygen consumption (p = .045). Lower musculoskeletal disability in the lower sickness absence group was explained by high psychological resources (OR =0.58) and in controls by good work ability (OR =0.03) and sedentary work (OR =0.08) Conclusion: Employee heterogeneity is important issue when seeking to minimise prevalence of musculoskeletal disability or sickness absence or their interaction. peerReviewed