Prevalence of Self-Reported Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms among Software Employees in Hyderabad, India

Abstract

Background: This study has been carried out to analyze the prevalence of self-reported work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among software professionals and to utilize the findings to design an effective preventive interventional program for WRMSDs. Subjects & Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive data analysis was done among 665 software employees both male and female from various companies in Q city Tech Park, Hyderabad. Data collected with “Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire” (CMDQ). Results: A total of 640 subjects were eligible for this study. Prevalence of WRMSDs to be 67%. The most common sites of reported symptoms are neck (65.0%), upper back (56.4%), lower back (62.6%), right shoulder (41.4%), left shoulder (35.4%) and right thigh (41.4%). Women were more likely to report symptoms in neck, lower back and both shoulder region than men (p<0.05). Discomforts in neck, lower back and right shoulder are greatly shown impact on work performance. Conclusion: WRMSDs are highly prevalent is software professionals and women at more risk than men. These findings indicate the need for more attention to WRMSDs and design of effective preventive strategies. Keywords: musculoskeletal pain, Prevalence, software professionals, work related musculoskeletal disorders.