Prevalence and factors associated with neck pain among research and development department staff in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Neck pain is the most common musculoskeletal complexity with a high prevalence, especially in adults and the elderly.

Objectives

The objective of our study is to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of neck pain in research and development department staff in Bangladesh.

Methodology

Data were collected through questionnaire-assisted interviews to investigate the prevalence and related factors of neck pain among 384 R&D employees aged 18–55 years in Bangladesh. We performed regression analysis on neck pain and associated risk factors to uncover its sociodemographic and occupational correlates.

Results

The neck pain prevalence was high in this investigation, which is 35.7%, and of these, 27.6% affected the general working ability of the employees. The results indicated that people aged 40 to above years were more significantly to have neck pain, with an OR of 6.148 (p = 0.046), and BMI results indicated that those who were underweight were slightly significantly to have pain (p < 0.001). Again, educational qualification especially HSC or diploma OR 15.600 (p = 0.020) and those who often work on the computer were more significantly to have neck pain, with OR 8.801 (p = 0.078).

Conclusions

This study showed that the prevalence of neck pain was high among R&D workers in private industry. In this investigation, several factors associated with neck pain were found through logistic regression evaluation. The results of this study indicated that age, BMI, educational qualification, and those who frequently worked on computers had higher neck pain.

Introduction

Globally, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are thought the second greatest contributor to disability [1]. The global prevalence of MSD alters depending on the type of profession, demographic characteristics, and tools used to responded symptoms. Musculoskeletal problems were encountered to various workers, especially those engaged in production work [2]. More than 160 million people annually suffer tasks-related distress according to The Workplace Safety and Health Institute [3]. Office workers have the most common musculoskeletal problems which is neck pain. The neck pain prevalence is constantly increasing, especially in middle-income and low-income countries, which enhances the effects on healthcare systems and negatively influences the quality of life of individuals [4].

Neck pain may be connected to various factors, such as physical activity, a person’s functional level, work habits [5], repetitive movement, inadequate posture, and individual (age, BMI) [6]. MSD-related neck pain at work and in daily life is considered a major reason for disability and sickness, affecting approximately 34.4% of office employees worldwide each year [7]. A previous study investigated that office workers were at higher risk of increasing neck pain, and office employees had a much higher incidence rate per year than the general population [8]. Investigating physically hazardous factors connected to neck pain is important because they are possibly reversible with regular exercise-based interventions [9]. Some previous studies showed that neck pain was related with some associated factors. In China, in one study, subjects reporting neck pain [10] were associated with a bent neck and manual activities. In the USA, neck pain was related with morbidity, and married and separated men and women whose physical activity was protective and higher education level were considered factors [11]. Generally, neck pain is thought to be multifactorial, but it is unclear which factors, in particular, place office workers at higher risk [12].

The cervical pain prevalence and the risk ratio of people are prospective to increase over the following decade [13]. Although there has been previous research on the risk factors and incidence of neck pain associated with office work, no previous research has been conducted among office workers in the R&I department. Therefore, the incidence and risk factors of neck pain in this specific category of employees remain unknown. Research was needed to better understand neck pain and to explore more specific and new causes. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence and causes of neck pain among Bangladeshi R&D department office workers in the private industry.

Materials and methods

Study design and participants

The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study from May 2023 to December 2023. Data were collected from a total of 384 employees who were active and apparently healthy at work and aged between 18 and 55 years. Dhaka and Gazipur are two big and popular cities of Bangladesh, and R&D office workers of various private industries are a prominent population in the region.

Source and study population

The study population was the office staff of research and development departments of various private manufacturing and technological industries in Dhaka and Gazipur cities which was the source population. Employees, who had worked for a minimum of 1 year or more, are included in this survey. However, employees with traumatic injuries, other birth defects, spinal deformities (such as kyphosis, excessively flat neck, etc.), or inflammatory diseases affecting the body and musculoskeletal system were excluded from our research.

Determine sample size and procedures

The sample size was identified by applying a single population proportion formula, 5% margin of error, 95% confidence interval, and 50% standard deviation, resulting in 384 R&D office employees randomly selected from 16 private industries. Research and development department office staff of private industries was selected by a systematic random sampling technique.

Data measurement

Data for this investigation was collected through a face-to-face interview. A semi-structured questionnaire was initially developed in English and later converted into Bengali for data collection. After the questionnaire was translated, it was verified by another translator. However, for the convenience of respondents, the local language was used for communication. Then, an orientation was organized with 38 (10%) field tests among the participants, and finally, data was collected from the R&D employees through door-to-door questionnaires.

The project was conducted in Shyamoli, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Chandra, Konabari, Sripur, Kaliakoir, Sofipur, and Baroipara areas of Dhaka and Gazipur City in Bangladesh. We collected information from the respondents with their permission. The investigator asked subjects only using Bengali language, “Do you have neck pain or tenderness most of the time (currently or previously)?” A response was in the questionnaire for the neck of the box (no and yes).

Statistical analysis

The χ² test was performed to evaluate the association of neck pain with various risk factors. All reports were rechecked for accuracy, completeness, and internal consistency. Inappropriate and unacceptable data were discarded, and suitable data were entered into SPSS version 25 for evaluation. Logistic regression was performed in our study to assess specific neck pain prevalence among participants and risk factors related with pain. Neck pain was differentially regressed against work-related and sociodemographic factors. Before the logistic regression was determined, first, testing the model was done using the Hosmer and Lemeshow test, and the hypothesis was satisfied (p-value > 0.05).

Data quality control

During the period of data collection, each completed and fulfilled questionnaire was checked by the principal author for consistency and completeness. The principal investigator was obligated to conduct regular meetings with the data collectors at each site and supervised them throughout the data collection period.

Results

We collected a total of 410 data from eligible individuals through interviews, but ultimately 384 were selected for data analysis. The main reasons for exclusion or rejection (n = 26) were “not meeting inclusion criteria” and “interview session was long hence incomplete questionnaire.”

Sociodemographic characteristics of the study respondents

The majority of respondents in this study were males 201 (52.3%). The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 36.50 ± 9.94 years, and a maximum of 44.3% of the participants were 30–39 years old. A third of the total population of 384 was 33.6% with a bachelor’s degree. Most of the respondents were married (70.3%). Regarding specific work experience, 59.9% of respondents had experience less than 10 years, 24% had 10–20 years of experience, and 16.1% had more than 20 years of experience (Table 1).

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of respondent (n = 384)

Pain-related characteristics

This study illustrates that the neck pain prevalence among research and development department staff of private industry in Bangladesh was 137 (35.7%). In addition, 27.6% of the employee had neck pain affecting their capability to do ordinary work even if it was for a minimum of 1 month during their working life (Table 2).

Table 2 Pain-related characteristics of study from survey where survey data (n = 384)

Computer working

In this investigation, 51.3% of the total respondents always use computers, and 15.4% sometimes use computers. The data suggests that a majority of the respondents (51.3%) always use computers, regardless of gender (Table 3).

Table 3 Computer working

Exercise-related characteristics

Table 4 illustrates that 19.6% of the total participants always exercise, 17.2% sometimes exercise, and 63.2% never exercise. Looking at the data by gender, the table shows that a slightly higher percentage of females (10.7%) always exercise compared to males (8.9%).

Table 4 Exercising regularly

Factors associated with neck pain

This outcome presents that individuals aged 40 to above were also more likely to have neck pain, with an OR of 6.148 (p = 0.046), while those in the 30–39 age group were also more likely to experience neck pain, with an OR of 6.493 (p = 0.144). The results of BMI indicated that those with normal weight were significantly less likely to have neck pain than those who were underweight (p < 0.001). Educational qualification was also found to be significantly associated with neck pain. Individuals with HSC or diploma education were most significantly to realize neck pain, with an OR of 15.600 (p = 0.020), while those with graduate-level education had an OR of 3.429 (p = 0.154). Those who often worked on computers were more significantly to have neck pain, with an OR of 8.801 (p = 0.078) for those who sometimes worked on computers and an OR of 1.346 (p = 0.812) (Table 5).

Table 5 Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-values obtained from the logistic regression model for predicting factors associated with neck pain

One-sample statistics and test for respondent height

The mean value (± SD) for height of male 167.81 ± 3.281 has strongly significantly different than the population mean (t = 17.308, p = 0.000). And also, we can see that the mean value (± SD) for height of females (160.56 ± 2.521) is strongly significantly different than the population mean (t = 52.455, p = .000) (Table 6).

Table 6 One-sample statistics and test for respondent height

One-sample statistics and test for respondent weight

We can see that the mean value (± SD) for weight of males (66.63 ± 6.095) is strongly significantly different than the population mean (t = 33.560, p = 0.000). And also, we can see that the mean value (± SD) for weight of females (60.54 ± 6.887) is strongly significantly different than the population mean (t = 21.097, p = .000) (Table 7).

Table 7 One-sample statistics and test for respondent weight

Discussion

Various sociodemographic characteristics and work-related factors were connected with neck pain, particularly among research and development sector office staff working with computers. Various previous investigations have considered physiological and mental work factors when studying neck (cervical) pain [14]. Overall, other factors were associated with cervical pain, including both psychosocial and physical factors. In our research, the neck pain prevalence was high: 35.7% of participants reported chronic neck pain. Previous neck pain was reported in several studies. The percentage of our study is higher than that reported in investigations from Hong Kong (22.3%) [15], Greece (20.4%) [16], Brazil (24.0%) [17], and Spain (19.5%) [18], while it is lower than that found in Sri Lanka (56.9%) [19] and China (48.7%) [10].

This study indicated that neck pain affected the daily activities of 27.6% of the total sample, with a slightly higher percentage of women (14.3%) than men (13.3%) affecting their daily activities, which is related with previously organized in Korean studies [20]. Furthermore, because the evaluations were limited to currently employed research and development office employees, we excluded employees who had previously worked or left the job due to musculoskeletal pain. The effect of this potential selection bias could not be assessed, but the duration of employment in the current job greater than 1 year suggests that the study was conducted in a stable population. The study found that women had an OR of 0.435, indicating that they were less likely to experience neck pain than men.

The significant characteristic in our study is the age group. Results indicated that individuals aged 30–39 years were more likely to experience neck pain, with an OR of 6.493 (p = 0.144), whereas individuals aged 40 years and older were significantly more likely to experience neck pain, with an OR of 6.148 (p = 0.046), which correlates with previous studies showing an increased risk of developing cervical pain in the 35–49-year age group [21]. The results of BMI indicated that those with normal weight were significantly less likely to have neck pain than those who were underweight (p < 0.001). In contrast, individuals who often worked on a computer were significantly more likely to experience neck pain, with an OR of 8.801 (p = 0.078) for those who sometimes worked on a computer and an OR of 1.346 (p = 0.812) for those who never worked on a computer, which is related prior China studies [22]. Educational qualification was also found to be significantly associated with neck pain. Individuals with HSC or diploma education were most significantly to realize neck pain, with an OR of 15.600 (p = 0.020). Since most employees of this educational qualification are involved in computer operator or data entry operator in Bangladesh [23], they may be considered to be associated with neck pain. Work experience and exercise were not associated with neck pain.

Conclusions

This study discovers that the prevalence of neck pain was high among R&D workers in private industry. It indicated that age, educational qualification, and those who often work on computers were more likely to have neck pain. These research findings also suggest scope for work strategies that can improve an ergonomic setting or a positive work environment, such as short breaks during computer work. In this way, to better realize the issue, hereafter research could include different workforces from larger populations and with various background characteristics.