Office workers and video display terminals: physical, psychological and ergonomic factors. 2002

Patricia Hyland Travers, and Babette-Ann Stanton
Department of Neurology and Environmental Health, Boston University School of Medicine and Public Health, Occupational Health Program, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The purpose of the pilot study was to examine the psychological and physical symptoms reported by video display terminal (VDT) and non-VDT users in relation to intensity and duration of VDT exposure, ergonomic characteristics of the work station, workers' perceptions of the working environments, medical conditions, job satisfaction, and mood states. Thirty VDT users and 16 non VDT users were selected from four departments of a major radiopharmaceutical company for participation in the cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaires were utilized to obtain information on symptoms, medical conditions, job satisfaction, mood states, and the working environments. Objective measurements were obtained to provide information on the various ergonomic components of the work station. The study corroborated findings reported in previous studies, whereby eye related symptoms were associated with VDT usage. A higher percentage of symptoms were reported among VDT users even when they had more control over their work stations. These workers expressed higher levels of job satisfaction, and lower levels of tension, fatigue, confusion, anger, and depression than non-VDT users. Most importantly, a trend in symptomatology was identified, whereby symptoms appeared to increase as duration of VDT exposure increased.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007588 Job Satisfaction Personal satisfaction relative to the work situation. Work Satisfaction,Job Satisfactions,Satisfaction, Job,Satisfaction, Work,Satisfactions, Job,Satisfactions, Work,Work Satisfactions
D008297 Male Males
D009140 Musculoskeletal Diseases Diseases of the muscles and their associated ligaments and other connective tissue and of the bones and cartilage viewed collectively. Orthopedic Disorders,Musculoskeletal Disease,Orthopedic Disorder
D009511 New England The geographic area of New England in general and when the specific state or states are not indicated. States usually included in this region are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Northeastern United States
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D009816 Office Automation Use of computers or computer systems for doing routine clerical work, e.g., billing, records pertaining to the administration of the office, etc. Automation, Office,Automations, Office,Office Automations
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002055 Burnout, Professional An excessive stress reaction to one's occupational or professional environment. It may be characterized by feelings of emotional and physical exhaustion, coupled with a sense of frustration and failure. Career Burnout,Occupational Burnout,Burnout, Career,Burnout, Occupational,Professional Burnout
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional

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