New Patterns of Information and Communication Technologies Usage at Work and Their Relationships with Visual Discomfort and Musculoskeletal Diseases: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study of Spanish Organizations

María Soria-Oliver, Jorge S. López, Fermín Torrano, Guillermo García-González and Ángel Lara
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María Soria-Oliver: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, UNIR-Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, Av. de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Jorge S. López: Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía s/n, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
Fermín Torrano: Escuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología, UNIR-Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, Av. de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Guillermo García-González: Facultad de Derecho, UNIR-Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, Av. de la Paz, 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Ángel Lara: Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, CNNT. C/Torrelaguna, 73, 28027 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: This cross-sectional study analyses the usage patterns of the new communication and information technologies (ICTs) and their relationship with visual discomfort and musculoskeletal diseases in an intentional sample of 1259 workers of Spanish organizations. The usage pattern with the greatest incidence of visual and muscular-skeletal disorders, especially in the wrist and neck, combines the use of laptops and desktops during long working hours. However, the group of workers primarily using mobile devices and working mostly at mobile posts does not appear to be particularly vulnerable to the musculoskeletal diseases and visual fatigue. The ratio of taking a short pause per hour and the implantation of certain technical and preventive measures is related to lower incidence of disorders in the workers as a whole. Current usage of ICTs is very complex and should be addressed using empirical analysis of the different forms of usage and their impacts on health.

Keywords: information and communication technologies; exposure combinations; ergonomics; work organization; musculoskeletal diseases; visual discomfort; cross-sectional study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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