Association between use of vibrating tools and low back pain in automobile manufacturing workers: A propensity score matching analysis
- VernacularTitle:汽车制造业工人使用振动工具与下背痛的关联性——基于倾向性得分匹配法
- Author:
Xiaoyi QIAN
1
;
Jiabing WU
1
;
Yanli RAN
1
;
Yan YAO
2
,
3
;
Yong MEI
3
Author Information
- Publication Type:Investigation
- Keywords: low back pain; musculoskeletal disorder; propensity score matching; population attributable risk percentage; automobile manufacturing industry
- From: Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(6):712-716
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Background The prevalence of low back pain among workers using vibrating tools in the automobile manufacturing industry is high; however, research on associated risk factors remains limited. Objective To investigate the association between use of vibrating tools and low back pain among automobile manufacturing workers, and to estimate related population attributable risk percentage (PAR%). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire among workers with over one year of service in an automobile manufacturing enterprise. Workers were categorized into an exposed group (vibrating tool users) and a control group (non-users) based on their use of vibrating tools during work. The variables showing statistically significant differences between the two groups were selected as covariates for matching by 1∶2 nearest-neighbor propensity score. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of low back pain between the matched exposed and control groups. Log-binomial regression model was employed to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR), and the PAR% of low back pain attributable to vibrating tool use was subsequently determined. Results A total of
6973 valid questionnaires were collected, comprising5676 males and1297 females, with an overall low back pain prevalence of 40.3% (2809 /6973 ). The exposed group included1255 workers (1134 males, 121 females), with a mean age of (44.2 ± 8.7) years and a mean tenure in the current position of (23.5 ± 9.9) years; the matching control group consisted of2510 workers (2279 males, 231 females), with a mean age of (44.7 ± 8.6) years and a mean tenure in the current position of (24.0 ± 10.0) years. The prevalence of low back pain was 76.7% (963/1255 ) in the exposed group, significantly higher than the 29.9% (750/2510 ) in the control group (P<0.001). The log-binomial regression analysis showed a PR of 2.57 (95%CI: 2.28, 2.90) for the exposed group, with a PAR% of 22.03%. Conclusion The use of vibrating tools among automobile manufacturing workers is positively associated with reporting low back pain. Implementing effective measures to mitigate vibration hazards is crucial for reducing the burden of low back pain in this population.
