Journal of Pain Research (Mar 2024)
Neck Pain, Mental Status, and Associated Factors Among Hospital Secretaries: A Cross-Sectional Study From Turkey
Abstract
Volkan Medeni,1 Cansu Gingir,1 İrem Medeni,2 Asiye Uğraş Dikmen,1 Mustafa Necmi İlhan1 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey; 2Employee Health Department, General Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ankara, TurkeyCorrespondence: Volkan Medeni, Email [email protected]: Neck disorders occur in the presence of various risk factors. Determining the cause-effect relationship is highly important in treating existing health problems. Our study aimed to determine the relationship between neck pain and mental status and the factors affecting them in hospital secretaries.Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional. A total of 427 people who had been working as hospital secretaries at Gazi University Medical Faculty Hospital for at least one year were included in the study. Sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, psychopathology levels, and the presence of neck pain were questioned. The study was conducted with 354 (82.9%) people.Results: 34.3% of the hospital secretaries had neck pain, and 26.3% required psychiatric evaluation. There was a statistically significant (p< 0.001) difference in neck pain according to gender, adjustability of the chair, accessibility of the tools, and the need for psychiatric evaluation. Data was collected during November 2022. Those who did neck exercises during the study period had lower mean scores on the General Health Questionnaire-12 than those who did not, and the difference was statistically significant (p< 0.001). According to the General Health Questionnaire-12 scores and the Bournemouth Neck Pain Questionnaire Scale, there is a significant (p< 0.001), positive, and moderate (r=0.481) correlation between the frequency of mental problems and neck pain disability levels.Conclusion: The relationship between the need for psychiatric status evaluation and neck pain is striking. A significant proportion of hospital secretaries complain of neck pain, work in non-ergonomic conditions, and need psychiatric evaluation. The study’s results underline the necessity of targeted workplace interventions and wellness procedures, highlighting the need to implement ergonomic improvements, promote regular exercise regimes, and provide psychosocial support services to improve the general well-being of hospital secretaries and develop a better working environment.Keywords: neck pain, medical secretary, hospital employees, ergonomics, mental health
