Ergonomics knowledge, awareness, and behaviors in a clinical setting: Comparison of individuals with musculoskeletal pain and healthy volunteers

Work. 2026 Feb 27:10519815261424804. doi: 10.1177/10519815261424804. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BackgroundErgonomics plays a critical role in musculoskeletal health, yet validated tools such as ROSA may be impractical in high-demand clinical settings. This study compared ergonomics knowledge, awareness, and behaviors between individuals with and without musculoskeletal pain using a concise yes/no-based tool.ObjectiveTo compare ergonomic behaviors, knowledge, and awareness between individuals with and without musculoskeletal pain, and to identify behavioral factors associated with chronic pain.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18-65 in a tertiary healthcare facility. Participants completed a binary-response ergonomics questionnaire assessing posture, workstation adjustment, screen use, and ergonomic equipment habits. Group comparisons used Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests (p < 0.05).ResultsAmong 222 participants, chronic pain was significantly associated with female gender, being a housewife, poor posture, lack of chair height adjustment, and reduced screen-time awareness. (p < 0.05) Correct posture, chair adjustment, and screen-time awareness were protective. Elbow support use was associated with lower chronic pain prevalence (p = 0.033).ConclusionsA rapid, binary ergonomics assessment effectively identified behavioral risk factors for chronic musculoskeletal pain. This format may support scalable ergonomic screening in diverse occupational environments.

PMID:41761480 | DOI:10.1177/10519815261424804