Responsibility for managing musculoskeletal disorders – A cross-sectional postal survey of attitudes
2008

Managing Musculoskeletal Disorders: Public Attitudes and Responsibilities

Sample size: 1082 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Larsson Maria EH, Nordholm Lena A

Primary Institution: University of Gothenburg

Hypothesis

What are the expectations and attitudes of the general population regarding responsibility for managing musculoskeletal disorders?

Conclusion

Most respondents felt personally responsible for managing their musculoskeletal disorders, indicating a need to consider these attitudes in treatment planning.

Supporting Evidence

  • 61% of the sample responded to the survey.
  • Physical inactivity and lower education levels were associated with externalizing responsibility.
  • Majority of participants showed an internal view of responsibility.

Takeaway

People generally believe they should take care of their own musculoskeletal problems, but some think it's up to doctors or employers.

Methodology

A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted with a random sample of 1770 adults in Sweden, with 1082 responses analyzed.

Potential Biases

The study's reliance on self-reported data may introduce bias.

Limitations

The study had a 61% response rate, which may affect the representativeness of the sample.

Participant Demographics

Participants were adults aged 18 to 99, with a mean age of 50 years, and included both men and women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Confidence Interval

95% CI reported for various odds ratios

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2474-9-110

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