Table 2 Single- and multi-exposure ordinal regression models in the total study population, of associations between self-reported ergonomic, psychosocial and personal factors at baseline and musculoskeletal pain (number of pain sites in five categories) at follow-up, calculated with ordinal regression with overall p-values, odds ratios (ORs)^a and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the last step, in a complete case analysis (N = 911), the multi-exposure model was adjusted for the number of pain sites at baseline. Results in bold face are statistically significant

Pain at baseline^b

1040

< 0.001

–

< 0.001

 0

239

1

–

1

 1

180

2.89 (2.02–4.13)

–

2.53 (1.70–3.74)

 2

191

4.44 (3.13–6.32)

3.99 (2.72–5.86)

 3

160

10.8 (7.32–15.9)

–

10.6 (6.95–16.2)

  ≥ 4 pain sites

270

49.1 (33.3–72.6)

–

42.9 (27.8–66.4)

Sum score of ergonomic factors (scale) ^b

991

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.01

 1

198

1

1

1

 2

264

1.48 (1.07–2.07)

1.36 (0.92–2.00)

1.17 (0.79–1.74)

 3

304

2.43 (1.75–3.36)

2.09 (1.40–3.13)

1.55 (1.02–2.35)

 4

225

2.64 (1.86–3.73)

2.20 (1.39–3.46)

1.67 (1.04–2.70)

Complaints about computer workstation arrangements^b

1011

0.14

0.23

0.93

 Satisfied

436

1

1

1

 Neutral

329

1.22 (0.95–1.57)

1.36 (1.03–1.81)

1.17 (0.87–1.57)

 Dissatisfied

246

1.20 (0.91–1.59)

1.19 (0.87–1.64)

1.02 (0.73–1.43)

Sum score of psychosocial factors (scale) ^b

1016

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.02

 0

319

1

1

1

 1

328

1.46 (1.11–1.92)

1.40 (1.04–1.88)

1.27 (0.94–1.73)

 2

190

1.36 (0.99–1.87)

1.37 (0.97–1.96)

1.00 (0.69–1.45)

 3

120

2.81 (1.91–4.14)

2.86 (1.88–4.35)

2.02 (1.29–3.14)

 4

44

2.51 (1.44–4.35)

3.31 (1.73–6.33)

1.85 (0.91–3.77)

 5

15

2.09 (0.84–5.17)

2.84 (1.00–8.01)

1.37 (0.42–4.48)

Age group (years)^c

1059

0.44

0.62

0.90

  < 40

262

1

1

1

 40–55

515

1.18 (0.91–1.54)

1.12 (0.83–1.50)

1.02 (0.75–1.40)

  > 55

282

1.15 (0.85–1.55)

1.19 (0.84–1.68)

1.09 (0.75–1.58)

Body Mass Index (points) ^c

1038

0.003

0.03

0.41

  < 18.5

11

1.13 (0.45–2.88)

1.29 (0.46–3.64)

1.18 (0.38–3.61)

 18.5–24.9

673

1

1

1

 25.0–29.9

271

1.28 (1.00–1.64)

1.29 (0.98–1.70)

0.95 (0.71–1.27)

  > 30

83

2.06 (1.37–3.12)

1.84 (1.18–2.89)

1.44 (0.91–2.29)

Time for personal relaxation^b

1039

0.14

0.55

0.91

  ≥ 3 h /day

265

1

1

1

 1–2 h/day

547

1.16 (0.90–1.51)

1.33 (0.99–1.79)

1.16 (0.85–1.58)

  < 1 h/day

227

1.26 (0.93–1.72)

1.10 (0.76–1.61)

1.02 (0.68–1.52)

Domestic work^b

1046

0.68

0.63

0.17

 0–10 h/week

360

1

1

1

 11–20 h/week

435

0.84 (0.65–1.07)

0.74 (0.56–0.97)

0.72 (0.54–0.96)

  ≥ 21 h/week

251

1.10 (0.83–1.46)

0.96 (0.69–1.33)

0.82 (0.58–1.15)

Physical exercise^b

1051

0.02

0.63

0.15

 Twice a week or more

764

1

1

1

 Once a week

146

1.30 (0.95–1.78)

1.12 (0.79–1.58)

1.33 (0.92–1.92)

 Occasionally or never

141

1.39 (1.01–1.91)

1.09 (0.74–1.60)

1.24 (0.83–1.87)

Daily smokers

1055

0.44

0.20

0.27

 no

1011

1

1

1

 yes

44

1.24 (0.73–2.10)

0.67 (0.37–1.23)

0.70 (0.37–1.32)

Occupational category ^c

1059

< 0.001

0.001

0.02

 Teacher

229

1

1

1

 Anaesthetic nurse

206

0.92 (0.66–1.29)

0.77 (0.50–1.18)

0.73 (0.47–1.14)

 Surgical nurse

197

1.83 (1.30–2.57)

1.31 (0.82–2.09)

1.31 (0.80–2.14)

 Assistant nurse

213

1.82 (1.30–2.55)

1.27 (0.81–1.97)

1.06 (0.67–1.68)

 Sonographer

214

1.71 (1.22–2.39)

1.72 (1.14–2.61)

1.40 (0.90–2.16)