Interaction between occupational physical burdens and low job control on musculoskeletal pain: Analysis of the 5th Korean Working Environment Survey

Objective This study aimed to investigate the interactive impacts between occupational physical burdens and psychological job demand or control on musculoskeletal pain (MSP) using nationally representative data for Korean workers. Methods Using 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), we explored the interaction between occupational physical burdens and levels of psychological job demand or control on risk of MSP in 49 572 eligible participants. For quantitative evaluation of the interaction, relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was calculated. Results In a group with low job control and at least one occupational physical burden, odds ratio (OR) for neck and upper extremity pain was 2.44 (95% CI, 2.24‐2.66) compared with a group with high job control and no physical burden (a reference group: lowest risk), which was the highest value among the four groups, and the RERI was 0.35 (95% CI, 0.19‐0.51). Similarly, OR for lower extremity pain was 2.15 (95% CI, 1.95‐2.37) and RERI was 0.26 (95% CI, 0.07‐0.45). However, the RERI was not significant in the case of psychological job demand. Conclusion This study revealed significant interactions between occupational physical burdens and low job control on MSP.