Musculoskeletal symptoms and work ability in a context of electronic judicial process.

INTRODUCTION: The recent transformations undergone by Brazilian labor court, especially with the introduction of electronic process of law (processo judicial eletrônico [PJe]), had a significant influence on how people work. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms and work ability in public sector employees working in a specialized labor court body. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 449 workers, who provided demographic and occupational information and completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the Work Ability Index (WAI). RESULTS: Symptoms occurred more frequently in wrists/hands (62.4%), shoulders (62.1%), and neck (60.4%) in the past 12 months, and in the neck (29.8%), shoulders (29.4%), and wrists/hands (29.2%) in the past 7 days. The mean WAI score was 38.7 (6.4), and 31.4% of participants had poor or moderate work ability. WAI scores were poorer when participants had previous problems, and the number of body segments involved in complaints was greater among those with inadequate work ability. CONCLUSIONS: Higher frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms in wrists/hands, shoulders, and neck may be related to using PJe for work and is associated with poorer work ability scores, highlighting the importance of preventive interventions for work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in Brazilian labor justice workers.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of the electronic judicial process (PJe) in recent years is associated with an increase in workload and stricter control through productivity targets in the Brazilian labor judiciary. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relations between musculoskeletal symptoms, psychosocial factors and work ability in civil servants of a labor justice body in the context of the PJe. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study with a quantitative approach involving 449 workers. Sociodemographic, occupational and related data were collected through questionnaires validated in the Brazilian context. Data analysis was conducted by descriptive and inferential statistics: Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: There was a correlation between musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors (p < 0.05), as well as between both musculoskeletal symptoms and psychosocial factors with reduced work ability (p < 0.05). The multiple linear regression model pointed to the female gender and the dimensions "demands", "control" and "peer support" as related to the musculoskeletal symptoms. CONCLUSION: We highlight the importance of a broader approach, involving psychosocial factors in preventive actions related to musculoskeletal disorders considering the important relationship with work ability.

Fatores psicossociais e Transtornos Mentais Comuns no teletrabalho do judiciário trabalhista na pandemia de Covid-19 / Psychosocial factors and common mental disorders in telework in the labor judiciary during the COVID-19 pandemic

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a relação entre os fatores psicossociais no teletrabalho e a prevalência de Transtornos Mentais Comuns (TCM) em um órgão do judiciário trabalhista brasileiro durante a pandemia de Covid-19. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 119 magistrados e 934 servidores entre agosto e outubro de 2021. Os fatores psicossociais do trabalho foram avaliados por meio dos domínios de demandas, controle e suporte social da versão revisada do Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire e os TCM foram avaliados por meio do Self-Reporting Questionnaire. As razões de prevalência de TCM de acordo com os fatores psicossociais do trabalho foram obtidas por meio de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Magistrados e servidores apresentaram prevalências de TCM de 45,38% e 36,94%, respectivamente, considerando o ponto de corte 6/7. As maiores prevalências de TCM foram associadas ao trabalho de alta exigência, especialmente quando o suporte social foi mais baixo nos dois grupos. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem ao judiciário e a outros setores a necessidade de desenvolver ações visando à redução das demandas de trabalho e à promoção de suporte social adequado para a preservação da saúde mental no teletrabalho.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between psychosocial factors in telework and the prevalence of common mental disorders in a Brazilian labor court during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 119 judges and 934 civil servants between August and October 2021. The psychosocial work factors were assessed using the domains of demands, control and social support of the revised version of the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire and common mental disorders were assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. The prevalence ratios of common mental disorders according to psychosocial work factors were obtained using Poisson regression with robust variance. Judges and civil servants had a prevalence of common mental disorders of 45.38% and 36.94%, respectively, considering the 6/7 cut-off point. The highest prevalences of common mental disorders were associated with high work demands, especially when social support was lower in both groups. The results of this study suggest to the judiciary and other sectors the need to develop actions aimed at reducing work demands and promoting adequate social support to preserve mental health in teleworking.