Appl Ergon. 2012 May;43(3):625-31. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2011.09.006. Epub 2011 Oct 1.

A field intervention examining the impact of an office ergonomics training and a highly adjustable chair on visual symptoms in a public sector organization.

Amick BC 3rd¹, Menéndez CC, Bazzani L, Robertson M, DeRango K, Rooney T, Moore A.

Author information

1: The University of Texas School of Public Health, Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX 77030, USA. bamick@iwh.on.ca

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Examine the effect of a multi-component office ergonomics intervention on visual symptom reductions.

METHODS:

Office workers were assigned to either a group receiving a highly adjustable chair with office ergonomics training (CWT), a training-only group (TO) or a control group (C). A work environment and health questionnaire was administered 2 and 1 month(s) pre-intervention and 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Multi-level statistical models tested hypotheses.

RESULTS:

The CWT intervention lowered daily visual symptoms (p < 0.01) post-intervention. The TO group did not significantly differ from the control group. The CWT group differed significantly from the TO group (p = 0.01) post-intervention.

CONCLUSION:

Workers who received a highly adjustable chair and office ergonomics training had reduced visual symptoms and the effect was maintained through twelve months post-intervention. The lack of a training-only group effect supports implementing training in conjunction with the highly adjustable chair to reduce visual symptoms.