A longitudinal study of health complaints in professional computer work: Effects of computer-aided design

Abstract

Employees from the design and manufacturing departments of 4 companies participated in a longitudinal questionnaire and interview study of health complaints related to computer‐aided design (CAD). Data was collected on 2 occasions at 4‐year intervals. The severity of musculo‐skeletal complaints, eye complaints and skin rashes were approximately the same on Occasions 1 and 2. No results demonstrated a relation between the amount of CAD work and the severity of health complaints. There were more musculo‐skeletal and eye complaints reported by women than by men, whereas complaints were also more common among older CAD users than younger ones. Participants with a greater work load or less support from leaders reported a greater severity of musculo‐skeletal complaints. Great work load and less leader support were not connected with the amount of CAD work.