BACKGROUND: Complaints of arm, neck and/or shoulders (CANS) affects millions of
computer office workers. However its prevalence and associated risk factors in
developing countries are yet to be investigated, due to non availability of
validated assessment tools for these countries. We evaluated the 1-year
prevalence of CANS among computer office workers in Sri Lanka and tested the
psychometric properties of a translated risk factor questionnaire.
METHODS: Computer office workers at a telecommunication company in Sri Lankan
received the Sinhalese version of the validated Maastricht Upper Extremity
Questionnaire (MUEQ). The 94 items in the questionnaire covers demographic
characteristics, CANS and evaluates potential risk factors for CANS in six
domains. Forward and backward translation of the MUEQ was done by two independent
bi-lingual translators. One-year prevalence of CANS and psychometric properties
of the Sinhalese questionnaire were investigated.
RESULTS: Response rate was 97.7% (n = 440). Males were 42.7%. Mean age was 38.2 ±
9.5 years. One-year prevalence of CANS was 63.6% (mild-53.7% and severe-10%). The
highest incidences were for neck (36.1%) and shoulder (34.3%) complaints. Two
factors for each domain in the scale were identified by exploratory factor
analysis (i.e. work-area, computer-position, incorrect body posture, bad-habits, 
skills and abilities, decision-making, time-management, work-overload,
work-breaks, variation in work, work-environment and social-support). Calculation
of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.43-0.82) and cross-validation
provided evidence of reliability and lack of redundancy of items.
CONCLUSION: One year prevalence of CANS in the study population corresponds
strongly with prevalence in developed countries. Translated version of the MUEQ
has satisfactory psychometric properties for it to be used to assess work-related
risk factors for development of CANS among Sri Lankan computer office workers.