ACCESSING DRIVING POSTURE AMONG ELDERLY TAXI DRIVERS IN MALAYSIAN USING RULA AND QEC APPROACH
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.20/no.Special1/art.671Keywords:
RULA, QEC, elderly, taxi driver, awkward posture, ergonomicsAbstract
An elderly community may continue to serve their services to other jobs after retirement particularly in light works in accordance to their ability which can support the household income in such a challenging world. One of the professions that they could alternatively get involved is by being a taxi driver. Hence, the characteristic of elderly taxi driver is crucial to understand, primarily due to the ageing process which makes them more vulnerable towards injury. Sitting which is the working posture of a taxi driver should be properly done to avoid injuries among the elders. Improper seating posture is potentially unhealthy and considered as one of the major contributing factors for several musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) such as pain in the lower back part and shoulder. Due to increased exposures to seating posture inside the car, the proper sitting adjustment has become an important issue that demands adequate ergonomic interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted with elderly taxi drivers using a self-administered questionnaire. It included questions on social-demographic data, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Quick Exposure Check (QEC). Purposive method sampling is used according to these inclusive criteria; age 60 years old and above, self-driving taxi more than 1 year, no disabilities and registered with Ministry of Transport (MOT). Total of 443 respondents participated in the study. SPSS software version 20.0 to analyze data and RULA and QEC form was used. More than half elderly taxi driver used budget car (57.6%) type of taxi and most of elderly taxi drivers were smoking (66.0%). More than half respondents (70.0%) having felt back pain for the past 12 months and 75.4% feeling back pain the last seven days. 94.8% elderly taxi drivers complained of feeling low back pain. QEC showed higher score - neck (20.8%) and back body part (6.5%) and other factors at high score - driving (86.4%) and vibration (45.6%). RULA analysis body score at value score 7 (23.5%)- required immediate improvement and value score 5/6 (61.9%) - required investigation and needed to improve soon. Inappropriate seating posture among elderly taxi drivers may cause discomfort towards developing MSD. The implication of low awareness on ergonomics education could reflect quality lifestyle and health among elderly taxi drivers in Malaysia.
References
2. Van Solinge H and Henkens K (2008) Adjustment to and satisfaction with retirement:Two of a kind? Psychology and Aging 23:422-434.
3. Wang, M. (2007). Profiling retirees in the retirement transition and adjustment process: examining the longitudinal change patterns of retirees' psychological well-being. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(2), 455.
4. Figà?Talamanca, I., Cini, C., Varricchio, G. C., Dondero, F., Gandini, L., Lenzi, A., ... & Patacchioli, F. R. (1996). Effects of prolonged autovehicle driving on male reproductive function: a study among taxi drivers. American journal of industrial medicine, 30(6), 750-758.
5. Bovenzi, M., & Zadini, A. (1992). Self-reported low back symptoms in urban bus drivers exposed to whole-body vibration. Spine, 17(9), 1048-1059.
6. Chen, J. C., Chang, W. R., Chang, W., & Christiani, D. (2005). Occupational factors associated with low back pain in urban taxi drivers. Occupational Medicine, 55(7), 535-540.
7. Funakoshi, M., Taoda, K., Tsujimura, H., & Nishiyama, K. (2004). Measurement of whole-body vibration in taxi drivers. Journal of occupational health, 46(2), 119-124.
8. Tamrin, S. B. M., Yokoyama, K., Jalaludin, J., Aziz, N. A., Jemoin, N., Nordin, R., ... & Abdullah, M. (2007). The association between risk factors and low back pain among commercial vehicle drivers in peninsular Malaysia: a preliminary result. Industrial health, 45(2), 268-278
9. Yang, Y., Fan, X. S., Tian, C. H., Zhang, W., Li, J., & Li, S. Q. (2014). Health status, intention to seek health examination, and participation in health education among taxi drivers in jinan, china. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 16(4)
10. Sami Abdo, R. (2012). Prevalence and determinants of low back pain among taxi drivers in Malaysia. Journal of Advanced Medical Research, 2(4), 129-143.
11. Burgel, B. J., Gillen, M., & White, M. C. (2012). Health and safety strategies of urban taxi drivers. Journal of Urban Health, 89(4), 717-722.
12. Nahar, B. N., Ashan, G. U., & Khan, N. A. (2012). Prevalence of low back pain and associated risk factors among professional car drivers in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. South East Asia Journal of Public Health, 2(1), 60-63.
13. Machin, M. A., & De Souza, J. M. (2004). Predicting health outcomes and safety behaviour in taxi drivers. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 7(4-5), 257-270.
14. Ebe, K., & Griffin, M. J. (2001). Factors affecting static seat cushion comfort. Ergonomics, 44(10), 901-921.
15. Schneider, L. W. (1989). Survey of driver seating discomfort and related factors.
16. Magnusson, M., Wilder, D., Pope, M., & Hansson, T. (1993). Investigation of the long-term exposure to whole body vibration: a 2-country study. European journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 3(1), 28-34.
17. Dunk, N. M., & Callaghan, J. P. (2005). Gender-based differences in postural responses to seated exposures. Clinical biomechanics, 20(10), 1101-1110.
18. Andreoni, G., Santambrogio, G. C., Rabuffetti, M., & Pedotti, A. (2002). Method for the analysis of posture and interface pressure of car drivers. Applied ergonomics, 33(6), 511-522.
19. Deros, B. M., Hassan, N. H. H., Daruis, D. D. I., & Tamrin, S. B. M. (2015). Incorporating Malaysian's Population Anthropometry Data in the Design of an Ergonomic Driver's Seat. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 2753-2760.
20. Hirao, A., Kitazaki, S., & Yamazaki, N. (2006). Development of a New Driving Posture Focused on Biomechanical Loads (No. 2006-01-1302). SAE Technical Paper.
21. Na, S., Lim, S., Choi, H. S., & Chung, M. K. (2005). Evaluation of driver's discomfort and postural change using dynamic body pressure distribution. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 35(12), 1085-1096.
22. Yasobant, S., Chandran, M., & Reddy, E. M. (2015). Are bus drivers at an increased risk for developing musculoskeletal disorders. An ergonomic risk assessment study. J Ergonom, 2015.
23. Costanzo A, Graziani G, Orsi G (1999). Driving ergonomy: New methodology for the assessment of stresses on upper limbs. Safety Sci Monitor, 3: 1-11.
24. Hermanns I, Raffler N, Ellegast RP, Fischer S, Gores B (2008). Simultaneous field measuring method of vibration and body posture for assessment of seated occupational driving tasks. Appl Ergon, 38: 255-263.
25. Lee, N. S. (1990). Review of selected literature related to seating discomfort.
26. Bulduk, E. Ö., Bulduk, S., Süren, T., & Oval?, F. (2014). Assessing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders using Quick Exposure Check (QEC) in taxi drivers. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 44(6), 817-820.
27. Esmaeilzadeh, S., Ozcan, E., & Capan, N. (2014). Effects of ergonomic intervention on work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders among computer workers: a randomized controlled trial. International archives of occupational and environmental health, 87(1), 73-83.
28. Dehghan, N., Choobineh, A. R., & Hasanzadeh, J. (2013). Interventional ergonomic study to correct and improve working postures and decrease discomfort in assembly workers of an electronic industry. Iran Occupational Health, 9(4).
29. Herlihy, B. (2017). The Human Body in Health and Illness-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
30. Steenbekkers, L. P. A. (1998). Ranges of movements of joints. Design-Relevant Characteristics of Ageing Users, Delft University Press, Delft, 60-68.
31. Metter, E. J., N. Lynch, R. Conwit, R. Lindle, J. Tobin, and B. Hurley. (1999). “Muscle Quality and Age: Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Comparisons.” The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 54 (5): B207–B218.
32. McGill, S., 2007. Low Back Disorders: Evidence Based Prevention and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. University of Waterloo, Champaign, IL: Human Kenetics.
33. Abledu, J. K., Offei, E. B., & Abledu, G. K. (2014). Predictors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among commercial minibus drivers in Accra metropolis, Ghana. Advances in Epidemiology, 2014.
34. Sadeghi, N., Habibi, E., & Sajjadi, S. (2012). The relationships between musculoskeletal disorders and anthropometric indices in public vehicle drivers. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health, 4(6), 1173-84.
35. Chen, J. C., Dennerlein, J. T., Shih, T. S., Chen, C. J., Cheng, Y., Chang, W. P., ... & Christiani, D. C. (2004). Knee pain and driving duration: a secondary analysis of the Taxi Drivers’ Health Study. American journal of Public health, 94(4), 575-581.
36. Bovenzi, M. (2010). A longitudinal study of low back pain and daily vibration exposure in professional drivers. Industrial health, 48(5), 584-595.
37. Hoozemans, M. J., Van Der Beek, A. J., Fringsdresen, M. H., Van Dijk, F. J., & Van Der Woude, L. H. (1998). Pushing and pulling in relation to musculoskeletal disorders: a review of risk factors. Ergonomics, 41(6), 757-781.
38. Noorloos, D., Tersteeg, L., Tiemessen, I. J., Hulshof, C. T., & Frings-Dresen, M. H. (2008). Does body mass index increase the risk of low back pain in a population exposed to whole body vibration?. Applied ergonomics, 39(6), 779-785.
39. Tiemessen, I., Hulshof, C., & Frings-Dresen, M. (2008). Low back pain in drivers exposed to whole body vibration: analysis of a dose-response pattern. Occupational and environmental medicine.
40. Deros, B., Mohamad, D., Ismail, A. R., Lee, S. K. C., & Nordin, M. S. (2009). Recommended chair and work surfaces dimensions of VDT tasks for Malaysian citizens. European Journal of Scientific Research, 34(2), 156–167.
41. Ismail, A. R., Abdullah, S. N. A., Abdullah, A. A., & Deros, B. M. (2015). Whole-body vibration exposure of Malaysian taxi drivers. International Journal of Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, 11, 2786.
