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Schmerzbeschwerden bei Auszubildenden in dualer Ausbildung unter Beachtung geschlechtsspezifischer Aspekte

Aim: In the working population of industrialized countries pain complaints in general and back pain in particular are a large and ever-increasing public health problem. Relationships between certain pain manifestations and types of occupation have been discussed. The aim of the present study was to investigate reported pain and its characteristics in apprentices (blue-collar and whitecollar jobs) in a dual education system and the sex-specificity of the reported pain.

Methods: Using a modified version of the Luebeck Pain-Screening Questionnaire 4207, apprentices in the dual training activities “white-collar” and “blue-collar” aged 15–25 years were questioned as to their pain experience within the previous 3 months. Pain characteristics were compared between training activities and sexes.

Results: Male apprentices in the areas of activity “white-collar work” and “blue-collar work” are not distinguishable in their pain complaints or pain characteristics. Female apprentices in the area of activity “white-collar work” (office work) reported significantly more often (a) headaches (43.5 % vs. 31.7 %), (b) persistent general pain with a duration longer than 12 months (61.0 % vs. 49.0 %), (c) headaches with a duration longer than 12 months (60.8 % vs. 45.7 %) and (d) back pain with a duration longer than 12 months (62.5 % vs. 47.6 %) compared with females in “blue-collar occupations”. Female apprentices in the area of activity “blue-collar” reported more often back pain (30.5 % vs. 24.3 %).
The 3-month pain prevalence of female apprentices learning “white-collar work” and “blue-collar work” was significantly higher than that of male apprentices in the same field of activity. In the area of activity “whitecollar”, female apprentices reported more frequent headaches, and longer duration and higher intensity of pain than their male colleagues. In the areas “blue-collar” and “white-collar”, male apprentices reported significantly more limb pain than did the female apprentices.

Conclusions: Female apprentices in the “white-collar” area of activity reported significantly more frequent headaches, especially persistent headaches and back pain than did female apprentices in “blue-collar” and male apprentices in “white-collar” occupations. In contrast, the male apprentices in “white-collar” and “blue-collar” occupations did not differ with respect to localization, duration, intensity and frequency of occurrence of pain.
These results suggest that the type of activity during apprenticeship in the areas “white-collar” and “blue-collar” has no significant effect on occurrence and characteristics of pain in male apprentices. Significant differences between the sexes in localization, duration and intensity of reported pain in apprentices in the areas “white-collar” and “blue-collar” were found. Sex-specific prevention strategies are needed (a) to reduce pain developing during apprenticeships (b) to prevent a potential chronic manifestation of pain.