Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work

Background. Computer use is associated with musculoskeletal complaints among office workers. Insufficient exposure diversity between tasks is a proposed etiological factor, but little information exists on diversity of tasks and information and communication technologies (ICT) among office workers....

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Main Authors: Ciccarelli, Marina, Straker, Leon, Mathiassen, S., Pollock, Clare
Format: Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd. 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33633
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author Ciccarelli, Marina
Straker, Leon
Mathiassen, S.
Pollock, Clare
author_facet Ciccarelli, Marina
Straker, Leon
Mathiassen, S.
Pollock, Clare
author_sort Ciccarelli, Marina
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background. Computer use is associated with musculoskeletal complaints among office workers. Insufficient exposure diversity between tasks is a proposed etiological factor, but little information exists on diversity of tasks and information and communication technologies (ICT) among office workers. Method. Direct observation and self-report data were collected on tasks performed and ICT used among 24 office workers, over 12 h in work and non-work environments. Self-reports were repeated on four additional days. Results. Observations were for a mean [SD] 642[40] min. Productive tasks comprised 63% of observations, instrumental 17%, self-care 12% and leisure 8%. Non-ICT tasks comprised 44% of observations; New electronic-based ICT 36%; Old paper-based ICT 15%, and Combined ICT tasks 4%. Proportions of tasks and ICT use differed between environments and days. Conclusion. Information about diversity in tasks and ICT provides the basis for future investigations into exposure variation in ICT-intensive environments and possible musculoskeletal health risks.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-336332017-09-13T16:08:23Z Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work Ciccarelli, Marina Straker, Leon Mathiassen, S. Pollock, Clare Background. Computer use is associated with musculoskeletal complaints among office workers. Insufficient exposure diversity between tasks is a proposed etiological factor, but little information exists on diversity of tasks and information and communication technologies (ICT) among office workers. Method. Direct observation and self-report data were collected on tasks performed and ICT used among 24 office workers, over 12 h in work and non-work environments. Self-reports were repeated on four additional days. Results. Observations were for a mean [SD] 642[40] min. Productive tasks comprised 63% of observations, instrumental 17%, self-care 12% and leisure 8%. Non-ICT tasks comprised 44% of observations; New electronic-based ICT 36%; Old paper-based ICT 15%, and Combined ICT tasks 4%. Proportions of tasks and ICT use differed between environments and days. Conclusion. Information about diversity in tasks and ICT provides the basis for future investigations into exposure variation in ICT-intensive environments and possible musculoskeletal health risks. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33633 10.1080/00140139.2011.609913 Taylor & Francis Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Ciccarelli, Marina
Straker, Leon
Mathiassen, S.
Pollock, Clare
Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title_full Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title_fullStr Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title_full_unstemmed Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title_short Diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
title_sort diversity of tasks and information technologies used by office workers at and away from work
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/33633