Risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders among female flight attendants: using a focus group to prepare a survey

Abstract

In preparation for surveying female flight attendants about work-related musculoskeletal disorder risk factors and symptoms, a focus group study was completed with members of the target population. The aims of this study were to ensure completeness of a previously developed list of physically strenuous job tasks performed by female flight attendants and assess the clarity, appropriateness, and applicability of existing self-reported measures to be used in the survey. Female flight attendants who worked one or more long-haul international flights in the prior 3 months and 75 or more hours in the prior month were recruited from the union membership. A trained moderator led a 2-hour discussion with the flight attendants. With use of a transcript-based analysis, a final list of 41 job tasks was created. Useful comments on a set of self-reported measures were obtained. The information provided an essential step toward integrating workers' perspectives into development of the survey.