To investigate the relationship between the prevalence of cervical spondylosis and occupational stress among employees in Jing'an community health service centers in Shanghai.

A concise occupational stress questionnaire was developed based on the pay return imbalance model. The prevalence of cervical spondylosis and the incidence of occupational stress were investigated with the questionnaire survey among employees of all 15 community health service centers in a district of Shanghai from September 2020 to November 2020. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between occupational stress factors and prevalence of cervical spondylosis.

Of total 1 816 employees in the community health service centers in the district, 1 515 independently completed the questionnaire (83.4%). The average age of responders was 39 years old. The prevalence of cervical spondylosis was 34.7% (526/1 515); and the incidence of occupational stress was 11.6% (175/1 515). The average score of pay factor in the sick group was higher than that in the non-sick group (t=-8.04, P<0.001), the average score of return factor was lower than that of the non-sick group (t=6.06, P<0.001), and the average score of internal input factor was higher than that of the non-sick group (t=-8.39, P=0.004). Multivariate regression analysis showed that occupational stress (OR=1.57, 95%CI: 1.05-2.36), medium investment (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.02-2.00), high investment (OR=1.93, 95%CI: 1.27-2.93) were the risk factors of cervical spondylosis (all P<0.05).

Cervical spondylosis is associated with occupational stress among employees of community health service centers. To prevent the prevalence of cervical spondylosis, it is necessary to reduce occupational tension, alleviate the imbalance of pay and return, and prevent individuals from excessive internal investment.

Cervical spondylopathy; Occupational stress; Employees