Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms and their associated risk factors among e-hailing drivers in Selangor: a cross-sectional study

Yap, Joyce Chun Chee (2025) Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms and their associated risk factors among e-hailing drivers in Selangor: a cross-sectional study. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

As e-hailing drivers are frequently exposed to prolonged working hours, repetitive tasks, and poor ergonomics, the risk of developing MSDs is heightened. However, the prevalence and contributing factors of these symptoms remain understudied within Malaysia’s e-hailing industry. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of MSD symptoms and assess the individual, occupational, physical and psychosocial factors contributing to their occurrence. A cross-sectional study design was employed, using homogeneous purposive sampling to recruit e-hailing drivers who met all inclusion criteria. This non-probabilistic method enabled the deliberate selection of participants relevant to the study objectives. A total of 188 completed survey questionnaires were collected from drivers at various waiting areas near Kuala Lumpur International Airport. After excluding 11 invalid responses, 177 valid responses were analysed. Data collected included socio-demographic background, work characteristics, psychosocial factors and self-reported MSD symptoms via Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, multiple logistic, and linear regression analysis were conducted to assess associations between risk factors and MSD symptoms. The study found that 82.5 % of respondents experienced MSD symptoms, most commonly in the neck (62.7 %), shoulders (54.2 %) and lower back (54.2 %). Chi-square test results revealed that muscle pain before joining the e-hailing industry (OR = 4.196, 95 % CI = 1.868 – 9.423, p < 0.001), traumatic work or road accident history (OR = 3.838, 95 % CI = 1.395 – 10.557, p = 0.006), assisting with lifting luggage (OR = 15.536, 95 % CI = 1.559 – 154.809, p = 0.017) and job dissatisfaction (OR = 3.846, 95 % CI = 1.277 – 11.628, p = 0.011) were significantly associated with the prevalence of MSD symptoms. Subsequently, binary logistic viii regression was performed for each significant variable, adjusting for age and BMI to control for confounding. The same four variables remained significant. A multiple logistic regression model showed that muscle pain before joining e-hailing industry (OR = 5.488, 95 % CI = 1.994 – 15.108, p < 0.001), traumatic work or road accident history (OR = 4.48, 95 % CI = 1.277 – 15.750, p = 0.019), job dissatisfaction (OR = 4.913, 95 % CI = 1.356 – 17.794, p = 0.015) and lack of stretching/ massages during breaks (OR = 3.011, 95 % CI = 1.032 – 8.787, p = 0.044) were all significantly associated with MSD prevalence. Multiple linear regression revealed that mental stress from the job (B = 2.077, β = 0.383, 95 % CI = 1.306 – 2.848, p < 0.001), muscle pain before joining the e-hailing industry (B = 1.713, β = 0.298, 95 % CI = 0.970 – 2.457, p < 0.001), napping during breaks (B = 0.987, β = 0.167, 95 % CI = 0.250 – 1.724, p = 0.009), and being a non-smoker (B = 0.860, β = 0.131, 95 % CI = 0.025 – 1.695, p = 0.044) were significantly associated with higher MSD scores. Early identification and management of MSD symptoms are vital to prevent chronic health problems. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to explore additional risk factors like whole-body vibration and vehicle ergonomics. Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), e-hailing drivers, occupational health, ergonomics, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) Subject area: RC925-935 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system

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