D P Pope1, A J Silman, N M Cherry, C Pritchard, G J Macfarlane. 1. Arthritis Research Campaign Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Dan.Pope@fs1.ser.man.ac.uk
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study determined the accuracy of workers in quantifying occupational physical demands on a self-administered questionnaire. METHODS: First, a self-administered questionnaire on work postures, manual materials-handling, and repetitive upper-limb movements was validated using direct simultaneous observations for 123 randomly selected employees from 6 occupational settings. Second, weight estimation accuracy was assessed on visual analogue scales for 6 manual materials-handling activities using 20 randomly selected employees from 1 occupational setting. RESULTS: At a dichotomous level (ever-never), the accuracy of most of the self-reported physical demands was good (sensitivity 60-100%; specificity 56-100%). A more-detailed analysis of the dimensions studied (frequency, duration and amplitude) also showed that the accuracy of the self-reported estimates was satisfactory. Full agreement between the estimated and observed frequency was >60% for most of the manual materials-handling activities. In addition the average difference between the estimated and observed duration of the physical demands was found to be small. Finally the average difference between the self-reported and actual weights of various loads was found to be modest. CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported questionnaire used in this study would provide a useful instrument for estimating occupational physical demands and the frequency, duration, and amplitude of these demands in future epidemiologic studies associated with musculoskeletal pain.
OBJECTIVES: This study determined the accuracy of workers in quantifying occupational physical demands on a self-administered questionnaire. METHODS: First, a self-administered questionnaire on work postures, manual materials-handling, and repetitive upper-limb movements was validated using direct simultaneous observations for 123 randomly selected employees from 6 occupational settings. Second, weight estimation accuracy was assessed on visual analogue scales for 6 manual materials-handling activities using 20 randomly selected employees from 1 occupational setting. RESULTS: At a dichotomous level (ever-never), the accuracy of most of the self-reported physical demands was good (sensitivity 60-100%; specificity 56-100%). A more-detailed analysis of the dimensions studied (frequency, duration and amplitude) also showed that the accuracy of the self-reported estimates was satisfactory. Full agreement between the estimated and observed frequency was >60% for most of the manual materials-handling activities. In addition the average difference between the estimated and observed duration of the physical demands was found to be small. Finally the average difference between the self-reported and actual weights of various loads was found to be modest. CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported questionnaire used in this study would provide a useful instrument for estimating occupational physical demands and the frequency, duration, and amplitude of these demands in future epidemiologic studies associated with musculoskeletal pain.
Authors: A Seidler; U Bolm-Audorff; H Heiskel; N Henkel; B Roth-Küver; U Kaiser; R Bickeböller; W J Willingstorfer; W Beck; G Elsner Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2001-11 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: S D M Bot; C B Terwee; D A W M van der Windt; A Feleus; S M Bierma-Zeinstra; D L Knol; L M Bouter; J Dekker Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2004-12 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: A Van Nieuwenhuyse; P R Somville; G Crombez; A Burdorf; G Verbeke; K Johannik; O Van den Bergh; R Masschelein; Ph Mairiaux; G F Moens Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Pierre-R Somville; An Van Nieuwenhuyse; Laurence Seidel; Raphaël Masschelein; Guido Moens; Philippe Mairiaux Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2005-12-31 Impact factor: 3.015
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