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Questionnaire-based mechanical exposure indices for large population studies--reliability, internal consistency and predictive validity

Balogh, Istvan LU ; Örbaek, Palle LU ; Winkel, J ; Nordander, Catarina LU orcid ; Ohlsson, Kerstina LU and Ektor-Andersen, J (2001) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 27(1). p.41-41
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to construct valid indices for mechanical exposure of the shoulder-neck region with relation to the development of shoulder-neck pain in a 1-year perspective study of a general population. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire was presented to 14 556 subjects aged 45 or 65 years and repeated after 12 months. Twenty-four questions concerning positions, movements, and manual materials handling were registered on a 3-point impact scale. Musculoskeletal problems were reported on a slightly modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for the Analysis of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Test-retest stability after 2 weeks was calculated for 232 consecutive participants. Based on mechanistic theories, 4... (More)
OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to construct valid indices for mechanical exposure of the shoulder-neck region with relation to the development of shoulder-neck pain in a 1-year perspective study of a general population. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire was presented to 14 556 subjects aged 45 or 65 years and repeated after 12 months. Twenty-four questions concerning positions, movements, and manual materials handling were registered on a 3-point impact scale. Musculoskeletal problems were reported on a slightly modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for the Analysis of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Test-retest stability after 2 weeks was calculated for 232 consecutive participants. Based on mechanistic theories, 4 exposure indices were formed. Another 5 constructs were obtained by factor analysis. RESULTS: All the indices showed good test-retest stability, and 5 of them had very good internal consistency. Due to overlaps between the indices, 2 indices stood out as having unique properties. One of them concerned mainly postures and the other dealt primarily with measured lifting. However, the latter was not related to the shoulder-neck pain outcome when adjusted for the posture index. The posture index showed an exposure-effect relationship with the outcome. The job titles implied a large degree of exposure misclassification. CONCLUSIONS: The posture index is recommended as a mechanical exposure index for analyses of interaction with other possible determinants of shoulder-neck pain (ie, psychosocial factors). The use of such an index instead of job titles in large population studies will reduce the risk of misclassification. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
27
issue
1
pages
41 - 41
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • pmid:11266145
  • scopus:0035099221
ISSN
0355-3140
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
702d52f4-6a68-43af-aaa3-49feefd52176 (old id 1123182)
alternative location
http://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=585
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 08:43:12
date last changed
2022-04-23 17:53:54
@article{702d52f4-6a68-43af-aaa3-49feefd52176,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVES: This study attempts to construct valid indices for mechanical exposure of the shoulder-neck region with relation to the development of shoulder-neck pain in a 1-year perspective study of a general population. METHODS: A comprehensive questionnaire was presented to 14 556 subjects aged 45 or 65 years and repeated after 12 months. Twenty-four questions concerning positions, movements, and manual materials handling were registered on a 3-point impact scale. Musculoskeletal problems were reported on a slightly modified version of the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire for the Analysis of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Test-retest stability after 2 weeks was calculated for 232 consecutive participants. Based on mechanistic theories, 4 exposure indices were formed. Another 5 constructs were obtained by factor analysis. RESULTS: All the indices showed good test-retest stability, and 5 of them had very good internal consistency. Due to overlaps between the indices, 2 indices stood out as having unique properties. One of them concerned mainly postures and the other dealt primarily with measured lifting. However, the latter was not related to the shoulder-neck pain outcome when adjusted for the posture index. The posture index showed an exposure-effect relationship with the outcome. The job titles implied a large degree of exposure misclassification. CONCLUSIONS: The posture index is recommended as a mechanical exposure index for analyses of interaction with other possible determinants of shoulder-neck pain (ie, psychosocial factors). The use of such an index instead of job titles in large population studies will reduce the risk of misclassification.}},
  author       = {{Balogh, Istvan and Örbaek, Palle and Winkel, J and Nordander, Catarina and Ohlsson, Kerstina and Ektor-Andersen, J}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{41--41}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Questionnaire-based mechanical exposure indices for large population studies--reliability, internal consistency and predictive validity}},
  url          = {{http://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=585}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}