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A New Instrument for Assessing Work-Related Body Mechanics and Strain in the General Population

Sharma, Sonia ; Nilsson, Peter M. LU ; Östergren, Per Olof LU ; Häggman-Henrikson, Birgitta ; List, Thomas and Kallen, Michael A. (2023) In Journal of Pain 24(2). p.237-250
Abstract

Clinical pain is often linked to poor body mechanics, with individuals sometimes presenting multiple painful disorders. Such disorders may be influenced by behaviors that affect the general resiliency and health of the musculoskeletal system. We aimed to develop a self-reported scale using the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study questions on work-related body mechanical exposures. An expert panel identified 41 variables having content validity for musculoskeletal problems. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on a random selection of 50% of the cohort (n = 6,789 adults); the remaining was reserved for confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), item response theory (IRT) item calibration, and differential item functioning investigations. Supported... (More)

Clinical pain is often linked to poor body mechanics, with individuals sometimes presenting multiple painful disorders. Such disorders may be influenced by behaviors that affect the general resiliency and health of the musculoskeletal system. We aimed to develop a self-reported scale using the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study questions on work-related body mechanical exposures. An expert panel identified 41 variables having content validity for musculoskeletal problems. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on a random selection of 50% of the cohort (n = 6,789 adults); the remaining was reserved for confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), item response theory (IRT) item calibration, and differential item functioning investigations. Supported by standard measure development methods and fit criteria, the final unidimensional item bank contains 13 items. Overall CFA statistics (root mean square error of approximation = .09; comparative fit index = .96; Tucker-Lewis index = .96; standardized root mean residuals = .05) indicated excellent single-factor model fit and appropriateness of IRT modeling and calibration. Expert review and item information values (score-precision) guided selection of an 8-item short form with acceptable score-level reliabilities (≥.70) for T-scores = 39–80+. This measure provides reliable assessment of body mechanics strain in adults and can be useful when evaluating different contributions to musculoskeletal problems affecting pain-treatment success in future clinical research. Perspective: This article presents the development and psychometric properties of a new measure, “Work-related Body Mechanics and Strain Scale (WR-BMSS).” The scale has 13-items or alternatively an 8-item short form. This measure could potentially help clinicians who seek to assess how musculoskeletal problems may contribute to patient pain and disability.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Body mechanics, Factor analysis, Psychometrics, Strain, Work-place limitation
in
Journal of Pain
volume
24
issue
2
pages
237 - 250
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85143487167
  • pmid:36216127
ISSN
1526-5900
DOI
10.1016/j.jpain.2022.09.011
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
33304d53-c47a-4157-9259-ce933c0d0265
date added to LUP
2023-01-30 11:36:14
date last changed
2024-04-28 07:44:07
@article{33304d53-c47a-4157-9259-ce933c0d0265,
  abstract     = {{<p>Clinical pain is often linked to poor body mechanics, with individuals sometimes presenting multiple painful disorders. Such disorders may be influenced by behaviors that affect the general resiliency and health of the musculoskeletal system. We aimed to develop a self-reported scale using the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study questions on work-related body mechanical exposures. An expert panel identified 41 variables having content validity for musculoskeletal problems. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted on a random selection of 50% of the cohort (n = 6,789 adults); the remaining was reserved for confirmatory factor analyses (CFA), item response theory (IRT) item calibration, and differential item functioning investigations. Supported by standard measure development methods and fit criteria, the final unidimensional item bank contains 13 items. Overall CFA statistics (root mean square error of approximation = .09; comparative fit index = .96; Tucker-Lewis index = .96; standardized root mean residuals = .05) indicated excellent single-factor model fit and appropriateness of IRT modeling and calibration. Expert review and item information values (score-precision) guided selection of an 8-item short form with acceptable score-level reliabilities (≥.70) for T-scores = 39–80+. This measure provides reliable assessment of body mechanics strain in adults and can be useful when evaluating different contributions to musculoskeletal problems affecting pain-treatment success in future clinical research. Perspective: This article presents the development and psychometric properties of a new measure, “Work-related Body Mechanics and Strain Scale (WR-BMSS).” The scale has 13-items or alternatively an 8-item short form. This measure could potentially help clinicians who seek to assess how musculoskeletal problems may contribute to patient pain and disability.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sharma, Sonia and Nilsson, Peter M. and Östergren, Per Olof and Häggman-Henrikson, Birgitta and List, Thomas and Kallen, Michael A.}},
  issn         = {{1526-5900}},
  keywords     = {{Body mechanics; Factor analysis; Psychometrics; Strain; Work-place limitation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{237--250}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Pain}},
  title        = {{A New Instrument for Assessing Work-Related Body Mechanics and Strain in the General Population}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2022.09.011}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jpain.2022.09.011}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}