Assessment of physical work load in epidemiologic studies: common measurement metrics for exposure assessment. 1997

R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Canada.

There are many possible means of determining exposure ranging from self-reports of physical exposure to measures of muscle activations and estimated spinal loads. In epidemiologic studies, issues of validity make instrumented measures preferable, however issues of cost and practicability tend to force investigators to less costly but less valid and less reliable measures of exposure, such as self-report questionnaires. This paper presents a method by which estimates of exposure from self-report questionnaires, expert observers, work sampling, video analysis and electromyograms can be reported in a common metric, Newtons of force on a tissue, and show, as an example of its application, estimation of spinal compression on auto workers. A common metric allows a flexible approach to selection of measurement methods in occupational settings: no matter which instrument is used the results can be combined to provide an overall picture of exposure. This approach to exposure assessment for the low back allows for comparability across studies and settings.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D004812 Epidemiologic Methods Research techniques that focus on study designs and data gathering methods in human and animal populations. Epidemiologic Method,Epidemiological Methods,Methods, Epidemiologic,Epidemiological Method,Method, Epidemiologic,Method, Epidemiological,Methods, Epidemiological
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001336 Automobiles A usually four-wheeled automotive vehicle designed for passenger transportation. Cars,Automobile,Car
D001415 Back The rear surface of an upright primate from the shoulders to the hip, or the dorsal surface of tetrapods.
D001696 Biomechanical Phenomena The properties, processes, and behavior of biological systems under the action of mechanical forces. Biomechanics,Kinematics,Biomechanic Phenomena,Mechanobiological Phenomena,Biomechanic,Biomechanic Phenomenas,Phenomena, Biomechanic,Phenomena, Biomechanical,Phenomena, Mechanobiological,Phenomenas, Biomechanic
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D017116 Low Back Pain Acute or chronic pain in the lumbar or sacral regions, which may be associated with musculo-ligamentous SPRAINS AND STRAINS; INTERVERTEBRAL DISK DISPLACEMENT; and other conditions. Lumbago,Low Back Ache,Low Back Pain, Mechanical,Low Back Pain, Posterior Compartment,Low Back Pain, Postural,Low Back Pain, Recurrent,Low Backache,Lower Back Pain,Mechanical Low Back Pain,Postural Low Back Pain,Recurrent Low Back Pain,Ache, Low Back,Aches, Low Back,Back Ache, Low,Back Aches, Low,Back Pain, Low,Back Pain, Lower,Back Pains, Low,Back Pains, Lower,Backache, Low,Backaches, Low,Low Back Aches,Low Back Pains,Low Backaches,Lower Back Pains,Pain, Low Back,Pain, Lower Back,Pains, Low Back,Pains, Lower Back

Related Publications

R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
June 1994, Ergonomics,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
August 1996, Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
January 2020, Frontiers in public health,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
August 2023, GeoHealth,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
December 1994, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
October 1998, Ergonomics,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
January 2024, Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
May 1997, Mutation research,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
August 2013, Environmental health : a global access science source,
R Wells, and R Norman, and P Neumann, and D Andrews, and J Frank, and H Shannon, and M Kerr
January 1971, Internationale Zeitschrift fur angewandte Physiologie, einschliesslich Arbeitsphysiologie,
Copied contents to your clipboard!