Predicting Forearm Physical Exposures During Computer Work Using Self-Reports, Software-Recorded Computer Usage Patterns, and Anthropometric and Workstation Measurements

Details

• Personal Author:
  Blatter BM ; Bruno Garza JL ; Coenen P ; Dennerlein, Jack T. ; Eijckelhof BHW ; Huysmans MA ; Johnson PW ; van der Beek AJ ; van Dieen JH
• Description:
  Objectives: Alternative techniques to assess physical exposures, such as prediction models, could facilitate more efficient epidemiological assessments in future large cohort studies examining physical exposures in relation to work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate two types of models that predict arm-wrist-hand physical exposures (i.e. muscle activity, wrist postures and kinematics, and keyboard and mouse forces) during computer use, which only differed with respect to the candidate predicting variables; (i) a full set of predicting variables, including self-reported factors, software-recorded computer usage patterns, and worksite measurements of anthropometrics and workstation set-up (full models); and (ii) a practical set of predicting variables, only including the self-reported factors and software-recorded computer usage patterns, that are relatively easy to assess (practical models). Methods: Prediction models were build using data from a field study among 117 office workers who were symptom-free at the time of measurement. Arm-wrist-hand physical exposures were measured for approximately two hours while workers performed their own computer work. Each worker's anthropometry and workstation set-up were measured by an experimenter, computer usage patterns were recorded using software and self-reported factors (including individual factors, job characteristics, computer work behaviours, psychosocial factors, workstation set-up characteristics, and leisure-time activities) were collected by an online questionnaire. We determined the predictive quality of the models in terms of R2 and root mean squared (RMS) values and exposure classification agreement to low-, medium-, and high-exposure categories (in the practical model only). Results: The full models had R2 values that ranged from 0.16 to 0.80, whereas for the practical models values ranged from 0.05 to 0.43. Interquartile ranges were not that different for the two models, indicating that only for some physical exposures the full models performed better. Relative RMS errors ranged between 5% and 19% for the full models, and between 10% and 19% for the practical model. When the predicted physical exposures were classified into low, medium, and high, classification agreement ranged from 26% to 71%. Conclusion: The full prediction models, based on self-reported factors, software-recorded computer usage patterns, and additional measurements of anthropometrics and workstation set-up, show a better predictive quality as compared to the practical models based on self-reported factors and recorded computer usage patterns only. However, predictive quality varied largely across different arm-wrist-hand exposure parameters. Future exploration of the relation between predicted physical exposure and symptoms is therefore only recommended for physical exposures that can be reasonably well predicted. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Computers Environmental Exposure Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Surveys And Questionnaires Women Workplace
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Arm-wrist-hand Exposures Computer Equipment Computer Use Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Forearm Physical Exposures Humans Models MSD Musculoskeletal System Musculoskeletal System Disorders Occupational Office Equipment Office Workers Physiological Effects Physiology Posture Prediction Model Evaluation Prediction Models Predictive Quality Questionnaires Statistical Analysis Upper Extremity Work-related Musculoskeletal Symptoms Work Environment Workers

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• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  124-137
• Volume:
  62
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050680
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2018 Jan; 62(1):124-137
• Contact Point Address:
  Maaike A. Huysmans, Department of Public and Occupational Health and Amsterdam Public Health research institute, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Email:
  m.huysmans@vumc.nl
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20080901
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b3a1df62f5418d1f10e76b9dd62a5c9a140da2b20d4b4b61f457a350d20f3fcd49cf50f391dfee87980f2c6ad0824f906431613bce7921c7961a172ab0aaf3ef
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210929/cdc_210929_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 211.16 KB ]