Title
Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of a web-based questionnaire measuring workstation and individual correlates of work postures during computer work
Author
IJmker, S.
Mikkers, J.
Blatter, B.M.
van der Beek, A.J.
van Mechelen, W.
Bongers, P.M.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Introduction: "Ergonomic" questionnaires are widely used in epidemiological field studies to study the association between workstation characteristics, work posture and musculoskeletal disorders among office workers. Findings have been inconsistent regarding the putative adverse effect of work postures. Underestimation of the true association might be present in studies due to misclassification of subjects to risk (i.e. exposed to non-neutral working postures) and no-risk categories (i.e. not exposed to non-neutral working postures) based on questionnaire responses. The objective of this study was to estimate the amount of misclassification resulting from the use of questionnaires. Methods: Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of a newly developed questionnaire was assessed. This questionnaire collects data on workstation characteristics and on individual characteristics during computer work (i.e. work postures, movements and habits). Pictures were added where possible to provide visual guidance. The study population consisted of 84 office workers of a research department. They filled out the questionnaire on the Internet twice, with an in-between period of 2 weeks. For a subgroup of workers (n=38), additional on-site observations and multiple manual goniometer measurements were performed. Results: Percentage agreement ranged between 71% and 100% for the test-retest analysis, between 31% and 100% for the comparison between questionnaire and on-site observation, and between 26% and 71% for the comparison between questionnaire and manual goniometer measurements. For 9 out of 12 tested items, the percentage agreement between questionnaire and manual goniometer measurements was below 50%. Conclusions: The questionnaire collects reliable data on workstation characteristics and some individual characteristics during computer work (i.e. work movements and habits), but does not seem to be useful to collect data on work postures during computer work in epidemiological field studies among office workers. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Subject
Healthy for Life
Workplace
Healthy Living
Veilig en Gezond Werken
Reliability
Validity
Work postures
Classification (of information)
Computer networks
Computer workstations
Computers
Food products
Goniometers
Human engineering
Industrial engineering
Information technology
Measurements
Neuromuscular rehabilitation
Office buildings
Population statistics
Risk assessment
Risk perception
Surveys
Testing
(p ,p ,t) measurements
Elsevier (CO)
Field studies
In between
Individual (PSS 544-7)
individual characteristics
Misclassification (MC)
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD)
Office workers
risk categories
Site observations
Test-retest reliability
Visual guidance
Web-based questionnaire
Work postures
working postures
Occupational risks
Internet questionnaire
Computers
Equipment Design
Human Engineering
Humans
Interior Design and Furnishings
Internet
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Occupational Health
Posture
Questionnaires
Reproducibility of Results
Workplace
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:302f6c6a-c021-4014-8490-772a5b4c61fe
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2007.12.003
TNO identifier
241088
ISSN
0003-6870
Source
Applied Ergonomics, 39 (6), 685-696
Document type
article