Inter-rater reliability of output measures for a posture matching assessment approach: a pilot study with food service workers.
Despite the ongoing health problem of repetitive strain injuries, there are few tools currently available for ergonomic applications evaluating cumulative loading that have well-documented evidence of reliability and validity. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-rater reliability of a posture matching based analysis tool (3DMatch, University of Waterloo) for predicting cumulative and peak spinal loads. A total of 30 food service workers were each videotaped for a 1-h period while performing typical work activities and a single work task was randomly selected from each for analysis by two raters. Inter-rater reliability was determined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) model 2,1 and standard errors of measurement for cumulative and peak spinal and shoulder loading variables across all subjects. Overall, 85.5% of variables had moderate to excellent inter-rater reliability, with ICCs ranging from 0.30-0.99 for all cumulative and peak loading variables. 3DMatch was found to be a reliable ergonomic tool when more than one rater is involved.
Cann
A P
AP
Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western London, Ontario, Canada.
Connolly
M
M
Ruuska
R
R
MacNeil
M
M
Birmingham
T B
TB
Vandervoort
A A
AA
Callaghan
J P
JP
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires