Reliability of job-title based physical work exposures for the upper extremity: comparison to self-reported and observed exposure estimates.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the agreement between job-title based estimates for upper extremity physical work exposures and exposure estimates from work observation and worker self-report.


METHODS
Self-reported exposure questionnaires were completed by 972 workers, and exposure estimates based on worksite observation were completed for a subset of 396 workers. Job-title based estimates were obtained from O*NET, an American database of job demands. Agreement between self-reported, observed and job-title based physical work exposures was assessed using Spearman correlations and intraclass correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
Job-title based exposure estimates from O*NET, self-reported and observer-rated exposures showed moderate to good levels of agreement for some upper extremity exposures, including lifting, forceful grip, use of vibrating tools and wrist bending.


CONCLUSIONS
Job-title based physical work exposure variables may provide useful surrogate measures of upper extremity exposure data in the absence of other individual level data such as observed or self-reported exposure. Further validation of these data is necessary to determine the utility of the O*NET databases in future epidemiological studies.
Gardner
Bethany T
BT
Washington University School of Medicine, Division of General Medical Sciences, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Lombardi
David A
DA
Dale
Ann Marie
AM
Franzblau
Alfred
A
Evanoff
Bradley A
BA
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*
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