title: A validation study and psychometrical evaluation of the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ) for the Greek-speaking population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire (MUEQ) is a tool to examine the physical, psychological and environmental risk factors in the work place that may contribute to the prevalence of complaints of arm, neck and shoulder. The aim of this study was to develop a Greek language version of the MUEQ and to assess its psychosocial parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MUEQ was translated into the Greek language and culturally adapted. Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze interrelations among the questionnaire items and for each of the seven domains two factors were given, thus resulting in the identification of a total of 14 factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tool was handed out to 455 computer office workers (179 males, 276 females) with a mean age of 37.4 (SD 9.2). Factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha coefficient indicate that the results are generalizable to the population and the total scale has high internal consistency. The results showed that in the last year, 35.8% of respondents experienced upper extremity pain, specifically in the neck or the shoulders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Greek version of the MUEQ appears to be a valid tool for the assessment of risk factors related to pain in the upper extremity among Greek computer office workers.
authors.affiliation: 401 General Military Hospital of Athens, Department of Physiotherapy, Greece. hbekiari@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Bekiari
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Lyrakos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Damigos
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mavreas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chanopoulos
authors.forename: I D K
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Dimoliatis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014175:Translating; D055815:Young Adult