title: Cost efficiency comparison of four video-based techniques for assessing upper arm postures.
abstract: Many video-based techniques for assessing postures at work have been developed. Choosing the most appropriate technique should be based on an evaluation of different alternatives in terms of their ability to produce posture information at low input costs, i.e. their cost efficiency. This study compared four video-based techniques for assessing upper arm postures, using cost and error data from an investigation on hairdressers. Labour costs associated with the posture assessments from the video recordings were the dominant factor in the cost efficiency comparison. Thus, a work sampling technique associated with relatively large errors appeared, in general, to be the most cost-efficient because it was labour-saving. Measurement bias and other costs than labour cost for posture assessment influenced the ranking and economic evaluation of techniques, as did the applied measurement strategy, i.e. the numbers of video recordings and repeated assessments of them.
  The cost efficiency of four video-based techniques for assessing upper arm postures was compared. Work sampling techniques were in general more cost efficient than continuous observations since they were labour-saving. Whilst a labour cost dominated the comparison, 'hidden costs', bias and measurement strategy also influenced this dominance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Public Health Sciences, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Gävle, Gävle, Sweden. madrei@hig.se
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rezagholi
authors.forename: Svend Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Mathiassen
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liv
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001461:Barbering; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011187:Posture; D013548:Sweden; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000191:economics*