title: A validation study comparing two self-reported upper extremity symptom surveys with clinical examinations for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the validity of two self-report symptoms surveys with two disorder classification protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 graduate students at a private school in the Southwest United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants completed two self-report upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms surveys: a nine item 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and a nine item Likert categorical scale anchored from "None" to "Very severe". Clinical examinations were administered using two musculoskeletal disorder classification protocols.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the nine body regions, concordance between the two self-report symptoms scales ranged from 0.49-0.75. Overall there was greater than 80% agreement for the two disorder classification protocols. Using either symptom survey with either disorder classification protocol provided high sensitivities and specificities (Youden's J ≥ 0.70). Three of possible six symptom survey/classification protocol pairings provided high sensitivities and specificities across all disorder groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this graduate student sample, none of the self-report symptom survey-classification protocol pairings was demonstratively more useful than any other pairing for studies of musculoskeletal disorders among computer users.
authors.affiliation: Analysis and Field Evaluations Branch, Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA. cmenendez@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Cammie Chaumont
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Menéndez
authors.forename: Benjamin C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Amick Iii
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Cyrus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caroom
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gerr
authors.forename: J Steven
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Harrist
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D003201:Computers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*