title: Impact of experience when using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment to assess postural risk in children using information and communication technologies.
abstract: The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) is an observation-based screening tool that has been used to assess postural risks of children in school settings. Studies using eye-tracking technology suggest that visual search strategies are influenced by experience in the task performed. This study investigated if experience in postural risk assessments contributed to differences in outcome scores on the RULA and the visual search strategies utilized. While wearing an eye-tracker, 16 student occupational therapists and 16 experienced occupational therapists used the RULA to assess 11 video scenarios of a child using different mobile information and communication technologies (ICT) in the home environment. No significant differences in RULA outcome scores, and no conclusive differences in visual search strategies between groups were found. RULA can be used as a screening tool for postural risks following a short training session regardless of the assessor's experience in postural risk assessments.
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Janice D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth 6845, Australia; Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences (IMH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University & Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, UHL, County Council, Linköping SE 581 85, Sweden; School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Sweden; School of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3083, Australia.
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Falkmer
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth 6845, Australia; Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences (IMH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University & Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, UHL, County Council, Linköping SE 581 85, Sweden.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.affiliation: Ramsey Health, Hollywood Hospital, Perth 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buzzard
authors.affiliation: School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Curtin University, Perth 6845, Australia; Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences (IMH), Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University & Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, UHL, County Council, Linköping SE 581 85, Sweden. Electronic address: M.Ciccarelli@curtin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccarelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000592:standards; D053483:Eye Movement Measurements; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers / Q000592:standards; D015588:Observer Variation; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D011361:Professional Competence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014741:Video Recording; D014953:Wrist / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Child; ICT; Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA)