Observational methods for biomechanical risk assessment in workers: a systematic review

Musculoskeletal disorders risk assessment methods: a scoping review from a sex perspective

The evidence points to differences in the impact of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in males and females due to different exposure to risk factors and inherent characteristics. To identify risks associated with MSDs, ergonomic assessment is carried out by applying various methods. The aim of this scoping review was to determine to what extent ergonomic assessment methods consider sex-related factors and if they were found to do so, to determine the extent of this consideration. A total of 31 papers on 32 ergonomic assessment methods were analysed in the review. Of these 32 methods, only 6 considered sex as an assessment parameter or when interpreting the results. The results revealed that the limited consideration given to the sex factor in ergonomic methods, together with the different impacts of MSDs and their consequences according to a person's sex, supports the importance of including sex factors in ergonomic assessment methods. Practitioner summary: This scoping review determined to what extent ergonomic assessment methods consider sex-related factors and if they do so, to establish the extent of such consideration. Of the 32 methods analysed, only 6 considered a person's sex. The results revealed that only a limited consideration is given to the sex factor in ergonomic methods.

The non-explicit observational method is reproducible and valid in the analysis of occupational biomechanical exposure of workers

BACKGROUND: An analysis of workers’ exposure to biomechanical risk factors in the workplace with a high methodological quality allows for stronger evidence of the relationship between risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the measurement properties of non-explicit observational methods. METHODS: Psychometric study design that included 50 workers in an analysis of occupational tasks (n = 50 video tasks) using a non-explicit observational method, the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and a workers’ self-report on their perception of their biomechanical occupational exposure. The reliability was tested by a non-explicit method and the REBA method. The validity of the non-explicit method was tested using the REBA method and the workers’ self-report, according to COSMIN guidelines. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-evaluator reliability of the non-explicit observational method ranged from moderate to strong (ICC2.1  = 0.45 to 0.87), and the agreement was acceptable (SEM = 0.60 to 2.79), expect for neck region. The REBA method showed intra-evaluator reliability to be moderate to excellent (ICC2.1  = 0.50 to 1.00), inter-evaluator reliability to be poor to strong (ICC2.1  = –0.17 to 0.83), and intra- and inter-evaluator agreement to be poor to moderate (SEM = 0.00 to 0.74). The concurrent validity between the non-explicit and REBA methods showed a strong positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The non-explicit observational method of biomechanical exposure analysis presented reproducible and valid measurement properties. Methods that present better measurement properties provide professionals with a better basis for analysis and assist in decision-making to reduce or eliminate risk exposure.

Adaptação transcultural para o português brasileiro e propriedades de medida de questionários de função sexual para mulheres: revisão sistemática

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo é elencar os questionários utilizados para avaliar a função sexual feminina, bem como analisar o processo de adaptação transcultural para o português brasileiro e as propriedades de medida testadas. Para tanto, foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados PubMed, Embase, CINAHL e LILACS, usando palavras em inglês, português e espanhol. A partir dessas buscas, foram extraídos dados sobre a tradução, a adaptação transcultural e as propriedades de medida de cada questionário elegível de acordo com os critérios de inclusão. As propriedades de medida relatadas nas publicações foram analisadas por dois avaliadores usando o checklist do COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN). Um total de 46.987 estudos foi encontrado, dos quais 131 artigos foram analisados integralmente, e apenas 12 foram incluídos na amostra. Foram encontrados sete instrumentos de avaliação da função sexual feminina, e apenas três tiveram suas propriedades psicométricas avaliadas como boas, sendo o Female Sexual Function Index o instrumento mais validado para diferentes populações clínicas. Conclui-se que existe a necessidade de aprimoramento das versões validadas de instrumentos de detecção de disfunção sexual para a população feminina durante todo o seu ciclo de vida.