Table 1.
Key variables based on conceptual framework—SHOWW project.
| Variables | Measures used/source | |
|---|---|---|
| Outcomes or responses | Musculoskeletal symptoms by body region | Modified from NIOSH symptom report items (NIOSH 2000)
Hand diagram (Katz et al. 1990) |
| Signs from physical exam | Modified from SHARP physical exam protocol (Viikari-Juntura 2000) | |
| MSDs | Combinations of signs and symptoms used to define working case definitions (Sluiter et al. 2001; Palmer et al. 2000 and Walker-Bone et al. 2002; Gerr et al. 2002) | |
| Acute work-related injury | Self-report | |
| Health-related quality of lifea | SF-12 (Ware et al. 1996) | |
| Upper extremity functiona | Upper extremity function scale (Pransky et al. 1997) | |
| Depressive symptomsa | CES-D (Radloff 1977) | |
| Exposures | Work requirements Repetition, posture, force, temperature, tool use | Key informant interviews, project-specific self-report exposure tool |
| Modifiers | Work organization (decision latitude, control, demand, social support, job satisfaction) | Job Content Questionnaire (Karasek et al. 1998) |
| Discrimination and response | Self-reported by race or gender and usual response (Krieger and Sidney 1996) | |
| Assertiveness at work | Scale measure from self-reported items; developed from key. informant interviews | |
| Coping style | John Henryism Active Coping Scale (James et al. 1987) | |
| Socioeconomic strain | Self-report of “Weeks you could be out of work without pay before loss of income would be a major problem.” | |
| Other health conditions | Medical history (select items based on possible relationship to MSDs—pregnancy, hormonal therapies, diabetes, etc.) |
Abbreviations: CES-D, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; SF-12, SF-12 health survey; SHARP, Safety and Health Assessment and Research Program.
a
Outcome of interest and potential modifier.