Summary of findings 2.
Comparing alternative mouse alone versus conventional mouse alone for preventing work‐related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and neck in adults
| Patient or population: patients with work‐related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and neck in adults Settings: VDU users (> 20 hours per week) Intervention: alternative mouse alone (no arm support) Comparison: conventional mouse alone (no arm support) | ||||||
| Outcomes | Illustrative comparative risks* (95% CI) | Relative effect (95% CI) | No of participants (studies) | Quality of the evidence (GRADE) | Comments | |
| Assumed risk | Corresponding risk | |||||
| Conventional mouse alone | Alternative mouse alone | |||||
| Incidence of upper body disorder (neck, shoulder, and upper extremity) Questionnaire followed by medical examination Follow‐up: 12 months | Study population | RR 0.79 (0.52 to 1.21) | 190 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate1 | ||
| 333 per 1000 | 263 per 1000 (173 to 403) | |||||
| Moderate | ||||||
| 344 per 1000 | 272 per 1000 (179 to 416) | |||||
| Incidence of neck/shoulder disorder Questionnaire followed by medical examination Follow‐up: 12 months | Study population | RR 0.62 (0.19 to 2) | 182 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate1 | ||
| 232 per 1000 | 144 per 1000 (44 to 463) | |||||
| Moderate | ||||||
| 250 per 1000 | 155 per 1000 (47 to 500) | |||||
| Incidence of right upper extremity disorder Questionnaire followed by medical examination Follow‐up: 12 months | Study population | RR 0.91 (0.48 to 1.72) | 182 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊕⊝ moderate1 | ||
| 185 per 1000 | 168 per 1000 (89 to 318) | |||||
| Moderate | ||||||
| 184 per 1000 | 167 per 1000 (88 to 316) | |||||
| Neck/shoulder discomfort score Questionnaire Follow‐up: 12 months | The mean neck/shoulder discomfort score in the intervention groups was 0.04 standard deviations higher (0.26 lower to 0.33 higher) | 195 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low1,2 | SMD 0.04 (‐0.26 to 0.33) | ||
| Right upper extremity discomfort score Questionnaire Follow‐up: 12 months | The mean right upper extremity discomfort score in the intervention groups was 0 standard deviations higher (0.28 lower to 0.28 higher) | 195 (2 studies) | ⊕⊕⊝⊝ low1,2 | SMD 0 (‐0.28 to 0.28) | ||
| *The basis for the assumed risk (e.g. the median control group risk across studies) is provided in footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). CI: confidence interval; RR: risk ratio; VDU: visual display unit. | ||||||
| GRADE Working Group grades of evidence High quality: Further research is very unlikely to change our confidence in the estimate of effect. Moderate quality: Further research is likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and may change the estimate. Low quality: Further research is very likely to have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effect and is likely to change the estimate. Very low quality: We are very uncertain about the estimate. | ||||||
1 Total number of participants < 300 (small sample size for categorical variable) 2 Measure of outcome based on subjective symptoms (detection bias)