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Accuracy of a Disability Instrument to Identify Workers Likely to Develop Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

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Abstract

Background

Work related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) result in substantial disability, and expense. Identifying workers or jobs with high risk can trigger intervention before workers are injured or the condition worsens.

Methods

We investigated a disability instrument, the QuickDASH, as a workplace screening tool to identify workers at high risk of developing upper extremity MSDs. Subjects included workers reporting recurring upper extremity MSD symptoms in the past 7 days (n = 559).

Results

The QuickDASH was reasonably accurate at baseline with sensitivity of 73% for MSD diagnosis, and 96% for symptom severity. Specificity was 56% for diagnosis, and 53% for symptom severity. At 1-year follow-up sensitivity and specificity for MSD diagnosis was 72% and 54%, respectively, as predicted by the baseline QuickDASH score. For symptom severity, sensitivity and specificity were 86% and 52%. An a priori target sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 50% was met by symptom severity, work pace and quality, and MSD diagnosis.

Conclusion

The QuickDASH may be useful for identifying jobs or workers with increased risk for upper extremity MSDs. It may provide an efficient health surveillance screening tool useful for targeting early workplace intervention for prevention of upper extremity MSD problems.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by CDC/NIOSH OH-070316, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, NIOSH health services research training grant T42 CCT010418, and the work of Caroline Smith and Joyce Fan for coding and extraction of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Services Department, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Bert Stover, Thomas Wickizer & Diane P. Martin

  2. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Occupational Epidemiology and Health Outcomes Program, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, 1914 N 34th St, Suite 101, Seattle, WA, 98103-9058, USA

    Bert Stover & Joel Kaufman

  3. Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention Program (SHARP), Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Olympia, WA, USA

    Barbara Silverstein

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  1. Bert Stover
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  2. Barbara Silverstein
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Correspondence to Bert Stover.

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Stover, B., Silverstein, B., Wickizer, T. et al. Accuracy of a Disability Instrument to Identify Workers Likely to Develop Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders. J Occup Rehabil 17, 227–245 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-007-9083-2

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