REVIEW OF APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING FUNCTIONAL STATUS MEASURES TO THESTUDY OF WORKERS WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS OF THE NECK AND UPPER-LIMB

Both epidemiologic studies of the factors that contribute to the devel opment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limb and intervention studies that test the effectiveness of workplac e ergonomic and organizational changes are needed to provide empiric e vidence for preventive strategies. This study reviews the relevance an d comprehensiveness of existing functional status instruments for epid emiologic studies of work-related neck and upper limb disorders. Twelv e domains were identified as the major areas of life affected by worke rs' neck and upper extremity disorder(s): work, household and family r esponsibilities, self-care, transportation/driving, sexual activity, s leep, social activities, recreational activities, mood self-esteem, fi nancial effects, and iatrogenic effects of assessments and treatment. Fifty-two functional status instruments were identified. Of these, 21 met the specified criteria as potentially relevant and were rated on t he 3-point scale for relevance and comprehensiveness for each domain. None of the instruments covered all 12 domains adequately. (C) 1996 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.