Journal article
Evaluation of alternate category structures for the Strain Index: an empirical analysis
Human factors, Vol.56(1), pp.131-142
02/2014
DOI: 10.1177/0018720813492548
PMCID: PMC4557699
PMID: 24669548
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop alternative Strain Index risk classification categories.
Strain Index scores are usually categorized into four Strain Index "risk categories." The "original" risk categories were developed in the meat-packing industry and may not be fully applicable to other industries.
Daily Strain Index scores were estimated among 276 manufacturing workers participating in a cohort study of occupational risk factors for hand-arm musculoskeletal symptoms. Each score was categorized using the original method and a new method based on quartiles of Strain Index score values among symptomatic participants. Models examining associations between original Strain Index risk categories and incident hand-arm symptoms were compared to models examining associations between the alternative Strain Index risk categories and incident hand-arm symptoms.
Compared to the respective referent categories, a twofold or greater increase in the risk of incident hand-arm symptoms was observed for the highest original Strain Index risk category (HR = 2.06, 95% CI = [1.08-3.92]) and for the second highest alternate Strain Index risk exposure category (HR = 2.21, 95% CI = [1.26-3.85]). Although significant associations between Strain Index risk category and incident hand-arm symptoms were observed for both Strain Index categorization methods, model fit statistics favored the alternate approach.
Results from this study suggests that the Strain Index risk category structure may need to be tailored to specific populations.
If verified, results from this study provide a better way to identify hazardous manufacturing jobs and target them for exposure reduction.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Evaluation of alternate category structures for the Strain Index: an empirical analysis
- Creators
- Alysha R MeyersFredric GerrNathan B Fethke
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Human factors, Vol.56(1), pp.131-142
- DOI
- 10.1177/0018720813492548
- PMID
- 24669548
- PMCID
- PMC4557699
- NLM abbreviation
- Hum Factors
- ISSN
- 0018-7208
- eISSN
- 1547-8181
- Publisher
- United States
- Grant note
- R36 OH009486 / NIOSH CDC HHS CC999999 / Intramural CDC HHS R36 OH009486-01 / NIOSH CDC HHS 1 U01 OH0007945-01 / NIOSH CDC HHS R01 OH007945 / NIOSH CDC HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/2014
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology; Industrial and Systems Engineering; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9983997307202771
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