Journal article
Incident CTS in a large pooled cohort study: associations obtained by a Job Exposure Matrix versus associations obtained from observed exposures
Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), Vol.75(7), pp.501-506
07/2018
DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104744
PMCID: PMC6035491
PMID: 29599164
Abstract
BackgroundThere is growing use of a job exposure matrix (JEM) to provide exposure estimates in studies of work-related musculoskeletal disorders; few studies have examined the validity of such estimates, nor did compare associations obtained with a JEM with those obtained using other exposures.ObjectiveThis study estimated upper extremity exposures using a JEM derived from a publicly available data set (Occupational Network, O*NET), and compared exposure-disease associations for incident carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with those obtained using observed physical exposure measures in a large prospective study.Methods2393 workers from several industries were followed for up to 2.8 years (5.5 person-years). Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes were assigned to the job at enrolment. SOC codes linked to physical exposures for forceful hand exertion and repetitive activities were extracted from O*NET. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models to describe exposure-disease associations for incident CTS for individually observed physical exposures and JEM exposures from O*NET.ResultsBoth exposure methods found associations between incident CTS and exposures of force and repetition, with evidence of dose–response. Observed associations were similar across the two methods, with somewhat wider CIs for HRs calculated using the JEM method.ConclusionExposures estimated using a JEM provided similar exposure-disease associations for CTS when compared with associations obtained using the ‘gold standard’ method of individual observation. While JEMs have a number of limitations, in some studies they can provide useful exposure estimates in the absence of individual-level observed exposures.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Incident CTS in a large pooled cohort study: associations obtained by a Job Exposure Matrix versus associations obtained from observed exposures
- Creators
- Ann Marie Dale - Washington University in St. LouisChristine C Ekenga - Washington University in St. LouisSkye Buckner-Petty - Washington University in St. LouisLinda Merlino - University of IowaMatthew S Thiese - University of UtahStephen Bao - United States Department of StateAlysha Rose Meyers - National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthCarisa Harris-Adamson - University of California, BerkeleyJay Kapellusch - University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeEllen A Eisen - University of California, BerkeleyFred Gerr - University of IowaKurt T Hegmann - University of UtahBarbara Silverstein - United States Department of StateArun Garg - University of Wisconsin–MilwaukeeDavid Rempel - University of California, San FranciscoAngelique Zeringue - Mercy HealthBradley A Evanoff - Washington University in St. Louis
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England), Vol.75(7), pp.501-506
- DOI
- 10.1136/oemed-2017-104744
- PMID
- 29599164
- PMCID
- PMC6035491
- NLM abbreviation
- Occup Environ Med
- ISSN
- 1351-0711
- eISSN
- 1470-7926
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100014571, name: Siteman Cancer Center; name: Center for Disease Control / National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; DOI: 10.13039/100007338, name: Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital; DOI: 10.13039/100000054, name: National Cancer Institute
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/2018
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; Epidemiology
- Record Identifier
- 9984364436002771
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