Abstract
Background
A reliability study of transient workplace exposures was conducted within a caseโcrossover study of acute traumatic occupational hand injuries. Exposures examined included features of work equipment (unusual performance of equipment or materials, glove use), work practices (performing an uncommon work task, using an unusual work method), and workerโrelated factors (being rushed, distracted, ill, or working overtime).
Methods
Interviewers administered a followโup questionnaire about exposure up to 4 days after the initial interview. The reliability of the usual frequency of exposure in the past month, exposure reported at the time of the injury, and the degree to which subjects had confidence in the accuracy of their memory for exposure was assessed.
Results
The testโretest reliability for the estimated number of hours of exposure during the past month was high for six of the eight potential risk factors (intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.84โ0.99). ICC for the frequency per month and minutes per exposure, used to calculate the estimated number of hours per month, ranged from 0.12โ0.99 and 0.49โ0.99, respectively. Agreement of reported exposure at the time of the injury, evaluated using the kappa statistic, ranged from substantial agreement to perfect agreement (0.65โ1.0). However, for some factors, there was little or no reported exposure. Most subjects (74โ100%) reported being โvery confidentโ or โcertainโ in their memory for each exposure.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that the frequency and duration of unusual transient workplace exposures can be reliably recalled by subjects interviewed by telephone within 4 days of an injury. Am. J. Ind. Med. 42:336โ343, 2002. ยฉ 2002 WileyโLiss, Inc.