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BACKGROUND: To assess relevant environmental conditions in any work-setting requires a multidisciplinary perspective that is practical, valid, and reliable. This includes the physical, environmental, and psychosocial risk-factors. The Structured Multidisciplinary work Evaluation Tool (SMET) questionnaire simultaneously considers multiple work-related demands. OBJECTIVE: This study translated and culturally adapted the SMET into Persian and evaluated its psychometric properties in Persian industrial workers. METHODS: Cross-sectional translation and cross-cultural adaptation in five standardized phases. A convenience sample (n = 211) recruited from an industrial-occupation setting completed: the SMET; and the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) criteria; plus light and noise levels were concurrently assessed. Psychometric properties included: validity, with face (from confirmed language clarity, simplicity, and readability), content (via the content validity index, CVI, for equivalency and relevancy), criterion (through Pearson's r correlation with relevant criteria), and construct (through known group validity between participants with/without work-related musculoskeletal disorders, WMSDs); internal consistency (Cronbach's α); and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC2.1). RESULTS: Validity was confirmed with: face through the adaptation; content from suitable CVI values for items (CVI range = 0.78–1.0) and scale-total (CVI = 0.86); criterion from SMET associations with levels for light (r = – 0.42) and noise (r = 0.21), plus RULA (r = 0.42) and NASA-TLX (r = 0.39); and construct through participants with WMSD having significantly higher SMET total-scores (p = 0.01). Internal consistency (α= 0.89) and reliability (ICC2.1 = 0.87) were acceptable and strong. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that the SMET Persian version had acceptable psychometric properties in an industrial occupational setting. Further investigation in longitudinal populations is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The 12-item Örebro Musculoskeletal Screening Questionnaire (ÖMSQ-12) is a multidimensional questionnaire assessing general musculoskeletal problems. This study aimed to investigate its construct validity and reliability. Materials and methods: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed for construct validity. The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) and the SF-12 and Pain Numerical Rating Scale (P-NRS) were used for convergent validity. Reliability (ICC), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), reproducibility, and known-group validity were assessed. The cut-off value was measured. Results: A total of n=378 individuals (aged 35.7 ± 12.4 years, female = 73.3%) with a musculoskeletal problem participated in the study. P-NRS score of the individuals was 5. Results showed that a 3-factor model did fit well under CFA (χ²/df = 2.76<3). The questionnaire had good reliability (ICC = 0.865) and internal consistency (α=0.810). There were no floor or ceiling effects (<%15). Total ÖMSQ-12-TR scores had a correlation with the TSK, SF-12 and P-NRS (r=0.303-0.609). The AUC for the risk of absenteeism from work was obtained as 0.738 (p<0.001). The risk of absenteeism was high in individuals with an ÖMSQ-12-TR score of >57.5. Conclusions: The ÖMSQ-12-TR is a valid and reliable questionnaire that can be used in determining the risk of absenteeism in musculoskeletal disorders and is convenient for online use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: With progressing technology in the portable computing field, laptops are now integral for work, home and social settings. Different working postures adopted by laptop users impose different loads on the relevant muscles, which can be associated with musculoskeletal discomfort in the various body regions. Some Arabic and Asian cultures adopted postures are not well investigated, particularly for the 20–30 years age-group. OBJECTIVE: This study compared muscle activity in the cervical spine, arm, and wrist among different laptop workstation setups. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 23 healthy female university students (age = 24.2±2.28 years, range 20–26 years) performed a standardized 10 minute typing task in four different laptop workstation setups: DESK, SOFA, GROUND sitting with back support, and laptop table (LAP-Tab). Differences between electromyography (EMG) muscle activity recorded in the trapezius (TR), cervical extensors (CE), deltoid (DEL), and wrist extensors (WE) were determined using one-way repeated ANOVA measures with a post-hoc Bonferroni test. RESULTS: Significantly higher muscle activity was observed respectively in the workstations of DESK > LAP-Tab > SOFA > GROUND. Significant differences were found between WE muscle activity and the three other muscle groups (p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction between workstations and muscle activity (F(9,264) = 3.81, p < 0.001, = 0.11), where the WE and DEL muscles showed respectively higher and lower muscle activity in all setups. CONCLUSION: Muscles showed variable activity in different workstations such that the GROUND workstation provided the minimum load, while the DESK workstation showed the maximum load on the measured muscle groups. These findings require further investigation in different cultural and gender specific groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The addiction pattern of smartphone usage has increased concerns about potential complications. The Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), a self-administered questionnaire, evaluates smartphone usage and dependency. The study's purpose was to translate and culturally adapt the SAS short-version into the Persian language (SAS-SV-Pr), and evaluate its psychometric properties. Method: The SAS-SV translation used standardized procedures that involved double-forward and backward translations. A convenience sample, from three medical universities in the city of Teheran (n = 250 students), was recruited to complete the SAS-SV and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The content validity index (CVI) and the floor and ceiling effect were considered to evaluate content validity. To evaluate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, Cronbach's Alpha and the Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC2.1) were utilized respectively. Criterion validity was measured by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficient for the total scores of SAS-SV-Pr and IAT (Pearson's r correlation coefficient). Construct validity was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and ratified with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: During translation and cultural adaptation, only minor wording changes were performed. The correlation between the SAS-SV-Pr and IAT was good (r = 0.57), which determined validity. There was high internal consistency (α = 0.88), split-half reliability (0.84), composite reliability (CR) (0.78) and test-retest reliability (ICC (2.1) = 0.89). Subsequent EFA demonstrated an ambiguous factor structure, being border-line between one- and two-factors, which explained 50.28% of total variance. The CFA confirmed that the two-factor solution was preferred. Our data did not show floor or ceiling effects. Conclusion: The Persian SAS-SV is a two-factor structure outcome measure to evaluate the dependency of smartphone users. It has demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties for validity, reliability and factor structure, and is suitable for screening and research aims among Persian subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: A sonographic approach can be used to quantify joint movement, muscle thickness, and available joint space. This study aimed to compare the amount of mouth opening, joint articular distance, and both anterior and inferior translation of the mandibular condyle between healthy participants and individuals with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used with 52 participants (control: 26 healthy and TMJ: 26 symptomatic individuals) recruited using convenience sampling. The joint space distance and the anterior and inferior condylar translation on both sides were evaluated using sonography during maximum mouth opening and closing. Mouth opening was measured with a graduated ruler. Reliability was performed on a subgroup (n=10) with an interval of 3-7 days. Results: The reliability was good to excellent (ICC=0.57-0.94). The highest reliability was related to the joint space distance. The mean values for mouth opening were 43.1 and 35.3mm, respectively for healthy and TMJ patients. The anterior condylar translation was 7.14-7.57mm, inferior condylar translation was 2.35-2.66mm, and the joint space distance was 49.4-0.44mm. No significant differences were found between the left and right sides in either group. The mouth opening and joint space values were significantly higher in the healthy group while the rate of anterior transition movement was higher but not significant. Furthermore, there was a significant negative relationship between pain, mouth opening, and joint distance. Discussion: Sonography can be considered an accurate tool for the assessment of joint space and condylar translation in individuals with symptomatic TMJ disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To translate and cross-culturally adapt, the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire 2.0 to Persian (WRFQ-Pr), and evaluate reliability and validity. Standardized protocols were followed including forward-backward translation then synthesis/consolidation. Subsequent pilot investigation of the draft WRFQ-Pr (n = 50, male = 68%, age = 33.5 ± 7.3 years) tested the alternative wording and determined face and content validity through readability, understandability, interpretation, and cultural relevance. Participants (n = 288) were recruited from a convenience sample to assess: construct validity through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using Promax rotation and maximum least squares extraction; and internal consistency using Cronbach's α coefficient. Test-retest reliability was evaluated from the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC2.1). The forward-backward translation was achieved with eight items (1,3,4,5,9,11,12,22) modified and reformulated due to idiomatic issues. Internal consistency for the subscales ranged from α = 0.87–0.95, and the test-retest reliability was ICC(2,1)=0.92 (CI: 0.89–0.95). The EFA showed a four-factor solution, being identical to the original version, however items 20–22 loaded with items 23–26 in one factor, which was re-named "flexibility and social demand." One item (#26) did not load above the required 0.30 threshold and was removed from the WRFQ-Pr. No floor or ceiling effects were found. The WRFQ translation and cross-cultural adaptation to Persian (WRFQ-Pr) was performed successfully. The determined properties of reliability and validity were comparable to those of the original English version. The WRFW can simultaneously evaluate the health status of the worker, the existence of impairments, the involved factors in creating ability/disability at work, and the outcome of the interventions. There is no instrument available for the Persian-speaking population to evaluate related disability at work and the condition of return to work after a rehabilitation intervention. The WRFQ was translated and culturally adapted into Persian. The WRFW-Pr demonstrated excellent internal consistency, test-retest reliability and a four-factor structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]