The non-explicit observational method is reproducible and valid in the analysis of occupational biomechanical exposure of workers.

BACKGROUND: An analysis of workers' exposure to biomechanical risk factors in the workplace with a high methodological quality allows for stronger evidence of the relationship between risk factors and musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the measurement properties of non-explicit observational methods. METHODS: Psychometric study design that included 50 workers in an analysis of occupational tasks (n = 50 video tasks) using a non-explicit observational method, the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) method, and a workers' self-report on their perception of their biomechanical occupational exposure. The reliability was tested by a non-explicit method and the REBA method. The validity of the non-explicit method was tested using the REBA method and the workers' self-report, according to COSMIN guidelines. RESULTS: The intra- and inter-evaluator reliability of the non-explicit observational method ranged from moderate to strong (ICC2.1  = 0.45 to 0.87), and the agreement was acceptable (SEM = 0.60 to 2.79), expect for neck region. The REBA method showed intra-evaluator reliability to be moderate to excellent (ICC2.1  = 0.50 to 1.00), inter-evaluator reliability to be poor to strong (ICC2.1  = -0.17 to 0.83), and intra- and inter-evaluator agreement to be poor to moderate (SEM = 0.00 to 0.74). The concurrent validity between the non-explicit and REBA methods showed a strong positive correlation. CONCLUSION: The non-explicit observational method of biomechanical exposure analysis presented reproducible and valid measurement properties. Methods that present better measurement properties provide professionals with a better basis for analysis and assist in decision-making to reduce or eliminate risk exposure.

Occupational health and ergonomics physiotherapists in Brazil: investigation of the socio-demographic profile and professional practices.

Background: Occupational health and ergonomics (OHE) has been recognized as a Physiotherapy specialty in 15 countries; however, a lack of studies that provide profiles of OHE Physiotherapists (PTs) and their professional practices.Objective: To provides a profile of the OHE PTs in Brazil, identify and audit their current professional practices based on the Conselho Federal de Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional (COFFITO) guidelines for this specialty.Method: This was a cross-sectional study. The participants were legally registered with the Regional Council of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (CREFITO) in Brazil. An invitation to participate in the survey was sent to the members of the Association of Physiotherapists in Occupational Health and Ergonomics (ABRAFIT) and PTs recognized for their contributions to the OHE field. The participants were contacted through e-mail, Facebook posts, and LinkedIn messages. The questionnaire was distributed through the SurveyMonkey platform.Results: A total of 153 (86%) OHE PTs returned the survey. The mean age was 35.6 (SD 6.8) years, mean time in the OHE field was 8.5 (SD 5.6) years, the majority are women (61.5%). The OHE PTs were company employees or service providers. The OHE PTs reported satisfaction with their professional performance (74.8%). The OHE PTs' most frequent interventions include biomechanical exposure assessments, ergonomic workplace analysis, and occupational health management.Conclusion: The OHE PTs in Brazil are predominantly women with professional experience who earn higher salaries than other PTs specialties. The OHE PTs based on their audited practices within the COFFITO guidelines focus on ergonomic workplace analysis and biomechanical exposure assessment.