First results of the application of the Latin Questionnaire in comparison with populations of reference workers obtained through preliminary epidemiological studies.

INTRODUCTION

The authors proposed an application study of the Latin Questionnaire, an updated protocol to conduct the anamnestic study of work-related musculoskeletal disorders through closed questions and the introduction of a predetermined severity threshold that allows for epidemiological studies to be conducted, comparing the results of the exposed population with those of a reference population. Background: Similar protocols describing work-related musculoskeletal disorders occurring in the previous 12 months are available in the literature. For many of these, problems arise when the results must be processed collectively.

OBJECTIVES

Here we present application examples, with comments on the results in terms of statistical significance of the comparison.

METHODS

The anamnestic study of the Latin Questionnaire is based on symptoms: discomfort, pain, and evaluation of paresthesia. Each symptom is described considering: location, duration, number of episodes, irradiation, and treatment. The model, which covers the previous 12 months, is designed to identify in the spine, upper and lower limbs: positive anamnestic case, case with minor disorders, negative case.

RESULTS

The original application examples show the scope of the disorders presented in the groups of workers exposed to known risk, in comparison with those of the reference group: the significance of the differences is estimated statistically.

CONCLUSIONS

The Latin Questionnaire, also implemented in the digital format (free to download), allows for comparing the data of exposed and unexposed workers and their statistical significance easily and automatically.