Rosimeire S. Padula

Analysis of reporting of systematic reviews in physical therapy published in Portuguese

BACKGROUND Systematic reviews are considered the best design to synthesize all existing information of a given research topic. To date, there is no study that investigated the quality of reporting of systematic reviews relevant to physical therapy published in Portuguese. OBJECTIVE To analyse the quality of reporting of systematic reviews in the field of physical therapy published in Portuguese by using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) checklist. METHOD All systematic reviews published in Portuguese that were indexed on PEDro database up to August 2011 were included. The quality of reporting of the eligible papers was analysed by using the PRISMA checklist. Each quality assessment was performed by two independent reviewers with arbitration of a third reviewer if necessary. RESULTS A total of 37 systematic reviews were identified. These studies were published between 2003 and 2010. Less than 30% of the PRISMA checklist items were satisfied, being most of the items related to the introduction and discussion sections. No improvements over time were observed. CONCLUSIONS Most of the studies did not satisfy the items from the PRISMA Checklist. It seems that most of authors did not know the existence of this checklist. The implementation of reporting statements such as the PRISMA statement by Portuguese-written journals is likely to help authors to write their systematic reviews in a more transparent and clear way.

Clinimetric properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Quick Exposure Check (QEC)

BACKGROUND Most of the available instruments aimed to assess risk exposure associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders were originally developed in English, which makes their use difficult in countries such as Brazil. OBJECTIVE To test the clinimetric properties of the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) instrument previously adapted into Brazilian-Portuguese. METHOD The original version of the QEC was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Brazilian-Portuguese and tested with 107 workers in two sectors of a textile factory. The internal consistency and construct validity were tested using only baseline values from the participants while reproducibility (reliability and agreement) was evaluated in a test-retest design with a seven-day interval. RESULTS The adapted version presented appropriate levels of internal consistency (Cronbachs α=0.76); moderate intra-observer reliability (ICCs ranging from 0.41 to 0.60); moderate to substantial inter-observer reliability (ICCs ranging between 0.62 and 0.86). The standard error of the measurement (SEM) ranged from 8.3 to 11.2 points. Moderate levels of construct validity (Pearsons r=0.38) were observed. CONCLUSIONS The Brazilian version of the QEC has appropriate clinimetric properties for measuring different levels of exposure to ergonomics risk factors and can now be used by Brazilian researchers and Occupational Health professionals.

Quick Exposure Check (QEC): a crosscultural adaptation into Brazilian-Portuguese

Most instruments used by occupational safety and health professionals have been originally developed in English. Cross-cultural adaptation enables the use of these instruments in other countries, cultures and languages in countries like Brazil, where the official language is not English. This methodology ensures that the translation process includes the cultural and linguistic equivalence between the original instrument and the translated version. Therefore, this study aimed to translate and cross-culturally adapt the instrument Quick Exposure Check (QEC) into Brazilian-Portuguese. The process of cross-cultural adaptation followed the steps of translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert committee review and pretesting. The final questionnaire was pretested by two raters in 40 workers employed in an expedition of knitting and textile industry. All versions resulting from the translation process (T1, T2) and back-translation (BT1, BT2) showed good agreement. During the pre-test was not presented any difficulty in understanding or completing the instrument adapted QEC for Brazilian language.

The work ability index and functional capacity among older workers

BACKGROUND Decreases in functional ability due to aging can impair work capacity and productivity among older workers. OBJECTIVE This study compares the sociodemographics, health conditions, and physical functioning abilities of young and old workers as well as correlates of physical functioning capacity with the work ability index (WAI). METHOD This exploratory, cross-sectional study examined employees of a higher education institution (HEI) and those of a metallurgical industry. Older workers (50 years old or above) were matched for gender and occupation type with younger workers (less than 50 years old). The following evaluations were applied: the multidimensional assessment questionnaire (which included sociodemographic, clinical, health perception, and physical health indices), the WAI, and a battery of physical functional tests. RESULTS Diseases and regularly used medications were more common among the group of aging workers. The WAI did not differ between groups (p=0.237). Both groups showed similar physical functional capacity performances with regard to walking speed, muscle strength, and lower limb physical functioning. Aging workers showed a poorer performance on a test of right-leg support (p=0.004). The WAI was moderately correlated with the sit-to-stand test among older female workers (r=0.573, p=0.051). CONCLUSIONS Unfavorable general health conditions did not affect the assessment of work ability or most of the tests of physical functional capacity in the aging group.

Sagittal trunk movements during load carrying activities: a pilot study

Abstract The objective of this study was to describe trunk movements in sedentary subjects, and in workers with and without musculoskeletal symptoms, when carrying loads in simulated tasks. The 38 subjects who participated in this study were divided into 4 groups, consisting of 9 male students, 10 female students, 10 female symptomatic industrial workers and 9 asymptomatic industrial workers. The trunk movements of all subjects were recorded by a biaxial back electrogoniometer when carrying loads between surfaces of different heights. An analysis of variance for repeated measures were performed, which was followed by the Duncan post hoc test for comparison of anthropometrical data between subjects, amplitude of movement, and time spent in each movement per group and per experimental condition. The height of the surfaces to which the loads were carried to or from, significantly influenced the trunk positions during handling ( p p Relevance to industry The carrying of loads is a hazardous activity and still occurs in many industrial jobs. When carrying loads, the trunk tends to remain in flexion. The surfaces to or from which the loads are handled, significantly influenced the trunk position. These factors may represent extra risk and should be managed appropriately.

Trunk movements and load support strategy in simulated handling tasks carried out by workers with and without musculoskeletal symptoms

OBJECTIVE To compare two groups of worker with and without upper limb musculoskeletal symptoms when simulating handling tasks, regarding trunk movements and load support. DESIGN Simultaneous lumbar movements and load support were quantified by a flexible electrogoniometer and load cell, respectively. BACKGROUND Workers can adopt different motor strategies to perform similar tasks, possibly resulting in different physical demands. No previous studies on different movement patterns as a possible strategy for coping with physical demands by injured workers are available. METHODS 9 asymptomatic and 10 symptomatic industrial workers, carried a device for measuring contact between load and trunk during simulated tasks. An ANOVA was performed to compare results between symptomatic and asymptomatic workers. RESULTS Most of the symptomatic workers supported the load on their trunk, whilst most of the asymptomatic workers did not. Higher values of lumbar flexion occurred for the symptomatic workers (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Apparently, differences in movement and load support were adopted by injured workers as a possible strategy to share upper limb overload with other body regions. RELEVANCE Workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders may adopt different motor strategies to cope with their job physical demands. An effort should be made to reallocate injured workers if major cost is to be avoided.

Cross-cultural adaptation and reproducibility of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the modified FRESNO Test to evaluate the competence in evidence based practice by physical therapists

BACKGROUND: The Modified Fresno Test was developed to assess knowledge and skills of both physical therapy (PT) professionals and students to use evidence-based practice (EBP). OBJECTIVES: To translate the Modified Fresno Test into Brazilian-Portuguese and to evaluate the tests reproducibility. METHOD: The first step consisted of adapting the instrument into the Brazilian-Portuguese language. Then, a total of 57 participants, including PT students, PT professors and PT practitioners, completed the translated instrument. The responses from the participants were used to evaluate reproducibility of the translated instrument. Internal consistency was calculated using the Cronbachs alpha. Reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for continuous variables, and the Kappa coefficient (K) for categorical variables. The agreement was assessed using the standard error of the measurement (SEM). RESULTS: The cross-cultural adaptation process was appropriate, providing an adequate Brazilian-Portuguese version of the instrument. The internal consistency was good (α=0.769). The reliability for inter- and intra-rater assessment were ICC=0.89 (95% CI 0.82 to 0.93); for evaluator 1 was ICC=0.85 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.93); and for evaluator 2 was ICC=0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.99). The SEM was 13.04 points for inter-rater assessment, 12.57 points for rater 1 and 4.59 points for rater 2. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian-Portuguese language version of the Modified Fresno Test showed satisfactory results in terms of reproducibility. The Modified Fresno Test will allow physical therapy professionals and students to be evaluated on the use of understanding EBP.

Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in metal industry workers.

This article intends to evaluate the lung function and capacity to exercise and correlate both of them in metal industry workers.

Economic incentives and the epidemiological indicators can contribute to the reduction of occupational hazards

This article intends to discuss the interfaces of Decree No. 6042 and the adoption of its guidelines as a strategy to reduce the occupational hazards.