Assessing Validity of the Quick DASH and SF-12 as Surveillance Tools among Workers with Neck or Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders

• Published in: Journal of hand therapy 2008-10, Vol.21 (4), p.354-365
• Main Authors: Fan, Z. Joyce, PhD, Smith, Caroline K., MPH, Silverstein, Barbara A., PhD, MPH, CPE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ergonomics; Musculoskeletal diseases; Occupational safety; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Quality of life; Workers compensation
• ISSN: 0894-1130; 1545-004X
• DOI: 10.1197/j.jht.2008.02.001

Abstract The purpose of this article was to assess validity of the regional Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand ( Quick DASH) and Short-Form 12 (SF-12) for surveillance purpose. We compared the predictive, discriminate, and concurrent validity of the Quick DASH and SF-12 among 231 workers with specific clinical diagnoses of neck or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSDs) and 175 workers with symptoms only. Compared to those with symptoms only, the odds of being any neck or UEMSD case were 1.45 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.24–1.70) and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.48–0.91) with every 10-point increase in Quick DASH disability and physical component scale (PCS-12) scores, respectively. The clinical cases had significantly higher Quick DASH disability (23.0 vs. 14.3, p < 0.0001) and lower PCS-12 scores (44.8 vs. 47.3, p = 0.0133) than those with symptom only. The Quick DASH disability scores were moderately correlated with the PCS-12 scores (rho = −0.40) among the clinical cases. Either Quick DASH or PCS-12 can be used as a simple surveillance tool in an active working population.