RESUMO

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.

Introducción: Los autores propusieron un estudio de aplicación del Cuestionario Latino, un protocolo actualizado para realizar el estudio anamnésico de los trastornos musculoesqueléticos relacionados con el trabajo a través de preguntas cerradas y la introducción de un umbral de gravedad predeterminada que permiten realizar estudios epidemiológicos comparando los resultados de la población expuesta con los de una población de referencia. Antecedentes: Se encuentran disponibles en la literatura protocolos similares que describen los trastornos musculoesqueléticos relacionados con el trabajo ocurridos en los 12 meses anteriores. Para muchos de estos surgen problemas cuando los resultados deben procesarse colectivamente. Objetivos: Aquí presentamos ejemplos de aplicación, con comentarios sobre los resultados en términos de significación estadística de la comparación. Métodos: El estudio anamnésico del Cuestionario Latino se basa en los síntomas: molestia, dolor y evaluación de parestesia. Cada síntoma se describe considerando: localización, duración, número de episodios, irradiación, tratamiento. El modelo, que cubre los 12 meses anteriores, está diseñado para identificar en la columna y en los miembros superiores e inferiores: caso anamnésico positivo, caso con trastornos menores, caso negativo. Resultados: Los ejemplos originales de aplicación muestran el alcance de los trastornos presentados en los grupos de trabajadores expuestos a un riesgo conocido, en comparación con los del grupo de referencia; la significancia de las diferencias se estima estadísticamente. Conclusiones: El Cuestionario Latino, implementado también en forma digital (de descarga gratuita), permite comparar de manera fácil y automática los datos de trabajadores expuestos y no expuestos y su significación estadística.

RESUMO

Introduction: Health surveillance programs conducted for both individual workers and working populations as a whole are managed by occupational health physicians and focus on disorders and diseases caused by biomechanical overload, primarily for preventive purposes. Objectives: The purpose of the paper is to update an anamnestic protocol for studying musculoskeletal disorders after more than 40 years experience of its application. The updated version has been re-named the Latin Questionnaire. The protocol enables preliminary epidemiological evaluation, by comparing results of exposed populations to those from a reference population, thanks to the introduction of a severity threshold, a concept lacking in similar questionnaires. Methods: The Latin Questionnaire is based on symptoms of discomfort, pain, and paraesthesia. Each symptom is described in terms of location, duration, number of episodes, irradiation, and treatment. The model covers present symptoms during the previous 12 months and is designed to identify positive anamnestic cases (when positive according to the threshold), cases with minor disorders, and negative cases for conditions involving the spine and upper and lower limbs. Results: The updated anamnestic model was validated again through the collaborative effort involving 37 physicians from 14 Latin countries. To enable comparisons with exposed populations, an updated reference population (4,000 unexposed workers) is presented, evaluating the percentages of subjects positive according to thresholds for spine and upper and lower limbs and the incidence of acute lower back pain, broken down by gender and age groups. Examples of application of the questionnaire are also presented. Conclusions: The Latin Questionnaire, which has also been implemented in digital form (free download), allows selection of significant anamnestic cases compared to cases with minor disorders. This strategy is indispensable for correctly conducting preliminary epidemiological studies. Example applications confirm the presence of significant differences between the percentages of subjects with positive thresholds in exposed compared to reference groups, with surpluses proportional to their levels of biomechanical overload.