Occupational Health & Safety

Biography

Biography: Xiuwen Sue Dong

Abstract

Back pain is a common ergonomic problem for many people, especially among workers with physically demanding jobs such as in the construction industry. It is a prevailing health disorder that can lead to chronic pain, frequent doctor visits, medical costs, productivity loss at work, and even result in early/disability retirement and poor quality of life. Despite the significance, epidemiological research in occupational back pain can be difficult to conduct since the connection between work-related exposures and the onset of back injury or pain is complex. First, where are the data? Researchers have to identify data sources and deal with data issues, such as data confidentiality and accessibility; data validity and reliability; and representativeness and sample sizes; in particular for minority groups and smaller occupations and industry subsectors. Measuring job exposures and outcomes can also be challenging. Researchers need to determine work-relatedness, distinguish occupational exposure from non-occupational exposure, assess acute or cumulative exposures, define health outcomes, provide case definitions, and match events and denominators, etc. This presentation will discuss these issues using examples from multiple large data sources in the United States, including the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, National Health Interview Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Health and Retirement Study, and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Advantages and limitations for each of the data sources and research methods will also be discussed.