Identifying cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremity in workers' compensation databases

AbstractBackgroundImpeding the use of workers' compensation databases for surveillance of cumulative trauma disorder of the upper extremity (CTDUE) is the lack of valid and reliable extraction strategies.MethodsUsing the Z795‐96 Coding of Work Injury or Disease Information standard, analgorithm was developed to classify claims as definite, possible, or non‐CTDUE. Reliability was assessed with standardized claim reviews.ResultsModerate to substantial agreement (Kappa = 0.48, 95% CI 0.42–0.54, n = 328; weighted Kappa = 0.75, 95% CI 0.70–0.80, n = 328) was demonstrated. The algorithm produced relatively homogeneous groups of definite and non‐CTDUE claims but 29.1% of the possible CTDUE claims were categorized as definite CTDUE by claim review. Part of body agreement was almost perfect (Kappa = 0.81–1.00) when determining whether the upper extremity or specific parts of the upper extremity were involved.ConclusionsThe algorithm can be used to estimate the number of CTDUE and extract homogeneous groups of definite and non‐CTDUE claims. Furthermore, certain upper extremity part of body codes can be used to target anatomically defined claims. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:507–518, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Identifying cumulative trauma disorders of the upper extremity in workers' compensation databases Journal Articles