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Would a “one‐handed” scientist lack rigor? How scientists discuss the work‐relatedness of musculoskeletal disorders in formal and informal communications
Author(s) -
Premji Stephanie,
Messing Karen,
Lippel Katherine
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20547
Subject(s) - compensation (psychology) , work (physics) , occupational safety and health , english language , medicine , human factors and ergonomics , the internet , language barrier , medical education , health science , occupational medicine , poison control , psychology , social psychology , pathology , linguistics , computer science , mathematics education , environmental health , world wide web , mechanical engineering , philosophy , engineering
Background When research results concerning occupational health are expressed ambiguously, compensation and prevention can be affected. This study examined the language used by scientists to discuss the relation between work and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Methods Language regarding work and MSDs in twenty articles from two peer‐reviewed journals was compared with that in 94 messages on MSDs posted by published scientists to an internet list. Results Almost all the articles found some link between work and MSDs. However, few articles expressed belief in such a link unambiguously in the title or abstract, and language on links was often hard for a non‐health scientist to interpret. Language and methods gave excess weight to negative results. On the listserve, many scientists expressed unambiguous views on linkages between work and MSDs. Conclusions Scientists must express their opinions more forthrightly if they wish their results to be used to favour prevention and to foster access to workers' compensation. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:173–185, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.