TY - JOUR T1 - Test–retest reliability and validity of self-reported duration of computer use at work JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PY - 2008/4VL - 34 IS - 2 SP - 113 EP - 119 AU - IJmker, Stefan AU - Leijssen, Josien NM AU - Blatter, Birgitte M AU - van der Beek, Allard J AU - van Mechelen, Willem AU - Bongers, Paulien M M3 - doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1220 UR - https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=1220 KW - computer use KW - occupational exposure KW - questionnaire KW - reproducibility of results KW - self-assessment KW - self-report KW - self-reported duration KW - test–retest reliability KW - test–retest validity KW - validation study KW - work N2 - '

'

OBJECTIVES ': 'The aims of this study were to evaluate the test–retest reliability and the validity of self-reported duration of computer use at work.

'

'

METHODS ': 'Test–retest reliability was studied among 81 employees of a research department of a university medical center. The employees filled out a web-based questionnaire twice with an in-between period of 14 days. Validity was studied among a group of 572 office workers who participated in an epidemiologic field study. A software program recorded the duration of computer use at work during the 3 months preceding the questionnaire.

'

'

RESULTS ': 'The percentages of agreement for test–retest reliability were 75% [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 64–84] for total computer use and 67% (95% CI 55–77) for mouse use. The percentages of agreement between self-report and registration were 18% (95% CI 15–21) for total computer use and 16% (95% CI 13–19) for mouse use. Misclassification was mainly nondifferential in nature, since all of the evaluated subgroups showed at least 75% misclassification.

'

'

CONCLUSIONS ': 'The use of self-reports lead to the misclassification of exposure to computer use for more than 80% of all persons. This misclassification is predominantly nondifferential in nature and can only partly be explained by limited test–retest reliability.

SN - 0355-3140 ER -