A simple method to evaluate the reliability of OWAS observations

• Published in: Applied ergonomics Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 281 - 283
• Main Authors: de Bruijn, I., Engels, J.A., van der Gulden, J.W.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1998; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applied physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Ergonomics; Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Medical sciences; Nurses; Nursing; Observer Variation; Occupational Health; OWAS method; physical workload; Posture; reliability; Reproducibility of Results; Working conditions; OWAS method; physical workload; reliability; Human; Job analysis; Ergonomics; Methodology; Reliability; Workload
• ISSN: 0003-6870; 1872-9126
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-6870(97)00051-3

Slides showing nurses in different working postures were used to determine the reliability of OWAS observations. Each slide could be looked at for 3 seconds, while a new slide was shown every 30 seconds to resemble the normal practice of observation. Two observers twice scored a series of slides, some of them being identical at both viewings. To reduce effects of recall there was a time interval of 4 weeks or more between the two viewings and the slides were in a different order the second time. Different series were used to evaluate inter- and intra-observer reliability. The OWAS scores of corresponding slides were compared. In almost all comparisons percentages of agreement over 85% and kappa’s over 0.6 were found, which is considered as good agreement. The procedure described seems to be a useful and simple technique to determine such reliability.