Abstract
Background: Ergonomics researchers and practitioners use many techniques to assess risk. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is a common tool used to facilitate the measurement and evaluation of the risks associated with working postures as a part of ergonomic workload. However, little work has been reported regarding the reliability of REBA reporting. Objective: This study assesses the reliability of this commonly used tool for research and practice. Methods: The study was conducted as part of the larger Safe Workload Ergonomic Exposure Project (SWEEP), which is a University of Minnesota research initiative for custodians. For this effort, a secondary data analysis was conducted on data collected during a study of custodians’ exposures to risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Eight observers used the REBA tool to sequentially evaluate tasks performed two times in succession by the same individual. Results: This study reports high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.925) for REBA raw scores and moderate inter-rater reliability (IRR) (Fleiss kappa = 0.54) for a categorical scoring of REBA. Conclusion: A moderate amount of IRR was found, and a standardized training and calibration protocol is proposed as a potential means to improve intra- and inter-rater reliability.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 111-116 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics |
| Volume | 71 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Assessment
- Inter-rater reliability
- Intra-rater reliability
- REBA
Cite this
Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) tool. / Schwartz, Adam H.; Albin, Thomas J.; Gerberich, Susan G.
In: International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, Vol. 71, 01.05.2019, p. 111-116.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) tool
AU - Schwartz, Adam H.
AU - Albin, Thomas J.
AU - Gerberich, Susan G
PY - 2019/5/1
Y1 - 2019/5/1
N2 - Background: Ergonomics researchers and practitioners use many techniques to assess risk. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is a common tool used to facilitate the measurement and evaluation of the risks associated with working postures as a part of ergonomic workload. However, little work has been reported regarding the reliability of REBA reporting. Objective: This study assesses the reliability of this commonly used tool for research and practice. Methods: The study was conducted as part of the larger Safe Workload Ergonomic Exposure Project (SWEEP), which is a University of Minnesota research initiative for custodians. For this effort, a secondary data analysis was conducted on data collected during a study of custodians’ exposures to risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Eight observers used the REBA tool to sequentially evaluate tasks performed two times in succession by the same individual. Results: This study reports high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.925) for REBA raw scores and moderate inter-rater reliability (IRR) (Fleiss kappa = 0.54) for a categorical scoring of REBA. Conclusion: A moderate amount of IRR was found, and a standardized training and calibration protocol is proposed as a potential means to improve intra- and inter-rater reliability.
AB - Background: Ergonomics researchers and practitioners use many techniques to assess risk. The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) is a common tool used to facilitate the measurement and evaluation of the risks associated with working postures as a part of ergonomic workload. However, little work has been reported regarding the reliability of REBA reporting. Objective: This study assesses the reliability of this commonly used tool for research and practice. Methods: The study was conducted as part of the larger Safe Workload Ergonomic Exposure Project (SWEEP), which is a University of Minnesota research initiative for custodians. For this effort, a secondary data analysis was conducted on data collected during a study of custodians’ exposures to risks of musculoskeletal disorders. Eight observers used the REBA tool to sequentially evaluate tasks performed two times in succession by the same individual. Results: This study reports high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.925) for REBA raw scores and moderate inter-rater reliability (IRR) (Fleiss kappa = 0.54) for a categorical scoring of REBA. Conclusion: A moderate amount of IRR was found, and a standardized training and calibration protocol is proposed as a potential means to improve intra- and inter-rater reliability.
KW - Assessment
KW - Inter-rater reliability
KW - Intra-rater reliability
KW - REBA
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062979633&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062979633&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2019.02.010
DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2019.02.010
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85062979633
VL - 71
SP - 111
EP - 116
JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
SN - 0169-8141
ER -