Disability and functioning assessment of women with RSI/WRMSDs: the use of the ICF checklist

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive approaches using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Checklist have been adopted to give more visibility to demands related to specific health situations. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incapacity and functioning associated with activity/participation and environmental factors of female workers with repetitive strain injury/work-related musculoskeletal disorders (RSI/WRMSDs) using workers’ narratives, ICF codes and the RSI/WRMSDs Checklist developed as a part of the present research project. METHODS: A qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 15 female workers diagnosed with RSI/WRMSDs was completed. Functioning and disability were assessed by linking ICF codes identified in the participants’ narratives to those included in the RSI/WRMSDs Checklist. RESULTS: Fifty-three of 60 ICF codes included in the RSI/WRMSDs Checklist were detected in the participants’ narratives. Related to activity/participation, 26 codes were identified and 27 related to environmental factors. CONCLUSION: These results highlight the significance of the RSI/WMSDs Checklist to detect clinical and social problems experienced by workers during the rehabilitation and return-to-work process. They also reinforce the relevance of expanding the application of the checklist to male and female workers with RSI/WRMSDs undergoing rehabilitation to attain other levels of validation.