Video Displays, Work, and Vision (1983) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix B: Review of a Preliminary Report on a Cross-Sectional Survey of VDT Users at the Baltimore Sun
Appendix B: Review of a Preliminary Report on a Cross-Sectional Survey of VDT Users at the Baltimore Sun
Pages 227-234
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From page 227... ...
, the second summarizes and comments on the approach and methods of the study, and the third considers conclusions to be drawn from the study. SUMMARY OF THE NIOSH STUDY The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, was asked by a representative of employees of the Newspaper Guild, AFL-CIO, representing a large segment of employees at the Baltimore Sunpapers, to undertake an evaluation of the effects of video display terminals (VDTs)
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From page 228... ...
As participants tended to report that their VDT use typically involved shifting their eyes between the source document, VDT keyboard and screen; and as they tended to report that they found that they were bothered by the relative height, distance, and tilt of the VDT keyboard and screen; so too they tended to report that their headaches characteristically were superficial in location, dull and boring in sensation, beginning on one side of the head, but spreading to involve both sides. As participants reported a greater total number of years of VDT operating experience, they tended to report less that their headaches occurred during periods of stress, worry, and/or tension.
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From page 229... ...
We feel that these problems are best addressed experimentally. REVIEW OF THE NIOSH STUDY Study Approach and Methods Introduction and Background The study report begins with a review of related literature, identifying from previous studies important variables associated with VDT use and possible health problems.
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From page 230... ...
Measures One of the important strengths of the study is the variety of variables included in it: aspects of VDT use; characteristics of the individuals, including demographic characteristics and use of bifocal or multifocal lenses; characteristics of the job, including the work setting (especially lighting) and job characteristics; and health problems, including headaches and other symptoms, and abnormal ophthalmologic findings.
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From page 231... ...
Although the standard scores are useful for relative comparisons, they provide little information concerning the range of scores on the original scales (typically a 6-point scale ranging from "never" to "always". For example, the reported data provide no indication of the distribution of scores for time spent with "eyes fixed" on the screen or for frequency of various headache symptoms.
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From page 232... ...
Although this job factor was not related to the particular type of headache measure to which the eyes shifting mode was related, the job factor was related to three other headache and symptom measures. Future studies will have to determine the extent to which the underlying causal effects are due to the pattern of eye movements required with VDT use or the job characteristics of individuals who use the VDT in this mode.
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From page 233... ...
, transforming the mean standard scores to this scale would present some information concerning the magnitude of the effect involved. For example, the positive relationship between workstation lighting and pain and stiffness in the axial musculature would be more important to pursue if the pain and stiffness scores for individuals with poor lighting averaged 5 rather than 1.5 on the original 6-point scale.
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From page 234... ...
The findings indicate that future studies should include presently identified confounding factors. For example, confounded demographic factors in relationships between measures of VDT use and measures of headache and somatic symptoms include educational level, years of employment, and age.
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