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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.