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National Occupational Research Agenda for
Musculoskeletal Disorders

Research Topics for the Next Decade
A Report by the NORA Musculoskeletal Disorders Team

January 2001
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2001-117

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Table of Contents

  1. Disclaimer (on this page)
  2. Listing of NORA MSD Team Members (on this page)
  3. Introduction
    1. Current Status of Research
    2. Obtaining Input for the National Research Agenda
    3. Findings From the Focus Groups
    4. Analysis of Focus Group Findings
  4. NORA Team Agenda
    1. Surveillance Research Agenda
      1. Collection of Data for Surveillance
      2. Surveillance Information Analysis and Tools
      3. Interpretation Issues
    2. Etiologic and Medical Research Agenda
      1. Risk Factors
      2. Exposure Measurement
      3. Diagnosis and Treatment
    3. Intervention Research Agenda
      1. Engineering Control Technologies
      2. Work Organization
      3. Protective Equipment
      4. Other Interventions
    4. Improving the Research Process
  5. References
  6. Appendix A. Practitioner Listing of Research Issues
    1. Surveillance
    2. Etiological Research
    3. Intervention
    4. Improving the Research Process
  7. Appendix B. Selected Industry Specific Practitioner Research Issues
    1. General Industry
    2. Health Care
    3. Construction and Maritime
    4. Forest Products and Agriculture
  8. Appendix C. Academic Input on What is Possible in the Next Five Years
    1. Risk Factor Identification
    2. Improvement of Exposure Assessment Tools and Methods
    3. Medical Research
    4. Intervention
    5. Dissemination of Information about Ergonomics
    6. Removal of Barriers to Research
  9. Contributors

Disclaimer

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.

Copies of this and other NIOSH documents are available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health:

Publications Dissemination
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226-1998
Telephone Number 1-800-35-NIOSH
(1-800-356-4674)

Fax Number: 1-513-533-8573
E-mail: pubstaft@cdc.gov

For more information, visit the NIOSH Home Page on the World Wide Web at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/homepage.html.

Listing of NORA MSD Team Members

Vernon Anderson, NIOSH
Gunnar Andersson, Rush Presbyterian; St. Luke's Medical Center
Bruce Bernard, NIOSH
Stephen Brightwell, NIOSH
Robert Bonner, Aetna U.S. Healthcare
LaMont Byrd, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Cheryl Estill, NIOSH
Lawrence Fine, NIOSH
Sean Gallagher, NIOSH
Hongwei Hsiao, NIOSH
Tom Leamon, Liberty Mutual Research Center for Safety and Health
Lida Orta-Anés, International United Auto Workers
James Panagis, National Institute for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Brian Peacock, General Motors Corporation
Priscilla Shoemaker, American Health Care Association
Barbara Silverstein, Washington Department of Labor and Industries
Tom Slavin, International Truck and Engine Corporation
Thomas Waters, NIOSH
Laura Welch, Washington Hospital Center

For additional information, contact co-chairs:

Lawrence J. Fine, M.D., Dr.P.H.; Acting Director, NIOSH; Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg., 200 Independence Ave. SW, Room 715H, Washington, DC 20201; Email: LFine@cdc.gov; ph: (202) 401-6997

Thomas R. Waters, Ph.D.; Chief, Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Section, Division of Applied Research and Technology (DART); NIOSH (MS C-24); 4676 Columbia Parkway; Cincinnati, Ohio 45226; Email: TWaters@cdc.gov; ph: (513) 533-8147

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