were validated in relation to direct measurements and systematic observations on 39 men and 58 women representing 45 different occupation s. The agreement was tested at a dichotomous level and, when possible, with quantification of duration or frequency. At the dichotomous level the agreement was "acceptable" for nine variables concerning work postures and the handling of loads weighing >5 kg. No variable showed "accept able" agreement when the duration or the frequency was quantified in more detail (4-to 6-point scales). Musculoskeletal complaints seemed to introduce a differential bias for some lifting variables. Thus some variables for postures or the handling loads of > 5 kg may, under certain conditions, be acceptable for use in epidemiologic studies when the relative risks are high. However, self-rep orted exposure seems to be too crude if more-detailed information is required.

Current and past physical and psychosocial occupational factors, both separately and combined, seem to be gender-specific, and to have a moderate impact on care-seeking for low back pain in a general working population.

The aim of the study was to evaluate eight questions concerning physical loads, used in public health questionnaires. Working women and men (203) completed a self-administered questionnaire twice, following a test-retest method. The questions were also validated with a structured interview. Response agreement was calculated with Cohen's kappa statistics with quadratic weights (kappa w). Test-retest agreement varied from 0.74 to 0.92, and inter-method agreement from 0.38 to 0.81. The lowest coefficients were for the questions concerning bent/twisted work postures (kappa w 0.38) and repetitive movements (kappa w 0.39). The results did not indicate any substantial influence of gender, type of work or musculoskeletal complaint. The questions concerning general physical activity and sitting work postures, and physical exercise/sports during leisure times, had good validity. The questions concerning bent/twisted work posture and repetitive movements need to be re-designed.