Repeatability of self-reported data on occupational exposure to particular compounds

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Epidemiology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Self-reported occupational exposures are crucial for epidemiological studies investigating disease etiology.
• Assessing the reliability of self-reported data is essential for validating its use in research.
• Previous studies have highlighted the need for robust methods to evaluate exposure assessment accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the repeatability of self-reported occupational exposure to eight specific chemical compounds.
• To determine the reliability of self-reported exposure data in the context of a case-referent study on prostate cancer.
• To assess factors influencing the repeatability of occupational exposure reporting.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 209 males (aged 49-87 years) completed an initial mailed questionnaire regarding occupational exposures.
• Subjects were re-interviewed via telephone 3-5 weeks later to assess the repeatability of their self-reported exposures.
• Concordance was measured using kappa statistics, with analysis considering age, socioeconomic status, and case/referent status.

Main Results:

• Repeatability varied across the eight investigated compounds, with kappa values ranging from 0.36 to 0.70.
• No significant influence of age, socioeconomic status, or case/referent status on exposure reporting repeatability was observed.
• While not perfect, the observed repeatability suggests a degree of consistency in self-reported occupational exposures.

Conclusions:

• Self-reported occupational exposure data demonstrates sufficient repeatability to serve as a reliable basis for etiological research.
• In the absence of objective occupational exposure information, self-reported data is a viable alternative for epidemiological studies.
• Further research may refine methods for optimizing the accuracy and utility of self-reported exposure data in occupational health studies.