Development and content validity of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for computer users Thai version

Authors

  • Sirawan Ek-iam Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Thailand
  • Teeraphun Kaewdok Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Thailand, Thammasat University Research unit in Occupational Ergonomics, Thailand
  • Naris Charoenporn Faculty of Engineering, Rangsit Campus, Thammasat University, Thailand
  • Ekarat Sombatsawat Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, Thailand, Thammasat University Research unit in Occupational Ergonomics, Thailand

Keywords:

RULA for computer user, ergonomics assessment, computer user

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) develop a Thai version of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for Computer Users, 2) evaluate the content validity of the translated RULA for Computer Users from the original English version into Thai, and 3) examine the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design of the Thai version of the RULA for Computer Users assessment tool.

          This study employed a Research and Development design and was conducted between June and July 2025. Standardized translation and cross-cultural adaptation procedures were applied, including forward translation, synthesized translation, backward translation, and expert review by three linguists and sixteen ergonomics experts. Content validity was evaluated using the Item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and the Scale-level Content Validity Index using Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA). In addition, UX/UI evaluation was conducted in terms of usability, system function, and functional requirements.

          The results showed that the Thai version of the assessment tool was newly developed with improved presentation formats, colored illustrations, and systematically organized assessment procedures to enhance clarity and suitability for computer-related work contexts. The forward and backward translations demonstrated comparable findings, with mean CVI scores of 0.93 and 0.92, respectively. Furthermore, all assessment steps demonstrated high I-CVI values ranging from 0.90 to 0.93, with an overall average CVI of 0.92, indicating acceptable content validity. The UX/UI evaluation revealed high levels of usability (X̅=4.07, ±S.D.=±0.64), system function performance (X̅=3.75, ±S.D.=±0.80), and functional requirements satisfaction (X̅=3.80, ±S.D.=±0.93).

          In conclusion, the Thai version of the RULA for Computer Users demonstrated acceptable content validity and high levels of user experience and user interface evaluation. The assessment tool may be applicable for ergonomic risk assessment among computer users in the Thai context.

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Published

2026-08-30

How to Cite

Ek-iam, S., Kaewdok, T., Charoenporn, N., & Sombatsawat, E. (2026). Development and content validity of the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) for computer users Thai version. UBRU Journal for Public Health Research, 15(2), 89–104. retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ubruphjou/article/view/280724

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ORIGINAL ARTICLES