Homogeneity Criteria in Occupational Medicine: A Focus on Women’s Health in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major occupational health concern, especially for women in physically demanding jobs. Despite efforts to standardize risk assessment in occupational medicine, the lack of homogeneous criteria limits the comparability and applicability of the findings, particularly concerning gender-specific risks. A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, following PRISMA guidelines. The review included primary studies in English or Italian that applied standardized criteria to assess MSDs among working women. The search strategy was built using the PICO framework, focusing on uniform assessment methods for MSDs in occupational contexts. Out of 416 initially retrieved records, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies, conducted in North America, Europe, and Asia, applied diverse yet standardized tools such as the ISO 2631, INRS/Saltsa guidelines, ergonomic assessments, and functional capacity evaluations. Female representation ranged from 12% to over 80%, highlighting the underrepresentation of women in some studies. All studies incorporated criteria to ensure population or exposure homogeneity. Although standardized methods are increasingly being used in MSD research, only a few studies integrate a gender-sensitive approach. This review underscores the need for personalized occupational health models that consider sex and gender differences, promoting equitable and effective fit-to-work assessments.