Predictive validity of the Work Ability Index and its individual items in the general population

Lundin, Andreas; Leijon, Ola; Vaez, Marjan; Hallgren, Mats; Torgén, Margareta

doi:10.1177/1403494817702759

Cited by 89 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The single item examined most often is WAS, which is a self-assessment of present overall level of work ability compared with lifetime best. In recent studies WAS predicted register-based disability pension among ageing Finnish municipal workers [28] and register-based long-term sickness absence among a national Swedish sample [29]. It also predicted self-reported long-term sick leave among female Swedish human service workers [22].…”

Section: Wai and Wasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) — Inter-rater reliability in total score and individual items

et al. 2019

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Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, which causes sickness absence and early retirement. Manual labor, awkward postures and repetitive work are commonly reported as causes for work-related neck disorders. Both neck pain and heavy physical work have been linked to lower levels of work ability. The overall aim of this thesis was to gain knowledge of how work demands can influence the work ability and sickness absence of workers with neck and upper extremity disorders, and also investigate a method that measures work demands. One cross-sectional study, two longitudinal studies and one experimental study were included in this thesis. Papers I-III uses material from Statistics Sweden (SCB) "Work environment" and "Work related disorders" surveys. Sickness absence data from the Longitudinal integration database for health insurance and labor market studies (LISA) database were also used in these studies. The relationship between exposure to work demands (high or low) or work place interventions (yes or no) were compared to work ability or sickness absence. Paper IV investigated the inter-rater reliability of the summary scores and individual items of a method to measure work demands, the Quick Exposure Check (QEC), by comparing two simultaneous assessments of 51 work tasks. The results showed that a lower level of physically demanding work and having high control over ones work can result in lower levels of sickness absence and promote excellent work ability for workers with neck pain, especially among older workers (Papers I, II). In Paper III it was found that work place interventions that improves neck pain were associated with fewer number of sickness absence days. Paper IV found that the QEC has good reliability in total scores but a few of the individual items showed low reliability. The results from this thesis can be used in different work settings, to promote work ability and prevent sickness absence by employers and occupational healthcare professionals.

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Section: Wai and Wasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) — Inter-rater reliability in total score and individual items

et al. 2019

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“…Work ability is a multifactorial construct that reflects the balance between occupational demands and the individual worker's capacity [7]. Lower work ability has been associated with increased risks of work productivity loss [8], sickness absence [9][10][11] as well as premature exit from the labor market [10,12] and ultimately all-cause mortality [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between physical work demands and work ability in workers with musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study

Skovlund

Bláfoss

Sundstrup

et al. 2020

BMC Musculoskelet Disord

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Background: Musculoskeletal pain is common in the working population and may affect the work ability, especially among those with high physical work demands. This study investigated the association between physical work demands and work ability in workers with musculoskeletal pain. Methods: Workers with physically demanding jobs (n = 5377) participated in the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study in 2010. Associations between physical work ability and various physical work demands were modeled using cumulative logistic regression analyses while controlling for possible confounders. Results: In the fully adjusted model, bending and twisting/turning of the back more than a quarter of the workday (reference: less than a quarter of the workday) was associated with higher odds of lower work ability in workers with low-back pain (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.09-1.74) and neck-shoulder pain (OR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.01-1.64). When adding up the different types of demands, being exposed to two or more physical work demands for more than a quarter of the workday was consistently associated with lower work ability. Conclusions: Work that involves high demands of the lower back seems especially problematic in relation to work ability among physical workers with musculoskeletal pain. Regardless of the specific type of physical work demand, being exposed to multiple physical work demands for more than a quarter of the workday was also associated with lower work ability.

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“…The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a seven-item questionnaire widely used to measure self-reported work ability 1 4. The WAI has well-established psychometric properties including high test–retest reliability and predictive validity 5 6. However, it is argued that it is an overly lengthy instrument that places too much emphasis on self-reported medical diagnoses not necessarily related to work ability 7.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Normative reference values and physical factors associated with work ability: a cross-sectional observational study

et al. 2020

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ObjectivesTo establish normative reference values for work ability in healthy Australian adults using the Work Ability Score and investigate the association of physical performance factors.MethodsThe Work Ability Score was collected from 720 participants aged 18–101 years from the 1000 Norms Project. Physical performance was evaluated by assessing isometric strength of 13 muscle groups; flexibility of six joints; and 11 functional measures categorised as gross motor, fine motor and balance tasks. Correlations and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify physical performance factors independently associated with work ability.ResultsAge-stratified reference values were generated for work ability. Work ability increased during young adulthood (18–44 years) and declined from middle adulthood (45–64 years) into older adulthood (≥65 years), with no sex differences. Greater gross motor function and balance correlated with work ability (r=−0.498 to −0.285; p<0.001). Multiple regression identified younger age, being employed and a faster timed up and down stairs test as significant independent factors associated with work ability (r2=0.333, p<0.001).ConclusionsReference data can be used to identify individuals with low work ability. This study has identified physical factors associated with work ability that can potentially be targeted to maintain longevity in work. Physical tests such as the timed up and down stairs test may assist in the development of objective job-specific screening tools to assess work ability, supplementing subjective evaluation.

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Predictive validity of the Work Ability Index and its individual items in the general population

Cited by 89 publications

References 27 publications

The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) — Inter-rater reliability in total score and individual items

The Quick Exposure Check (QEC) — Inter-rater reliability in total score and individual items

Association between physical work demands and work ability in workers with musculoskeletal pain: cross-sectional study

Normative reference values and physical factors associated with work ability: a cross-sectional observational study

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