Prospective Cohort Study of Work Functioning Impairment and Subsequent Absenteeism Among Japanese Workers

Fujino, Yoshihisa; Shazuki, Shuichiro; Hayashi, Izumi; Uehara, Masamichi; Muramatsu, Keiji; Kubo, Toshikazu; Oyama, Ichiro; Matsuda, Shinya

doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000788

Cited by 23 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…According to COSMIN, when a gold standard is not available, hypothesis testing should be used to evaluate a tool's validity. Previous studies on the WFun have shown a good fit to the Rasch model in terms of specific objectivity and proven construct validity; and they have validated it against the hypothesis test of convergent validity by job disruptions, SPS, the Short Form 8 Health Survey (SF-8), and changes in employment status, and discriminant validity by sex, age, employment status, job type, and income 31) . In this study, we confirmed the convergent validity and responsiveness of the WFun in workers with pain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…The present findings may suggest that the WFun offers the following advantages in worker management: (1) it consists of a few (seven) simple question items; (2) it is a specialized index for evaluating workers' ability to function at work and is easy to interpret without being constrained by the type or severity of health problem; (3) its total score is associated with a sufficient statistical evaluation, so there is no need to analyze the answer 31) ; (4) it does not include health information, so non-medical staff can handle the data 41) ; and (5) it is an objective tool in which the differential test function has been examined, so it can be used regardless of age, industry type, or occupation 31) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The inclusion of this model means that the WFun can assess the ability of individual workers to perform at work at the time of measurement. Past studies have assessed and proven the quality of the WFun 25 , 31) in accordance with consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) 32 , 33) , a guide that is used to evaluate the methodological quality of newly developed health-related patient-reported outcomes. However, quality assessment of the WFun is not yet sufficient because it has not been verified for responsiveness, a requirement of COSMIN.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Validity and responsiveness of the work functioning impairment scale (WFun) in workers with pain due to musculoskeletal disorders

Makishima

Fujino

Kubo

et al. 2018

Journal of Occupational Health

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Objective: To determine the convergent validity and responsiveness of the work functioning impairment scale (WFun) in workers with musculoskeletal disorder-related pain. Methods: Participants were extracted from an internet user study and prospectively examined using the pain intensity numerical rating scale (pain-NRS), the work ability numerical rating scale (productivity-NRS), and the WFun at baseline, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months. The convergent validity and responsiveness of the WFun were examined by multilevel regression analysis. Results: A total of 786 workers participated and 593 completed all surveys. The WFun score gradually increased and decreased as the pain-NRS and the productivity-NRS increased, respectively. Changes in the WFun score steadily increased and decreased as changes in the pain-NRS and the productivity-NRS increased, respectively. Multilevel analyses showed that all linear associations were significant. Conclusions: The convergent validity and responsiveness of the WFun were consistent with the expected direction and magnitude.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Validity and responsiveness of the work functioning impairment scale (WFun) in workers with pain due to musculoskeletal disorders

Makishima

Fujino

Kubo

et al. 2018

Journal of Occupational Health

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“…It is therefore important to assess workers' degree of recovery from impairment after starting treatment, even if their symptoms have remitted. Additionally, given that severe work functioning impairment (WFun ≥ 21 points) can increase the risk of taking sick leave in the future, such assessments are important for preventing depression-related work leave 23 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work functioning impairment in the course of pharmacotherapy treatment for depression

Nagata

Fujino

Ohtani

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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This study investigated the association between the duration of pharmacotherapy treatment for depression, or discontinuation from treatment, and work functioning impairment. This was a retrospective cohort study examining 30,409 workers. Work functioning impairment was assessed using a questionnaire, and treatment status was assessed using medical claims data. Odds ratios (ORs) of workers with severe work functioning impairment compared with healthy workers (control group) were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Continuous medical treatment was associated with severely impaired work functioning regardless of treatment period [continuous medical treatment; 4 months <: OR = 3.2, 4 months ≥, 10 months <: OR = 2.6, 10 months ≥, 14 months <: OR = 2.3, 14 months ≥, 16 months <: OR = 2.3, which are all statistically significant (p < 0.05)]. Workers who initially received pharmacotherapy treatment but discontinued in < 11 months had a significantly higher OR (treatment discontinuation period; 3 months <: OR = 2.3, 3 months ≥, 8 months <; OR = 2.0, 8 months ≥, 11 months <; OR = 3.0), while those who discontinued at ≥ 11 months did not (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 0.6–3.5). The sensitivity analysis excluding participants with at least one psychiatric comorbidity other than depression did not change the final result. It is important for the occupational health practitioners and attending psychiatrists to follow up in cooperation with each other, paying attention to the decrease in work functioning in addition to the symptoms.

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“…Furthermore, interruptions to treatment among workers increase presenteeism 13 , a practice in which individuals continue to work while unwell. Continued presenteeism can lead to lower productivity, further deterioration of health status, and even difficulties with staying in the labor market 14 . Anxieties related to possible infection after seeking medical care and the need to reschedule regular medical appointments due to the COVID-19 pandemic are causing interruptions to medical treatment for workers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cross-sectional study of socioeconomic status and treatment interruption among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fujimoto

Ishimaru

Tateishi

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused interruptions to chronic disease and non-emergency treatment. The purpose of this study is to examine which socioeconomic status groups are most at risk of treatment interruption. Methods: This cross-sectional internet monitor study was conducted on December 22-26, 2020, when Japan experienced its third wave of COVID-19 infection. Out of a total of 33,302 participants in the survey, 9510 (5392 males and 4118 females) who responded that they required regular treatment or hospital visits were included in the analysis. A multilevel logistic model nested in the prefecture of residence was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for treatment disruption. We examined separate multivariate models for socioeconomic factors, health factors, and lifestyle factors. Results: During a period of rapid COVID-19 infection, about 11% of Japanese workers who required regular treatment experienced interruptions to their treatment. The OR of treatment interruption associated with not being married compared to being married was 1.44; manual labor work compared to desk work was 1.30; loss of employment when the COVID-19 pandemic started and continued unemployment compared to being employed over the entire pandemic period was 1.62 and 2.57, respectively; and feeling financially unstable was 2.92. Conclusion: Treatment interruption is a new health inequality brought about by COVID-19 with possible medium- and long-term effects, including excess mortality, morbidity, and productivity loss due to increased presenteeism. Efforts are needed to reduce treatment interruptions among workers who require regular treatment.

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Prospective Cohort Study of Work Functioning Impairment and Subsequent Absenteeism Among Japanese Workers

Abstract: Assessing work functioning impairment is a useful way of classifying risk for future sick leave among employees.

Cited by 23 publications

References 21 publications

Validity and responsiveness of the work functioning impairment scale (WFun) in workers with pain due to musculoskeletal disorders

Validity and responsiveness of the work functioning impairment scale (WFun) in workers with pain due to musculoskeletal disorders

Work functioning impairment in the course of pharmacotherapy treatment for depression

A cross-sectional study of socioeconomic status and treatment interruption among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

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