Validity of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles Residual Functional Capacity Battery

Abstract

We cannot as yet predict DOT-RFC employment levels. However, if a CPP can pass the above eight DOT job factors and has a pain level less than the 5.4 cutpoint, that CPP will have a 75% chance of being employed at 30 months after treatment at the pain facility. Therefore, some DOT-RFC battery job factors demonstrate a predictive validity in the "real work world."

Are functional capacity evaluations affected by the patient’s pain?

“…It appears that FCE results are modestly associated with future recovery outcomes and that the likelihood of return-to-work following FCE is quite good [45][46][47]. In fact, the likelihood of return-to-work following FCE appears more positive than the prognosis of most chronic pain conditions, which typically is very negative after 6 months or more of work loss.…”

Pain level as a predictor of return to work

“…Kool and co-workers' choice of testing the 9 or 10 pain level for non-return to work is in keeping with the concept that such a pain level could be a behavior sign. As the above-mentioned study [2] indicates, however, any level of pain above 5.4 on a 10-point VAS scale can keep a chronic LBP patient from returning to work.…”

“…This study noted that the vast majority of chronic LBP patients could not pass the full battery. Fishbain et al [2] subsequently went on to test the validity of the battery for predicting return/ non-return to work in chronic LBP patients going through a pain facility rehabilitation program. They found the following by discriminant analyses:…”

An examination of the perceptions of functional capacity evaluations in Prince George, British Columbia: A case study.

“…Matheson, Rogers, Kaskutas, and Dakos (2002) concluded that time off work and gender were the strongest predictors of return to work. In contrast, Fishbain et al (1999b) concluded that the strongest predictor o f return to work was pain levels at discharge.…”

“…The Dictionary of Occupational Titles describes each occupation based on this list of physical demands (Innes & Straker, 1998b). These tasks include lifting, standing, walking, sitting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, talking, hearing, and seeing (Fishbain et al, 1999b;Lechner et al, 1991). There have been concerns identified specifically in regards to basing the physical assessment on the Dictionary o f Occupational Titles.…”