Work Ability Index Predicts Application for Disability Pension After Work-Related Medical Rehabilitation for Chronic Back Pain

Bethge, Matthias; Gutenbrunner, C.; Neuderth, Silke

doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2013.05.003

Cited by 30 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 31 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“… 3 Covering these aspects, questionnaire-based self-reports on the level of work ability has shown to be indicative of time of retirement, 4 sickness absence, 5 , 6 and disability pension. 7 , 8 Such and similar findings, 9 suggest that identification of important contributors to self-reported low work ability would be helpful in the understanding of temporal and permanent exit from working life.…”

mentioning

confidence: 71%

Contribution of Psychological, Social, and Mechanical Work Exposures to Low Work Ability

Emberland

Knardahl

2015

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 71%

Contribution of Psychological, Social, and Mechanical Work Exposures to Low Work Ability

Emberland

Knardahl

2015

Journal of Occupational &Amp; Environmental Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The Work Ability Index (WAI) is a self-assessment measure of perceived ability to work, and can help identify individuals who are at risk of a negative rehabilitation outcome: it is not LBP specific [43]. We used a single item-validated item from the WAI scale [44] slightly modified to suit the text format: “ On a scale from 0 to 10 , how is your current work ability compared with your life-time best ?…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can group-based reassuring information alter low back pain behavior? A cluster-randomized controlled trial

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is common in the population and multifactorial in nature, often involving negative consequences. Reassuring information to improve coping is recommended for reducing the negative consequences of LBP. Adding a simple non-threatening explanation for the pain (temporary muscular dysfunction) has been successful at altering beliefs and behavior when delivered with other intervention elements. This study investigates the isolated effect of this specific information on future occupational behavior outcomes when delivered to the workforce.DesignA cluster-randomized controlled trial.MethodsPublically employed workers (n = 505) from 11 Danish municipality centers were randomized at center-level (cluster) to either intervention (two 1-hour group-based talks at the workplace) or control. The talks provided reassuring information together with a simple non-threatening explanation for LBP—the ‘functional-disturbance’-model. Data collections took place monthly over a 1-year period using text message tracking (SMS). Primary outcomes were self-reported days of cutting down usual activities and work participation. Secondary outcomes were self-reported back beliefs, work ability, number of healthcare visits, bothersomeness, restricted activity, use of pain medication, and sadness/depression.ResultsThere was no between-group difference in the development of LBP during follow-up. Cumulative logistic regression analyses showed no between-group difference on days of cutting down activities, but increased odds for more days of work participation in the intervention group (OR = 1.83 95% CI: 1.08–3.12). Furthermore, the intervention group was more likely to report: higher work ability, reduced visits to healthcare professionals, lower bothersomeness, lower levels of sadness/depression, and positive back beliefs.ConclusionReassuring information involving a simple non-threatening explanation for LBP significantly increased the odds for days of work participation and higher work ability among workers who went on to experience LBP during the 12-month follow-up. Our results confirm the potential for public-health education for LBP, and add to the discussion of simple versus multidisciplinary interventions.

show abstract

“…The test-retest reliability of the WAI was found to be acceptable [ 18 ]. Moreover, several studies have confirmed that a poor WAI rating predicts productivity loss at work, retirement intentions, long-term sickness-related absences, early retirement and different indicators of need for rehabilitation [ 19 - 25 ]. Levels of work ability can be categorized as poor (7 to 27 points), moderate (28 to 36 points), good (37 to 43 points) and excellent (44 to 49 points).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work-family conflicts and self-reported work ability: cross-sectional findings in women with chronic musculoskeletal disorders

Bethge

Borngräber

2015

BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundUnder conditions of gender-specific division of paid employment and unpaid childcare and housework, rising employment of women increases the likelihood that they will be faced with work-family conflicts. As recent research indicates, such conflicts might also contribute to musculoskeletal disorders. However, research in patient samples is needed to clarify how important these conflicts are for relevant health-related measures of functioning (e.g., work ability). We therefore examined, in a sample of women with chronic musculoskeletal disorders, the indirect and direct associations between the indicators of work-family conflicts and self-reported work ability as well as whether the direct effects remained significant after adjustment for covariates.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted. Participants were recruited from five rehabilitation centers. Work-family conflicts were assessed by four scales referring to time- and strain-based work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW). Self-reported work ability was measured by the Work Ability Index. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to approve the anticipated four-factor structure of the work-family conflict measure. Direct and indirect associations between work-family conflict indicators and self-reported work ability were examined by path model analysis. Multivariate regression models were performed to calculate adjusted estimators of the direct effects of strain-based WIF and FIW on work ability.ResultsThe study included 351 employed women. The confirmatory factor analysis provided support for the anticipated four-factor structure of the work-family conflict measure. The path model analysis identified direct effects of both strain-based scales on self-reported work ability. The time-based scales were indirectly associated with work ability via the strain-based scales. Adjusted regression analyses showed that a five-point increase in strain-based WIF or FIW was associated with a four- and two-point decrease in self-reported work ability, respectively. The standardized regression coefficients were β = 0.35 and β = 0.12.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that work-family conflicts are associated with poor work ability in female patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. However, longitudinal research is needed to establish a causal relationship. Better compatibility of work and family life might be an environmental facilitator of better rehabilitation outcomes in female patients with musculoskeletal disorders.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0515-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

show abstract

Work Ability Index Predicts Application for Disability Pension After Work-Related Medical Rehabilitation for Chronic Back Pain

Cited by 30 publications

References 31 publications

Contribution of Psychological, Social, and Mechanical Work Exposures to Low Work Ability

Contribution of Psychological, Social, and Mechanical Work Exposures to Low Work Ability

Can group-based reassuring information alter low back pain behavior? A cluster-randomized controlled trial

Work-family conflicts and self-reported work ability: cross-sectional findings in women with chronic musculoskeletal disorders

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About