Comparing self-report, clinical examination and functional testing in the assessment of work-related limitations in patients with chronic low back pain (original) (raw)
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Disability & Rehabilitation, 2006
Purpose: Exploring which variables are related to work status in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Method: Ninety-two patients with CLBP filled out questionnaires inquiring after health status, impairments in body functions/ structures, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), participation in work, environmental and personal factors. Additionally, patients performed tests to measure physical fitness and performance of work-related activities. Univariate analyses were performed to investigate whether differences exist between working and non-working patients. Logistic linear regression analysis was performed to explain work status from the variables of functioning. Results: Non-working patients had a lower self-reported physical and mental health, lower physical fitness, more self-reported limitations in ADL, lower education, more depressive symptoms and higher psycho neuroticism than working patients. Self-reported physical and mental health and educational level correctly classified 84.5% of the patients as working or non-working. Performance of work-related activities was not significantly related with work status. Conclusions: The relation between work status and CLBP is multidimensional, as was illustrated by using the bio-psychosocial model of the ICF. Patients with a low educational level, a low self-reported physical or mental health were more likely to be non-working. Self-reported limitations and physical and mental health are more important in explaining work status than objective measurements of performance.
Test-Retest Reliability of Two Work Limitation Questionnaires in Chronic Low Back Pain
To investigate the test-retest reliability of two work limitation questionnaires in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Design: Test-retest reliability was studied after the patient filled out the Functional Ability List (FAL) and the Work & Handicap Questionnaire (WHQ) twice within two weeks. A Kappa value of more than 0.60, absolute agreement of more than 80% and ICC of more than 0.75 were considered as acceptable. Subjects: Thirty patients with CLBP who were admitted for rehabilitation treatment. Results: Acceptable reliability was found for 5 out of 26 items (19%) of the FAL, 15 out of the 28 items (54%) of the ADL part of the WHQ, 3 out of 27 items (11%) and 3 out of 9 items (33%) of the work part of the WHQ. An ICC of 0.82 was found for the ADL part, 0.42 and 0.33 for the work part of the WHQ. Conclusion: The test-retest reliability is unacceptable for most items of the FAL and the WHQ and therefore these questionnaires are not useful to assess work limitations in CLBP patients.
Work status and chronic low back pain
… DISABILITY IN PATIENTS …
Purpose: Exploring which variables are related to work status in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), classified according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Method: Ninety-two patients with CLBP filled out questionnaires inquiring after health status, impairments in body functions/ structures, limitations in activities of daily living (ADL), participation in work, environmental and personal factors. Additionally, patients performed tests to measure physical fitness and performance of work-related activities. Univariate analyses were performed to investigate whether differences exist between working and non-working patients. Logistic linear regression analysis was performed to explain work status from the variables of functioning. Results: Non-working patients had a lower self-reported physical and mental health, lower physical fitness, more self-reported limitations in ADL, lower education, more depressive symptoms and higher psycho neuroticism than working patients. Self-reported physical and mental health and educational level correctly classified 84.5% of the patients as working or non-working. Performance of work-related activities was not significantly related with work status. Conclusions: The relation between work status and CLBP is multidimensional, as was illustrated by using the bio-psychosocial model of the ICF. Patients with a low educational level, a low self-reported physical or mental health were more likely to be non-working. Self-reported limitations and physical and mental health are more important in explaining work status than objective measurements of performance.
European Spine Journal, 2022
Purpose A cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted to analyse construct validity, responsiveness, and Minimal Clinically Important Change (MCIC) in the Work Ability Score (WAS) and Pain Disability Index Work item (PDI-W) in patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP). Method Construct validity was assessed by testing predefined hypotheses. Responsiveness and MCIC were measured with an anchor-based method. The area under the receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) and the optimal cut-off point were calculated. Smallest Detectable Change (SDC) was calculated to determine measurement error. Results In total, 1502 patients (age 18–65 years) with CLBP were included. For validity of the WAS and PDI-W, respectively, seven and six out of 10 hypotheses were not rejected. The WAS (n = 355) was responsive to change with an AUC of 0.70. MCIC was 1.5 point, SDCindividual 4.9, and SDCgroup 0.3. MCICs were 4.5, 1.5, and − 0.5 points for, respectively, low, middle, and high scoring...
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2015
Background: Many factors influence the return to work of workers with chronic low back pain (CLBP). They have been said to vary according to socio-professional group. This study first aimed to compare prognostic factors influencing the return to work of CLBP healthcare workers (HCWs) and other workers (non-HCWs) after rehabilitation coupled with an occupational intervention. The second objective was to improve the evolution of indicators such as clinical examination, psychosocial impact and pain impact. Methods: Between 2007 and 2012, a cohort of 217 CLBP workers (54.8 %-women; mean age = 41.3 ± 9.5 years, 118 non-HCWs; 99 HCWs mainly from the public sector) was included in an ambulatory rehabilitation program (standard physiotherapy or intensive network physiotherapy) coupled with an occupational intervention. Workers completed a questionnaire and had a clinical examination at baseline and after 24 months' follow up. Physical, social and occupational data was collected at the same time. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate prognostic factors for return to work and compare the two worker populations. Results: There was no difference between groups for the rate of OP (occupational physician) intervention or type of physiotherapy. 77.3 % of workers returned to work after 2 years following inclusion. To be an HCW (OR 0.1; 95 % CI [0.03-0.34]), to have less than 112 sick-leave days (OR 1.00; 95 % CI [0.93-1.00]), a small fingertip-floor distance (OR 0.96; 95 % CI [0.93-0.99]), a low anxiety/depression score (OR 0.97; 95 % CI [0.95-1.00]), a low impact of CLBP on daily life (OR 0.96; 95 % CI [0.93-1.00]), and on quality of life (OR 0.98; 95 % CI [0.95-1.00]) at baseline were statistically associated with return to work after 2 years of follow up. Only the profession (workplace) was statistically associated with return to work after 2 years of follow up using multivariate analysis. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first cohort study concerning predictive factors of RTW among CLBP workers after 2 years of follow up. Interventions in the work environment did not seem to predict job retention significantly. But only 50 % of the employees in both groups (HCW and non-HCW) had one intervention at their workplace after 2 years. This study underlined the fact that the type of physiotherapy with a well-trained physiotherapist used to take care of CLBP could not impact on the RTW forecast. To develop these initial results, it might be interesting to study the comparison between private and public sectors and to randomize the physiotherapeutic intervention.