Affiliations: [a] Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| [b] Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| [c] Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT), Oshawa, Canada
| [d] UOIT-CMCC Centre for the Study of Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, Oshawa, Canada
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Dr Eleanor Boyle, University of Southern Denmark, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. Tel.: +45 6550 3488; E-mail: eboyle@health.sdu.dk.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:In occupational rehabilitation programs, return-to-work is a key outcome measure; however, the studies either used different definitions for return-to-work or do not provide their definition. In order to provide a solution to this issue, we developed a self-report return-to-work measure. OBJECTIVE:We investigated the reliability and validity of a self-report return-to-work questionnaire in a cohort of workers with a work-related injury. METHODS:Two research assistants independently administered the baseline questionnaires and a follow-up questionnaire. The questionnaires contained work-related questions (e.g., currently working, if duties changed) that were used to create a four-category work status measure. Pain-related and a recovery questions were also asked. We obtained loss of earnings data from the compensation board. The short-term reliability and convergent validity were assessed. RESULTS:We recruited 75 workers, and 57 completed the test-re-test baseline questionnaire, and 51 completed the follow-up. The mean age was 45.4 years and 57% were female. The participants had a mixture of musculoskeletal injuries. Most were in the acute stage, but 17% of the participants were injured for more than a year. The short-term reliability of current working status had a kappa value of 0.90. Participants who were not working had higher levels of pain-related disability than those who were working. The kappa value for the agreement between self-reported working status and administrative data on receiving any loss of earnings payment was around 0.65. CONCLUSIONS:Our study provides evidence of reliability and validity for a new return-to-work measure.
