Affiliations: Rehabilitation Clinic, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm,
Sweden | Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences,
Section of Caring Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | Department of Occupational Therapy, Sargent College of
Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston, MA, USA
Abstract: {\it Objective.} Comparisons of the results of a multidimensional
criterion-referenced vocational assessment (CMVA) were performed between a
group of patients with chronic pain (group P; n = 86) and
individuals working (group W; n = 106). The participants had
experience of five job categories. {\it Methods.} The participants' capability to work was assessed
from the aspects of personal factors, background data, present work experience,
personal and work environmental factors probably influencing work capacity and
capacity to perform occupations. Eleven instruments comprising 407 items were
used. {\it Results.} The results of the comparisons suggest that group P
participants' work capacity was significant decreased by how they perceived
their present work experience (X^2; p < 0.001),
self-assessed or observed capability to perform daily and work occupations
(t; p < 0.000). Among the factors which probably influenced
their work capability, group P participants significantly (t; p
< 0.05) more often used confrontive, emotive, palliative and covert
coping strategies and had attained work and other life values to a less extent.
Moreover, group P participants perceived that they had had a significant
(t; p < 0.000) higher degree of psychosocial demands and
more strain incurred from the psychosocial work environment.
