Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Chinese Version of the Work-Ability Support Scale (WSS) in Young and Middle-Aged Stroke Survivors

Validation of the work-ability support scale in individuals seeking to return to work after severe acquired brain injury

PURPOSE

To assess the reliability and validity of the work-ability support scale (WSS) in a severe traumatic/acquired brain injury (TBI/ABI) population seeking to return to work (RTW).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred forty-four clients were enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention trial through the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program in New South Wales, Australia. Each client's primary brain injury clinician and VR provider completed the WSS pre- and post-intervention. Validating measures assessing dysexecutive behavior, disability, participation, and work instability were completed. Several aspects of reliability and validity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Internal consistency was excellent for Part A (Cronbach's αs > 0.9) but unacceptably low to questionable for Part B (αs < 0.6). Inter-rater reliability between clinicians and VR providers was generally fair to moderate for Part A (κw < 0.6) and worse for Part B (κw < 0.5), with both slightly improving at post-intervention. Strong support was found for predictive and convergent validity, but not divergent validity. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a poor fit for Part A, whereas most Part B fit indices met criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The WSS can play a useful role in assessing return to work (RTW) potential, planning and evaluation after severe TBI/ABI. Training could improve consistency of administration among staff working across health and VR service sectors.

Profiles of work ability and associated factors in young and middle-aged acute myocardial infarction patients: A latent profile analysis

BACKGROUND

The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is increasing among young and middle-aged people, and such patients need to be reemployed after AMI events from the individual and society perspectives. However, the situation of employment after AMI was not ideal. Early identification of patients vulnerable to decreased work ability and provided targeted intervention may be beneficial.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the profiles and associated factors of work ability in young and middle-aged AMI patients.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guangzhou, China, from September 2022 to October 2023. Work ability, self-efficacy for return-to-work, social support, anxiety, and depression were measured by the Work-ability Support Scale (WSS), Return-To-Work Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, Social Support Rating Scale, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9, respectively. We performed latent profile analysis based on three subdomains of the WSS by using Mplus 8.3. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with work ability.

RESULTS

A total of 155 participants (aged 48.58±7.153 years, 95.5 % male) were included. We identified three latent profiles of work ability: low work ability (28.1 %), moderate work ability (51 %), and high work ability (20.6 %). The per capita monthly household income, NYHA functional class, total cholesterol, length of hospital stay, social support, and self-efficacy for return-to-work were factors associated with work ability.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated different profiles and associated factors of work ability in young and middle-aged AMI patients. It is suggested that healthcare providers identify and monitor associated factors to improve work ability among this subpopulation.

A Chinese version of the Participation Strategies Self Efficacy Scale (PS-SES): psychometric evaluation in stroke survivors

OBJECTIVE

To cross-culturally adapt and investigate the psychometric properties of a Chinese-translated version of the Participation Strategies Self Efficacy Scale (PS-SES).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The translation/back-translation procedure was done in line with cross-cultural adaptation international guidelines. 378 stroke survivors were recruited to complete the questionnaires. The psychometric properties of the PS-SES were evaluated by determining item analysis, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, content validity, construct validity, convergent validity and floor/ceiling effects, respectively.

RESULTS

The intraclass correlation coefficient using the two-way random model (ICC) (test-retest) was 0.923 (95% confidence interval (CI):0.844-0.962; p < 0.05). Cronbach's alpha and split-half reliability (internal consistency) for the PS-SES-C was 0.968 and 0.906, respectively. For the content validity, the I-CVI of the PS-SES-C was ranged from 0.860 to 1.000 and the S-CVI was 0.949. In the exploratory factor analysis, a six-factor solution explained 80.695% of the variance. A moderate correlation was found between the PS-SES-C and the Chinese version of WHODAS 2.0 (-0.430). A strong correlation was found between the PS-SES-C and the SSEQ-C (0.626).

CONCLUSION

The PS-SES-C showed satisfactory psychometric properties. It can be considered a reliable and valid instrument to assess the participation strategies self-efficacy of stroke survivors in China.Implications for RehabilitationThe Participation Strategies Self Efficacy Scale was translated into Chinese through a rigorous cultural adaptation process.PS-SES-C is now a reliable and valid tool for Chinese-speaking patients who have suffered from a stroke.It is necessary to assess the participation strategies self-efficacy of strokesurvivors in China and develop targeted intervention programs.