Reliability of self-administered Work Ability Index questionnaire among Korean workers

Effects of a self-managed return to work intervention for colorectal cancer survivors: A prospective randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

The present study aims to assess the efficacy of stage-matched, self-managed Return to Work (RTW) interventions in enhancing RTW outcomes among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

METHODS

This trial, conducted in South Korea, enrolled 58 unemployed survivors of colorectal cancer. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group received a self-managed return-to-work intervention based on the trans-theoretical model, while the control group received an educational booklet. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months to measure changes in various factors including return-to-work status and HRQOL.

RESULTS

In the experimental group, 28 participants were randomly assigned, while 30 individuals were allocated to the control group. The experimental group exhibited a higher proportion of individuals achieving RTW (64.5% vs 39.3%, p = 0.013) and demonstrated greater improvements in work ability (p = 0.001), RTW self-efficacy (p = 0.035), readiness for RTW in the prepared-for-action (p < 00.0001), uncertain maintenance (p = 0.033), and proactive maintenance (p < 00.0001) stages, quality of working life (p = 0.003), HRQOL (p < 0.05), and illness perception (p < 0.05) compared to the control group at the 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Stage-matched self-managed RTW interventions incorporating TTM principles may effectively enhance RTW outcomes and work ability among CRC survivors.

The physical activity paradox in relation to work ability and health-related productivity loss in Korea

OBJECTIVES

The physical activity paradox suggests that occupational physical activity (OPA), unlike leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), may detrimentally impact health. We explored the relationships of OPA and LTPA with work ability (WA) and health-related productivity loss (HRPL).

METHODS

This study included 5,501 workers in Korea who were recruited in 2021 through a web-based cross-sectional questionnaire. The questionnaire was utilized to quantify OPA and LTPA in metabolic equivalents, while WA and HRPL were also measured. Non-parametric regression, using a generalized additive model (GAM), was employed to visualize the relationships of LTPA and OPA with WA and HRPL. Mean differences in WA and HRPL, in relation to OPA and LTPA, were examined using linear regression models. These models were adjusted for covariates including sex, age, body mass index, education level, alcohol consumption, smoking history, insomnia, occupation, hours worked, and income.

RESULTS

The GAM and linear regression analyses revealed that higher LTPA corresponded with higher WA and lower HRPL. In contrast, as OPA increased, WA decreased and HRPL increased. However, within the group with high OPA, HRPL was not significantly lower in the high-LTPA subgroup relative to the low-LTPA subgroup (mean difference=1.92%, p=0.343). This pattern was especially pronounced among workers aged 60 years and older, with an increase in HRPL observed with increasing LTPA among the respondents with high OPA.

CONCLUSIONS

High LTPA levels were associated with elevated WA and diminished HRPL. In contrast, higher levels of OPA were associated with lower WA and higher HRPL.

Validity and Reliability of Work Ability Index in Turkish Context: Inter-Level, Direct, and Indirect Relations with Job Satisfaction and Task Performance

Descriptive research on work ability is well advanced. However, literature is still far from explaining its consequences. Besides, Turkish literature has been quite limited in terms of considering the work ability concept. In the research, the work ability index, and task performance scale were adapted to Turkish. The research was patterned with quantitative method. According to findings, the improvement of work ability levels and increase in job satisfaction and task performance are related in the same direction. Moreover, work ability positively contributes to directly predicting job satisfaction and task performance. Furthermore, work ability positively contributes to indirectly predicting task performance through job satisfaction. This mediation effect, determined for the first time, is an important research finding regarding its contribution to literature. Apart from these, there are significant differences in work ability among age groups, and certain age group categories have a moderating effect on the relationship between work ability and task performance. This study demonstrated that work ability index is a valid and reliable tool for the Turkish sample. Besides, the study provides holistic findings thanks to work ability levels and direct and indirect effect analysis. The theoretical and practical implications were discussed, and directions were made to further research.

A return-to-work intervention protocol directed at cancer patients (self-assessment, tailored information & lifestyle management for returning to work among cancer patients, START): A multi-center, randomized controlled trial

Purpose

This study describes the protocol for the design and evaluation of a self-assessment based educational program supporting cancer patients’ return-to-work (RTW), prior to its complete and ongoing implementation.

Methods

We designed a multi-center, randomized controlled trial with three follow-up points. The study population (N = 239) includes recently diagnosed cancer patients who plan to receive active treatment at two university hospitals in Korea. A pre-test is conducted at the point of enrollment for both groups. The intervention group receives a leaflet clarifying misconceptions about RTW and is shown a video clip of patient interviews concerning RTW. The control group receives a booklet about cancer and nutrition, and is not provided with further intervention. After active treatment, the intervention group receives a one-time, face-to-face education session with an oncology nurse. Following the education session, both groups receive three follow-up phone calls. The first follow-up call occurs at the end of intervention and at the end of active treatment for intervention and control groups, respectively. The next two follow-up calls will be conducted one month and a year following the post-test. The primary outcome is whether the patient has RTW or has plans to RTW, and the secondary outcome is knowledge of RTW.

Results

As of April 2020, 239 patients have been enrolled in the trial. Statistical analyses will be conducted upon trial completion in December 2020.

Discussion

We hypothesize that the provision of RTW education near diagnosis will not only enhance patients’ intentions to RTW, but also effectively encourage them to RTW.

Validity and reliability of work ability index (WAI) questionnaire among Iranian workers; a study in petrochemical and car manufacturing industries

OBJECTIVES

Maintenance and promotion of employees' work ability is one of the important social goals. This study is aimed at investigating psychometric properties of the Persian translation of work ability index (WAI).

METHODS

A total number of 750 employees were randomly selected from car manufacturing and petrochemical industries. Reliability of the questionnaire was determined using test-retest and Cronbach alpha coefficient. Factor analysis was used for assessing construct validity. To determine discriminant validity, the mean score of total WAI was compared between workers with high and low sick leave rate.

RESULTS

Intraclass correlation coefficients for its seven dimensions were estimated higher than 0.7. The questionnaire showed a good internal consistency, Cronbach α = 0.78. Factor analysis showed a three-factor structure model for Persian translation of WAI including: mental resources, self-perceived work ability, and presence of disease and health-related limitation. A good level of discriminant validity was observed for all WAI dimensions except the item "work ability regarding work demands."

DISCUSSION

The study findings indicate that the Persian version of WAI questionnaire has good psychometric properties of internal consistency and test-retest showed a good reliability of WAI questionnaire, which is in line with those found in previous studies. Therefore, this tool can be considered as a reliable instrument for assessing work ability.

Estudio exploratorio de validez y consistencia interna del índice de capacidad para el trabajo entre trabajadores de la salud

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la validez y la consistencia interna del índice de capacidad para el trabajo (ICT) entre trabajadores de la salud en Bahía, Brasil. Se trata de un estudio exploratorio de validez con base en un corte transversal de una muestra de 3.084 trabajadores de la salud. El análisis de componentes principales extrajo tres factores del instrumento con varianza total acumulada del 53,9%. A través del ICT se identificaron grupos de trabajadores por edad y se correlacionaron de forma positiva con el control en el trabajo, el apoyo social y la autopercepción del estado de salud y, de forma negativa con los trastornos mentales comunes, la demanda psicológica, física y emocional y el desequilibrio esfuerzo-recompensa. El alfa de Cronbach subestimó los coeficientes de cada factor en comparación con el omega de McDonald. El ICT presentó propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias, tanto para medir la capacidad física y mental para el trabajo en grupos de trabajadores por edad y correlacionar a los aspectos relacionados con la salud.

The Association Between Self-Assessed Future Work Ability and Long-Term Sickness Absence, Disability Pension and Unemployment in a General Working Population: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study

Purpose Work ability is commonly measured with self-assessments, in the form of indices or single items. The validity of these assessments lies in their predictive ability. Prospective studies have reported associations between work ability and sickness absence and disability pension, but few examined why these associations exist. Several correlates of work ability have been reported, but their mechanistic role is largely unknown. This study aims to investigate to what extent individual's own prognosis of work ability predicts labor market participation and whether this was due to individual characteristics and/or working conditions. Methods Self-assessed prognosis of work ability, 2 years from "now," in the Stockholm Public Health Questionnaire (2002-2003) was linked to national registers on sickness absence, disability pension and unemployment up to year 2010. Effects were studied with Cox regression models. Results Of a total of 12,064 individuals 1466 reported poor work ability. There were 299 cases of disability pension, 1466 long-term sickness absence cases and 765 long-term unemployed during follow-up. Poor work ability increased the risk of long-term sickness absence (HR 2.25, CI 95 % 1.97-2.56), disability pension (HR 5.19, CI 95 % 4.07-6.62), and long-term unemployment (HR 2.18, CI 95 % 1.83-2.60). These associations were partially explained by baseline health conditions, physical and (less strongly) psychosocial aspects of working conditions. Conclusions Self-assessed poor ability predicted future long-term sickness absence, disability pension and long-term unemployment. Self-assessed poor work ability seems to be an indicator of future labor market exclusion of different kinds, and can be used in public health monitoring.