Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of a Clinical Vocational Rehabilitation Outcome Measurement: The Assessment of Work Performance (AWP)

Evaluation of psychometric properties of Turkish version of assessment of work performance among adults with mild intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Assessment of work performance (AWP) is a test for assessing work performance and can be utilised in matching person-work and applying effective interventions. It was aimed to adjust and to evaluate the validity and reliability of AWP in Turkish with individuals with mild intellectual disability (ID).

METHODS

The study was conducted with 243 individuals with mild ID. Of the 243 participants, data gathered from 105 individuals was used to conduct exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and remaining data (138 individuals) was used to conduct confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability, criterion-related validity and inter-rater reliability were analyzed.

RESULTS

The AWP showed average to good reliability for individuals with mild ID. The construct validity and internal consistency of the AWP were confirmed with satisfying results; test-retest reliability (ICC >0.92) and inter-rater reliability (ICC >0.90) were excellent for all domains. The EFA resulted three factors, explaining 66.46% variance; and CFA resulted average fit.

CONCLUSION

AWP is valid and reliable for evaluating the working performances of individuals with mild ID.

The delivery of the ReWork-Stroke program: A process evaluation

BACKGROUND:

The ReWork-Stroke program was developed to meet the need for a person-centered rehabilitation program addressing return to work after stroke and was provided by occupational therapists (OTs).

OBJECTIVE:

To gain knowledge on the implementation process of the ReWork-Stroke program, the mechanisms of impact, and the contextual factors that might have affected the process.

METHODS:

A case study design was used. Data were collected by interviews with two ReWork-Stroke providers and their logbooks of 13 clients. Content analysis was applied.

RESULTS:

The ReWork-Stroke program varied in duration (12–48 weeks) and was largely implemented according to plan regarding components and how they were provided. It was mostly delivered at the workplace. Mechanisms of impact were building alliances with clients, providing intervention at the workplace, informing about stroke, assigning co-workers as tutors for clients, and collaboration between stakeholders.

CONCLUSIONS:

The ReWork-Stroke program can be implemented according to plan and is a flexible person-centered program in which stakeholders, coordinated by an OT, plan and take actions, mostly at the workplace, for the client’s return to work. A key factor was recognizing the current work ability after stroke. Further program development includes a more structured evaluation and technical solutions for supporting stakeholders.

Work Potential and Work Performance during the First Try-Out of the Person-Centred Return to Work Rehabilitation Programme ReWork-Stroke: A Case Study

BACKGROUND

This case study explores changes in work potential and work performance for ten people who worked before their stroke while participating in the ReWork-Stroke programme. It describes measures performed by the occupational therapists to enhance work potential and work performance and the participants' level of work re-entry nine months after the start of their work trial.

METHODS

Ten people who had experienced a mild or moderate stroke participated. Changes were assessed using the Worker Role Interview and the Assessment of Work Performance. Logbooks relating to work potential and work performance were analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS

The participants' work potential was in general supportive to returning to work at baseline and remained so at the three-month follow-up. Most changes occurred in the environmental factors regarding the participants' belief that adaptations at the workplace would make re-entry possible. Changes concerning work performance were predominately in a positive direction. Seven of the participants returned to paid work.

CONCLUSION

The ReWork-Stroke programme seems promising for promoting changes in work potential, work performance, and return to paid work. However, further studies are needed to evaluate changes in work potential and work performance and the programme's effectiveness for increasing work re-entry for people who have had stroke.

Is a structured work task application for the assessment of work performance in a constructed environment, useful for patients with attention deficits?

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to develop a Structured Work Task application for the Assessment of Work Performance for patients with attention deficits.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We developed a computer-based registration task titled the Attention-demanding Registration Task. It had a structured administrative procedure with additional scoring regarding time and accuracy, also linked to the original scoring of the Assessment of Work Performance. We evaluated the Attention-demanding Registration Task for content validity. Furthermore, we investigated it concerning sensitivity and specificity in patients with attention deficits due to acquired brain injury (n = 65) against a comparison group of healthy people (n = 47).

RESULTS

Our investigation on content validity using the Assessment of Work Characteristics confirmed that the Attention-demanding Registration Task sets high demands on process skills, especially on energy, temporal organization, and adaptation. The Attention-demanding Registration Task showed high sensitivity and specificity in differing between patients with attention deficits and a healthy working group; nine out of ten participants were placed in the correct group.

CONCLUSIONS

To assess work performance, the use of a Structured Work Task application, the Attention-demanding Registration Task, linked with the Assessment of Work Performance, proved to be sensitive to attention deficits.Implications for rehabilitationA Structured Work Task application for the Assessment of Work Performance was developed for use in people with attention deficits and showing a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.Linking performance time and accuracy to the Assessment of Work Performance scoring and providing a guide for linking task performance to the Assessment of Work Performance skills in addition to the usual observations performed, may increase scoring accuracy.Reference data for a comparison group of healthy subjects are provided.The use of the Attention demanding Registration Task, while using the Assessment of Work Performance within clinical practice ensures a more accurate description of process skills in performance.