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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-07-2020 | Original Article

Predictive validity of a customized functional capacity evaluation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders

Authors: David Bühne, Torsten Alles, Christian Hetzel, Marco Streibelt, Ingo Froböse, Matthias Bethge

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 5/2020

Abstract

Purpose

To examine whether the performance-based work-related functional capacity evaluation (German title: Einschätzung körperlicher Leistungsfähigkeiten bei arbeitsbezogenen Aktivitäten—ELA) can predict return to work (RTW) in patients with musculoskeletal disorders (MSD).

Methods

A multicenter cohort study was conducted on 162 employed or self-employed patients with various injury-related and chronic MSD, recruited from four outpatient rehabilitation clinics. Patient-reported data on health and work ability were collected at discharge. The FCE test was performed subsequently. The overall FCE-based estimation of the ability to cope with the physical demands of work (positive vs. negative) was used to predict RTW. Successful RTW was defined as a combination of (self-)employment at the 3-month follow-up and a low level of sick leave (< 1.5 weeks) due to MSD. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression models to evaluate the predictive validity of the adjusted FCE results.

Results

Based on the FCE test, 82% of the patients were estimated as being able to cope with the physical demands of work. 77% of the patients with a positive FCE outcome returned to work (positive predictive value) and 83% with a negative FCE outcome did not (negative predictive value). Patients whose functional capacity was estimated to match the job demands were associated with sixfold higher odds of returning to work after adjusting for patient-reported data on health and work ability. The agreement between the FCE result and RTW differed only on a low to moderate level between the therapists who administered the FCE (72–89%).

Conclusion

The FCE test at discharge predicts RTW among patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

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A detailed description can be found in the appendix.

A calculation of the models 1 and 2 based on the 151 participants, that were included in model 3, had only a minor effect on the influence of ELA (OR = 19.4 respectively OR = 18.2). Therefore, it can be assumed that the decline was not caused by the reduction in sample size.

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Title: Predictive validity of a customized functional capacity evaluation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: David Bühne
Torsten Alles
Christian Hetzel
Marco Streibelt
Ingo Froböse
Matthias Bethge
Publication date: 01-07-2020
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-020-01518-5

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Springer Medicine

Predictive validity of a customized functional capacity evaluation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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