Abstract
BackgroundAt the interface of the occupational setting and rehabilitation, normative values for functional ability are desirable and worthwhile. The Norwegian Function Assessment Scale (NFAS) is a 39 item self-report instrument based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). As the questionnaire was not used in a working population, we aimed to obtain functional levels of employees in Germany as measured through the NFAS.MethodsThe NFAS was included in the Study on Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) 2011/12, a representative German survey of employees aged 31 to 60 years. For descriptive analyses, 95% confidence intervals were applied through bootstrap estimation to the skewed data of the NFAS (range from 1 = ‘no difficulty’ to 5 = ‘could not do it’). The data were analysed by age decades, professional qualification, and by disabilities, congenital diseases and accidents, stratified by sex. Linear regression analyses were conducted to estimate adjusted effects of age, professional qualification, and health limitations.ResultsThe NFAS total score was 1.17 (95% CI = 1.15–1.17). Thirty-five percent of the employees’ (1378 out of 3937 participants) reported the best possible functional ability (NFAS total score of 1.00). Managing and walking/standing were the NFAS’ most affected domains with a score of 1.26 (95% CI = 1.23–1.27), respectively. The regression analysis confirmed more functional difficulties for elder employees, females, employees with low professional qualification, and for employees suffering from disability and accidents.ConclusionsThe study presents normative values of functional ability for the workforce. The results are useful for score interpretation in rehabilitation and return-to-work processes.
Highlights
At the interface of the occupational setting and rehabilitation, normative values for functional ability are desirable and worthwhile
In order to examine the variability of the functional ability depending on sex, age, professional qualification, disabilities, congenital diseases, and accidents we describe and estimate the influence of these factors on the Norwegian Function Assessment Scale (NFAS) scores
Studie zur mentalen Gesundheit bei der Arbeit (S-MGA) I recruitment and study procedure The population considered for the S-MGA I comprised the birth cohorts 1951 to 1980 who were subject to social insurance contributions in Germany on December 31st 2010
Summary
At the interface of the occupational setting and rehabilitation, normative values for functional ability are desirable and worthwhile. In Norway, in 2012, the percentage of disability pensioners in the population age group of 18–66 years was 9.5% [5]. In Germany, at the same time, the percentage of disability pensioners in the same age group was only 5.1% [6], and the Norwegian share exceeds that of most other European countries [5]. European social security schemes began to target individual capabilities rather than health deficits, first and foremost in the Nordic countries [7, 8].
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