Content Validation of a Practice-Based Work Capacity Assessment Instrument Using ICF Core Sets

Johan H Sengers,Yvonne F Heerkens,Pepijn D D M Roelofs,Loes Wilming,Femke I Abma,Sandra Brouwer

doi:10.1007/s10926-020-09918-7

Abstract

PurposeA shift from providing long-term disability benefits to promoting work reintegration of people with remaining work capacity in many countries requires new instruments for work capacity assessments. Recently, a practice-based instrument addressing biopsychosocial aspects of functioning, the Social Medical Work Capacity instrument (SMWC), was developed. Our aim was to examine the content validity of the SMWC using ICF core sets.MethodsFirst, we conducted a systematic search to identify relevant ICF core sets for the working age population. Second the content of these core sets were mapped to assess the relevance and comprehensiveness of the SMWC. Next, we compared the content of the SMWC with the ICF-core sets.ResultsTwo work-related core sets and 31 disease-specific core sets were identified. The SMWC and the two work-related core sets overlap on 47 categories. Compared to the work-related core sets, the Body Functions and Activities and Participation are well represented in the new instrument, while the component Environmental factors is under-represented. Compared to the disease-specific core sets, items related to the social and domestic environmental factors are under-represented, while the SMWC included work-related factors complementary to the ICF.ConclusionThe SMWC content seems relevant, but could be more comprehensive for the purpose of individual work capacity assessments. To improve assessing relevant biopsychosocial aspects, it is recommended to extend the instrument by adding personal and environmental (work- and social-related) factors as well as a more tailored use of the SMWC for assessing work capacity of persons with specific diseases or underlying illness.

Highlights

The increasing rates of long-term sickness absence and work disability in an ageing population have obliged several countries to shift their focus from providing long-term disability benefits and social protection programmes to promoting the work reintegration of people with partial or residual work capacity [1,2,3]
The Social Medical Work Capacity instrument, SMWC, was developed by a group of experts working as professionals at the Dutch Social Security Institute, the Institute for employee benefits schemes (UWV)
The 129 items of SMWC related to 95 2nd level International Classification of Functioning and Health (ICF) categories, of which 54 from the Body Functions, 35 from Activities and Participation, and six from Environmental factors

Summary

Introduction

The increasing rates of long-term sickness absence and work disability in an ageing population have obliged several countries to shift their focus from providing long-term disability benefits and social protection programmes to promoting the work reintegration of people with partial or residual work capacity [1,2,3]. Many countries have shifted their focus away from assessing disability on predominantly medical grounds to the assessment of the remaining work capacity of disability benefit claimants [4]. Several countries have developed new assessment instruments over the last ten years to assess individuals’ abilities to participate in the labour market actively, to assess barriers which may restrict work participation, and to indicate directions interventions may take to overcome barriers for work participation [4, 5]. A biopsychosocial approach [3, 4, 6] has been integrated into many of these instruments, the literature about the validity of these instruments is limited

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