Workplace assessments and functional capacity evaluations: current practices of therapists in Australia

The literature has focused predominantly on functional capacity evaluations and related clinic-based assessments, however, there is little that examines workplace-based assessment approaches. In Australia, rehabilitation of injured workers occurs in the workplace wherever possible, and it is expected that workplace-based services will increase elsewhere in the future. There is a lack of knowledge, however, of therapists' current practices regarding workplace- and clinic-based work-related assessments.

The purpose of this study was to understand the current practice of therapists in Australia who are directly involved in conducting work-related assessments.

A naturalistic inquiry approach was utilised for this study. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 occupational therapists and physiotherapists representing a spread of geographical locations, organisations, and experience.

Participants described three major types of work-related assessments - workplace assessments, functional capacity evaluations (job) and functional capacity evaluations (no job). The types, purposes, and characteristics of work-related assessments were described and influences and constraints identified. Participants described using processes, data sources, methods of data collection and analysis consistent with qualitative methods, although some quantitative methods were also employed.

The findings suggest that the further a work-related assessment moves away from the actual work environment and requirements of a specific job, the greater its level of standardisation and generalisability. Conversely, when work-related assessments occur in the actual work environment, qualitative processes are used, and results are specific and non-generalisable.