Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Screening People on Standing Balance with Romberg Testing and Walking Balance with Tandem Walking
Published on: September 1, 2023
Screening questionnaire Balansmeter proved successful in predicting future long-term sickness absence in office
I Jmert Kant1, Nicole W H Jansen, Ludovic G P M van Amelsvoort
1Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Care And Public Health Research Institute, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. IJ.Kant@epid.unimaas.nl
Objective:
To develop and validate a screening instrument to identify employees at high risk for future long-term sickness absence.
Study Design And Setting:
The instrument was developed (n=5,601) and internally validated (n=3,383) through data analyses of the Maastricht Cohort Study, among a group of office workers not absent from work. External validation was performed in a cohort of 3,895 bank employees.
Results:
The screening instrument, Balansmeter, captures 34 questions on demographics, work environment, private situation, (mental) health, and sickness absence history. The Balansmeter showed good predictive values for future sickness absence (>28 days) in men (internal validation relative risk [RR] 4.69 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.74, 8.02]; external validation RR 3.90 [95% CI: 2.35, 6.45]) and women (internal validation RR 4.16 [95% CI: 2.05, 8.43]; external validation RR 2.62 [95% CI: 1.44, 4.77]).
Conclusion:
It is possible to predict future sickness absence. The Balansmeter can be considered a valuable screening instrument.
More Related Videos
06:28Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
12:18A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020