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Instruments used to assess functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefit: a systematic review
Jerry Spanjer1, Johan W Groothoff, Sandra Brouwer
1UWV, Employee Benefits Insurance Authority, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. jerry.spanjer@uwv.nl
Disability and Rehabilitation
|April 19, 2011
Summary
This review found four instruments for assessing functional limitations in disability benefit claimants, with the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) showing the best psychometric properties for rehabilitation. A combination of assessment methods is recommended for comprehensive evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Assessing functional limitations is crucial for disability benefit claims.
- Existing instruments vary in their psychometric properties and scope.
- A systematic review is needed to evaluate these tools for workers' compensation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the quality of psychometric properties of instruments used for assessing functional limitations in workers applying for disability benefits.
Main Methods:
- Conducted electronic searches of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO.
- Included studies focused on psychometric properties of instruments for functional limitations in workers' compensation claimants.
- Two independent reviewers evaluated selected articles and instrument psychometric qualities.
Main Results:
- Identified 10 studies reporting on four instruments: Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS), Isernhagen Work System (IWS), and Multiperspective Multidimensional Pain Assessment Protocol (MMPAP).
- Questionnaires (RMDQ, PSFS) assessed 3-8 limitations, not work-specific. IWS showed poor to moderate psychometric quality. MMPAP only had predictive validity measured.
- No instruments were found for assessing mental limitations in this population; physical limitations assessed ranged from 3 to 34.
Conclusions:
- Four instruments were identified for assessing physical functional limitations in disability claimants, but all have psychometric or content limitations.
- The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) is recommended for clinicians due to its demonstrated psychometric qualities and brevity.
- A combination of questionnaires, performance tests, interviews, and physician judgment is suggested for comprehensive functional limitation assessment in disability claims.
