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Work capacity assessment and return to work: a scoping review
Shawna Cronin1, Jamie Curran, Julie Iantorno
1School of Occupational Therapy, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Work (Reading, Mass.)
|November 13, 2012
Summary
Work capacity assessments primarily focus on physical abilities, neglecting crucial environmental and occupational factors for successful return to work. Future research should address these gaps for better work rehabilitation outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Rehabilitation science
- Workplace psychology
Background:
- Current work capacity assessments predominantly evaluate physical performance.
- There's a historical focus on individual physical capabilities for over 25 years.
- Existing literature shows limited integration of broader contextual factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize evidence on work capacity assessments.
- Identify knowledge supporting return to work (RTW) practices.
- Guide future research directions in work capacity evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review methodology employed.
- Inclusion criteria focused on return to work assessments.
- Thematic analysis based on the Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model.
Main Results:
- Forty-four articles were included in the review.
- Identified a significant gap in qualitative research.
- Lack of integration of person, occupation, and environment dimensions noted.
Conclusions:
- Need for contextually-based assessment tools for return to work.
- Emphasize incorporating environmental and occupational aspects.
- Develop culturally transcendent assessment methods.
