The Readiness for Return to Work Scale; Does it Help in Evaluation of Return to Work?

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Psychometrics
• Rehabilitation science

Background:

• The Readiness for Return to Work (RRTW) scale is utilized to gauge workers' readiness to resume employment post-sick leave.
• Concerns regarding the RRTW scale's underlying constructs and developmental stages have been raised in prior research.
• Validating measurement tools is crucial for accurate assessment in occupational health settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the unidimensionality of the RRTW scale and its six subscales using Rasch model analysis.
• To determine if Rasch-based scaling enhances the predictive validity of the RRTW scale compared to its conventional application.
• To assess the measurement properties of the RRTW scale in individuals with common mental and musculoskeletal disorders.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study with a 12-month follow-up period was conducted.
• 397 individuals on sick leave for musculoskeletal, unspecified, or common mental health disorders undergoing rehabilitation were recruited.
• Rasch analysis was employed to assess the RRTW scale's measurement properties, followed by regression analyses to predict future work participation.

Main Results:

• The RRTW subscales contained insufficient items to adequately represent their intended dimensions, and item fit within subscales was poor.
• A composite variable derived from items fitting together for non-working individuals demonstrated weak predictive power for future work participation.
• Disordered scores across the scale's stages indicated a lack of clear, ordered progression relevant to return to work.

Conclusions:

• The Norwegian version of the RRTW scale exhibits inadequate measurement properties for individuals with musculoskeletal and common mental health disorders.
• Neither the RRTW subscales nor its defined stages demonstrated a significant association with subsequent return to work.
• Further refinement or alternative assessment tools may be necessary for accurately evaluating return to work readiness in this population.