Self-rated work ability predicts return to work after occupational rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Social security research

Background:

• Work ability assessments are crucial for effective occupational rehabilitation planning.
• Participants often face complex musculoskeletal and mental health challenges leading to sick leave.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if a self-rated Work Ability Score (WAS) predicts return to work (RTW) 12 months post-rehabilitation.
• To evaluate the predictive value of WAS assessed before and after rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study utilized data from the Norwegian registry for occupational rehabilitation.
• Logistic regression analyzed the association between WAS and full RTW (no benefits for 1 month) at 12-month follow-up.
• Sociodemographic variables and pre-rehabilitation benefits were controlled for.

Main Results:

• Higher WAS values were positively associated with full RTW.
• A one-point increase in initial WAS increased odds of RTW by 1.57 (95% CI: 1.41-1.75).
• A one-point increase in WAS improvement during rehabilitation increased odds of RTW by 1.47 (95% CI: 1.33-1.63).

Conclusions:

• Even a small increase in WAS significantly improves the odds of future work participation.
• Rehabilitation programs should focus on enhancing participants' workability to promote sustained work engagement.