Occupational therapists can play a major role in the work rehabilitation process through the assessment and rehabilitation of clients for a return to work (Gibson and Strong 2003). The challenge facing the occupational therapist is identifying if the client's current functional abilities are a suitable match for the demands of the job. Ideally, the occupational therapist should assess the demands of the job that the client is required to perform as well as completing an assessment of the client's work abilities. The purpose of this opinion piece is to highlight to occupational therapists the importance of job analysis in all specialties within vocational rehabilitation and to illustrate the process used by the occupational therapists in the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Service.
CanelonMF (1995) Job site analysis facilitates work reintegration. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49 (5), 461–67.
3.
Crepeau EB, Cohn ES, Schell BAB (2003) Willard and Spackman's occupational therapy. 10th ed.Philadelphia: Lippincott.
4.
DurandMLoiselP (2001) Therapeutic return to work: rehabilitation in the workplace. Work, 17 (1), 57–63.
5.
GibsonLStrongJ (1997) A review of functional capacity evaluation practice. Work, 9 (1), 3–11.
6.
GibsonLStrongJ (1998) Assessment of psychosocial factors in functional capacity evaluation of clients with chronic back pain. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61 (9), 399–404.
7.
GibsonLStrongJ (2003) A conceptual framework of functional capacity evaluation for occupational therapy in work rehabilitation. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 50 (2), 64–71.
8.
HaldorsenEGrasdalASkouenJRisaAKronholmKUsinH (2002) Is there a right treatment for a particular patient group? Comparison of ordinary treatment, light multidisciplinary treatment and extensive multidisciplinary treatment for long-term sick-listed employees with musculoskeletal pain. Pain, 95 (1), 49–63.
9.
HavranekJBrodwinMKontoshL (1999) O*NET Job analysis and vocational evaluation for the 21st century. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counselling, 30 (3), 42–46.
10.
HelmRPowellNNieuwenhuisjenE (1999) A return to work program for injured workers: a reassignment model. Work, 12 (2), 123–31.
11.
InnesEStrakerL (2002) Workplace assessments and functional capacity evaluations: current practices of therapists in Australia. Work, 18 (1), 51–66.
12.
KendallNASLintonSJMainCJ (1997) Guide to assessing psychosocial yellow flags in acute low back pain: risk factors for long term disability and work loss. Wellington: Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance Corporation of New Zealand and the National Health Committee.
13.
KingP (1998) Sourcebook of occupational rehabilitation. New York: Plenum Press.
14.
KingPTuckwellNBarrettT (1998) A critical review of functional capacity evaluations. Physical Therapy, 78 (8), 852–65.
15.
LamportNCoffeyMHerschG (1996) Activity analysis and appreciation. 3rd ed.Thorofare, NJ: Slack.
16.
LintonSHalldenK (1998) Can we screen for problematic back pain? A screening questionnaire for predicting outcome in acute and subacute back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 14 (3), 209–15.
17.
LoiselPAbenhaimLDurandPEsdaileJSuissaSGosselinLSimardRTurcotteJLemaireJ (1997) A population-based randomised clinical trial on back pain management. Spine, 22 (24), 2911–18.
18.
LythJ (2001) Disability management and functional capacity evaluations: a dynamic resource. Work, 16 (1), 13–22.
19.
MathiowetzV (1993) Role of physical performance component evaluations in occupational therapy functional assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47 (3), 225–30.
20.
PranskyGDempseyP (2004) Practical aspects of functional capacity evaluations. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 14 (3), 217–29.
21.
SchonsteinEKennyD (2001) The value of functional and workplace assessments in achieving a timely return to work for workers with back pain. Work, 16 (1), 31–38.
22.
SkouenJGrasdalAHaldorsenEUrsinH (2002) Relative cost-effectiveness of extensive and light multidisciplinary treatment programs versus treatment as usual for patients with chronic low back pain on long term sick leave: randomized controlled study. Spine, 27 (9), 901–909.
23.
Toeppen-SpriggB (2000) Importance of job analysis with functional capacity matching in medical case management: a physician's perspective. Work, 15 (2), 133–37.
24.
United States Department of Labor (1991) The revised handbook for analysing jobs. Indianapolis: JIST Works.
25.
Valpar (1993) Valpar profile analysis guide. Tucson: Valpar International Corporation. Available at: www.khavalpar.co.uk Accessed on 26.04.07.
26.
VelozoC (1993) Work evaluations: critique of the state of the art of functional assessment of work. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 47 (3), 203–209.
