Cross-sectional validation of a clinical method assessing medical work disability risk

Abstract

Background

The prevention of medical work disability is a health-care priority and early screening for vulnerable workers is essential.

Objective

to evaluate the external validity of a work disability risk index (WDRI) based on the worker's health status and discomfort while working.

Methods

The clinical method, WDRI, was utilized at the end of medical visits on workers who previously self-assessed their work ability using the Work Ability Index (WAI) questionnaire. To assess the WDRI external validity, the WDRI results were compared with those of the WAI, using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) and the Bland and Altman method.

Results

Both the WDRI and WAI were completed on 1480 workers. The overall correlation coefficient between WDRI/WAI was −0.63, and the rs values across the worker subgroups were similar. Thus, a high risk of work disability identified by the WDRI was correlated with a decrease of self-assessed work ability using the WAI. The concordance between WDRI and WAI was verified (98.5% had a difference of less than 1.96 SD). The discrepancies were mainly that a large proportion of workers assessed with a high work disability risk did not consider their work ability to be reduced.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the WDRI appears to be a valid tool for early identification of the risk of medical work disability. Further studies are needed to continue the validation process.