Assessing Work Functioning in Patients with Persistent Low Back Pain: Exploring the Structural Validity of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire

Anders Hansen*, Ole Steen Mortensen, Reuben Escorpizo, Karen Søgaard, Jens Søndergaard, Berit Schiøttz-Christensen, Henrik Hein Lauridsen

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)
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Abstract

Purpose
Assessing work functioning in patients with persistent low back pain (LBP) is important for understanding their ability to engage in work-related activities. This study aims to evaluate the item characteristics, factor structure, and internal consistency of the Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) in patients with persistent LBP.

Methods
Four hundred and twenty-five individuals with LBP completed the WORQ. Item characteristics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and consistency were performed to identify the underlying factors.

Results
Missing responses were < 2% for each item. The analysis revealed three factors: psychological wellbeing, physical functioning, and cognitive ability. The factors demonstrated strong internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.88 to 0.93 and McDonald’s Omega from 0.92 to 0.96. Fifteen items did not fit into any identified factors, suggesting their potential value in screening functioning levels beyond the factors.

Conclusions
The WORQ is a valid instrument for evaluating work limitations in individuals with persistent LBP. Further research should assess its responsiveness to changes from interventions that target workability. Advancing this knowledge has the potential to promote work rehabilitation and improve the quality of life for patients with persistent LBP.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Vol/bind34
Sider (fra-til) 669–682
Antal sider14
ISSN1053-0487
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
Open access funding provided by University of Southern Denmark. The authors thank the Region of Southern Denmark, Clinical Research Career (j. no. A251) for funding to initiate the project. The funding source had no role in the study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

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