Study Design. Cross-sectional study Objective. To investigate the factors associated with work ability in patients undergoing surgery for cervical radiculopathy.Summary of Background Data. Surgery is a common treatment for cervical radiculopathy in people of working age. However, few studies have investigated the impact on the work ability of these patients. Methods.Patients undergoing surgery for cervical radiculopathy (n = 201) were recruited from spine centres in Sweden to complete a battery of questionnaires and physical measures the day before surgery. The associations between various individual, psychological and workrelated factors and self-reported work ability were investigated by Spearman rank correlation coefficient, multivariate linear regression and forward stepwise regression analyses. Factors that were significant (p<0.05) in each statistical analysis were entered into the successive analysis to reveal the factors most related to work ability. Work ability was assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI).Results. The mean WAI score was 28 (SD 9.0). The forward stepwise regression analysis revealed six factors significantly associated with work ability which explained 62% of the variance in the WAI. Factors highly correlated with greater work ability included greater selfefficacy in performing self-cares, lower physical load on the neck at work, greater selfreported chance of being able to work in six months' time, greater use of active coping strategies, lower frequency of hand weakness and higher health-related quality of life.Conclusions. Psychological, work-related and individual factors were significantly associated with work ability in patients undergoing surgery for cervical radiculopathy. High Work ability and Cervical radiculopathy 2 self-efficacy was most associated with greater work ability. Consideration of these factors by surgeons pre-operatively may provide optimal return to work outcomes after surgery.

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