The Predictive Validity of Job-Specific Functional Capacity Evaluation on the Employment Status of Patients With Nonspecific Low Back Pain

Abstract

Job-specific FCE shows a high level of predictive validity that could be used to evaluate the employment status of patients with nonspecific chronic LBP.

Use of Job-Specific Functional Capacity Evaluation to Predict the Return to Work of Patients With a Distal Radius Fracture

“…This predictive ability, however, will be compounded by some concurrent factors. Our results are consistent with our previous finding that a longer period from injury to FCE and compensable injury reduces the predictive ability of FCE (Cheng & Cheng, 2010). Compensation benefits and delayed management remain the major determinants of work disability (Cheng & Hung, 2007).…”

“…Compared with nonspecific injuries, such as in our previous study on nonspecific low back pain (Cheng & Cheng, 2010), the accuracy of the recommendation return to previous job in the current study reached 94.83%, which is 6.47% higher than the corresponding figures for patients with nonspecific low back pain in our previous study. Similarly, the accuracy of the recommendation do not work at the moment was 60.47%, which is 22.97% higher than in our previous study (Cheng & Cheng, 2010).…”

“…The results of the study showed that for this condition, for which a cause cannot be definitively identified and a precise pathoanatomical diagnosis cannot be given, job-specific FCE had a high correct prediction rate in relation to recommendations to return to the previous job or change jobs (Cheng & Cheng, 2010). Whether these results can be generalized to other conditions, such as those related to specific upper-extremity injuries, is unknown.…”

Are performance-based measures predictive of work participation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders? A systematic review

“…Employed )Failing both performance tests (or one of these test in combination with a high pain score (9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10) or having more than 3 Waddell signs) resulted in a sensitivity 22% and a specificity 78% for unemploymentYesBranton et al (2010)CanadaProspective cohort12 months N  = 147 claimants in a workers’ compensation rehabilitation facility with one MSD and no occupational disease, mean age = 44 years (SD 11), 101 men and 46 womenCare provided at the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta’s rehabilitation facilityShort-form FCE (Isernhagen Workwell System) Trunk 15-min stand, Floor-to-waist lift, 1-min crouch, 2-min kneel. 5-min rotation Lower extremity 15-min stand, Floor-to-waist lift, 1-min crouch, 2-min kneel, Stepladder/stairs Upper extremity 15-min stand, Waist-to-overhead lift, Elevated work, Crawling, Handgrip, Hand coordinationAge, Gender, Injury duration, Having a job and an employer to which to return, Occupation classification, Salary, Number of prior disability claims, Number of health care visits, Pain score on disability index, Pain Visual Analog Scale Days to benefit suspension Pass all FCE test resulted in hazard ratio = 5.4 (95% CI 2.7–10.9)Yes Claim closure Pass all FCE test resulted in hazard ratio = 5.8 (95% CI 3.5–9.6) for claim closureYesCheng and Cheng (2010)ChinaRetrospective cohort3 months N  = 645 patients with non-specific low back pain, mean age = 42 years (SD 10), 390 men and 255 womenCare provided at designated work rehabilitation centers in Hong KongBTE work simulator, including torso lifting, arm lifting, high-near lifting, bi- and unilateral horizontal pushing and pulling, bilateral carrying, stooping and bendingAge, Gender, Days from injury to work, Being a breadwinner, Educational level, Compensability, Occupational categories, Physical work demand level Employed ( vs. Unemployed )Pass all FCE tasks resulted in positive prediction of 80% Fail all FCE tasks resulted in negative prediction of 62%YesFishbain et al (1999)United States of AmericaProspective cohort30 months N  = 185 patients with chronic low back pain, mean age = ?…”

“…One study described performance-based measures resembling the physically demanding job of construction workers (Gouttebarge et al 2009a). One study used a job demands analysis to establish a job-specific FCE (Cheng and Cheng 2010). By doing this, the minimal performance criterion that is required to perform the job is also specified.…”