Work ability and percentage of hours worked related to limitations in patients with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders: a cross-sectional cohort study

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between self-reported work ability and hours worked at the current time in Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders (UEMSD) patients. To further investigate this relationship, the association of work ability and working hours with several limitations in daily and working life were explored. Methods In this cross-sectional cohort study, a questionnaire was sent out to members of the UEMSD patient organisation, containing self-reported work ability, questions on working hours and limitations in work due to UEMSD. Limitations were measured with the Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, ShortForm-36 subscales, and common hand grasps or grips. Work ability was measured with the work ability score, while worked hours were operationalised as the percentage of hours worked compared to fulltime. The correlation between worked hours and work ability was tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Variance in work ability and the hours worked were explained by limitations and assessed with two linear regression analyses. Results Based on data of 794 respondents a moderate correlation was found between work ability and worked hours r = 0.46; 95% CI [0.40, 0.53]. Models including limitations explained 52 and 21% of total variance in work ability and worked hours, respectively. Variance in both can be explained by the degree of difficulties performing daily activities at work, limitations in daily activities as a consequence of health issues and the ability to perform a precision grip. Additionally, work ability can be explained by limitations at work and other daily activities due to physical health issues, while the percentage of hours can additionally be explained by the ability to grasp a large object with one hand, the ability to use a keyboard, and the subject’s gender. Conclusions The number of worked hours does not fully match the work ability. Although they share three predictors, work ability and worked hours seem to be based on different aspects. Compared to work hours, work ability is more strongly related to limitations in daily activities and work. Taking self-reported work ability into account can improve the fit between work limitations and work hours.

Pain, Physical Demands at Work, and Future Work Expectations Among Older Adults in the United States

“…Despite the incongruent findings for noninterfering pain, our results largely suggest that individuals who both work physically demanding jobs and experience activity-interfering pain have low expectations of full-time work past ages 62 or 65. This is consistent with a growing body of research suggesting that pain interference has a significant impact on work ability and early retirement ( Hengstebeck et al, 2017 ; Rice et al, 2011 ; Van Schaaijk et al, 2020 ). From this line of prior work, it seems that pain-related limitations are more salient to these outcomes than the presence or intensity of pain.…”

Factors associated with limitations in daily life and at work in a population with shoulder pain

“…In the “not looking for a job” subgroup, it may probably reflect less skilled jobs or forced part-time work for people with both limitations, who have to continue to work despite their limitations. The need for accommodation was not specifically assessed so far, but similar results are described in studies addressing close issues, such as effectiveness of a work arrangement [ 13 , 26 ], assessment of perceived work inability, part-time or precarious work as factors of poor prognosis for disability [ 12 , 16 , 27 , 28 ]. In our study, the need for accommodation was associated with daily life limitations, only for the “not looking for a job subgroup”.…”

“…These results may reflect how disability impacts the work-life balance. Firstly, limitations lead to decreased performance and attendance at work [ 28 ]. Second, modifications in the nature of the undertaken tasks help maintain participation at home or at work [ 16 ].…”