Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of the Work Ability Index (WAI) for
different indicators of the need for rehabilitation at 1-year follow-up. DESIGN:
Cohort study. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Second German Sociomedical
Panel of Employees, a large-scale cohort study with postal surveys in 2009 and
2010. RESULTS: A total of 457 women and 579 men were included. Confirmatory
factor analysis confirmed the one-dimensionality of the WAI. Regression analyses
showed that poor and moderate baseline WAI scores were associated with lower
health-related quality of life and more frequent use of primary healthcare 1 year
later. Subjects with poor baseline work ability had 4.6 times higher odds of
unemployment and 12.2 times higher odds of prolonged sick leave than the
reference group with good or excellent baseline work ability. Moreover, the odds
of subjectively perceived need for rehabilitation, intention to request
rehabilitation and actual use of rehabilitation services were 9.7, 5.7 and 3
times higher in the poor baseline WAI group and 5.5, 4 and 1.8 times higher in
the moderate baseline WAI group, respectively. A WAI score </= 37 was identified
as the optimal cut-off to predict the need for rehabilitation. CONCLUSION: The
WAI is a valid screening tool for identifying the need for rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS