Article

The aim of this study was to determine whether the
Screening-Instrument zur Feststellung des Bedarfs an medizinisch-beruflich
orientierter Rehabilitation (SIMBO) screening instrument can identify persons
with a high work disability risk. DESIGN: Patients with chronic musculoskeletal
disorders and participation in a rehabilitation program were included in the
analysis. Data were collected by questionnaires at admission and at the 6-mo
follow-up. Failed return to work (RTW; i.e., unemployment or active employment
with sick leave of >12 wks in the follow-up) was the primary outcome. Additional
outcome data were obtained from the physician's discharge form (e.g., assessment
of work ability). Receiver operating characteristic analyses and logistic
regression models were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Valid data were
available for 1755 participants. Of these, 25% reported failed RTW. The area
under the curve of the SIMBO score predicting failed RTW was 0.81 (0.79-0.83).
The optimal cutoff to identify failed RTW was 23 points (of 100). The odds of
failed RTW, unemployment, and sick leave of more than 12 wks were increased 12,
11, and 10 times for the persons with a SIMBO score of 23 points or greater
compared with the persons with lower SIMBO scores. The odds of reduced work time
capacity were increased 21 times. CONCLUSIONS: The SIMBO predicts work disability
in patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Further research should focus
on its predictive validity in patients with other disorders and within other
rehabilitation systems.

Langue : ANGLAIS