Anne-Mette Hedeager Momsen

Systematic Literature Review on ICF From 2001 to 2013 in the Nordic Countries Focusing on Clinical and Rehabilitation Context.

We present a systematic review on International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) used in the Nordic countries from 2001 through 2013, describing and quantifying the development in utilization of ICF, and describe the extent to which the different components of the ICF have been used. A search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycInfo. Papers from Nordic countries were included if ICF was mentioned in title or abstract. Papers were assigned to one of eight categories covering the wide rehabilitation area; furthermore, area of focus was assigned. Use of ICF components and intervention were coded in papers categorized as “clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts” or “non-clinical contexts”. One hundred seventy papers were included, of these 99 papers were from the categories “clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts” or “non-clinical contexts”. Forty-two percent of the 170 included papers were published in the period 2011 - 2013. There was an increase in ICF-relevant papers from 2001 to 2013, especially in the categories “clinical and/or rehabilitation contexts” and “non-clinical contexts”. The most represented focus areas were neurology, musculoskeletal, and work-related areas. All five or at least four ICF components were mentioned in the results or discussions in most papers, and activity was most frequently mentioned.

Multiple somatic symptoms in employees participating in a randomized controlled trial associated with sickness absence because of nonspecific low back pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXT The prevalence of multiple somatic symptoms is high in primary and hospital outpatient populations. Multiple somatic symptoms may be present in patients sick-listed because of low back pain (LBP) and may be associated with increased risk of not returning to work (RTW). PURPOSE To explore whether multiple somatic symptoms in a subset of patients with nonspecific LBP was associated with RTW, sickness absence (SA), or other social benefits. STUDY DESIGN The study was a cohort study based on a randomized clinical trial with a prospective 2-year follow-up period. Patients were referred from general practices to the Spine Center, Regional Hospital Silkeborg, Denmark. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients were 285 sick-listed employees (4-12 weeks), with nonspecific LBP as their prime reason for SA. Exclusion criteria were unemployment, radiculopathy, LBP surgery within the past year, previous lumbar fusion, suspected cauda equina syndrome, progressive paresis or other serious back disease, pregnancy, known substance abuse, or primary psychiatric diagnosis. OUTCOME MEASURES Self-reported health was assessed by the LBP rating scale and questions about pain and health in general. Disabilities were measured by the Roland Morris Questionnaire, the Short Form-36, and the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire. Work-related questions comprised expectations about RTW and risk of losing job because of SA. The Common Mental Disorder Questionnaire (subscale SCL-SOM) was used to assess multiple somatic symptoms (12 items). We categorized multiple somatic symptoms into four groups based on the SCL-SOM sum score: <6, 6 to 12, 13 to 18 and >18. Status of SA (>2 weeks) and RTW were gathered from a national database (DREAM). METHODS The patients (N=285) were randomized into either multidisciplinary or brief intervention at the Spine Center (2004-2008). Both interventions comprised clinical examination and advice by a physiotherapist and a rheumatologist. Data were collected from questionnaires at baseline (inclusion) and 1 year after inclusion. Data on SA benefits were gathered from the DREAM database that contains data on all social transfer payments (such as sick leave benefits and other disability benefits) registered on a weekly basis. RESULTS All health factors, female gender, and poor work ability were significantly associated with a higher level of multiple somatic symptoms. The percentage of persons with SA increased significantly with the symptom score after 1 year, and the duration of SA remained significantly longer after 2 years of follow-up between the multiple somatic symptoms groups. The percentages with RTW after 1 and 2 years were negatively associated with a higher level of multiple somatic symptoms at baseline. We found no difference between the intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS A higher level of multiple somatic symptoms was significantly associated with poor health and work ability at baseline and with longer duration of SA and unsuccessful RTW through a 2-year follow-up period.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Danish version of the 19-item return-to-work self-efficacy (RTWSE-19) questionnaire

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the return-to-work self-efficacy (RTWSE-19) scale into Danish and test the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the final version. METHODS The adaptation process followed standard guidelines and the pretest was performed on 40 sickness absence beneficiaries. Tests of reliability, validity and responsiveness of the final version was performed on 782 participants of whom 440 (56%) responded. For the sub- and global scales, internal consistency was evaluated by Cronbachs alpha and reproducibility using paired t-test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively Responsiveness was evaluated by paired t-test and the association between RTWSE-19 and job status at ten weeks was tested in a logistic regression model, adjusted for gender, age and baseline job status. RESULTS The face validity and reliability of the Danish version of the RTWSE-19 questionnaire were satisfactory. The internal consistency (alpha) for the three subscales ranged from 0.93 to 0.97. A test-retest showed no difference as well as high ICC between scale scores at baseline and one week later. The content validity of the final version was confirmed. High baseline RTWSE-19 level was associated with being at work after ten weeks odds ratio (OR) 3.24, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.48-7.07. CONCLUSIONS The RTWSE-19 cross-cultural translation to Danish was performed satisfactorily. A modified final version was produced, and the test of the instruments reliability and validity showed that the psychometric properties of the questionnaire were partly confirmed. The instrument may be useful in rehabilitation practice to guide further assessment, goal setting and RTW decision-making.

International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Vocational Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review of the State of the Field

Purpose The purposes of this study were to provide an outline of the existing literature on operationalization of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) within vocational rehabilitation (VR) and to explore the ICF utility within VR. Methods The process was undertaken in five stages according to a framework of scoping review. Screening and extraction of data were done by two independent reviewers, and data was summarized according to content analysis. Results Fifty papers (25 qualitative and 25 quantitative) were included. The operationalization of the ICF was described in four different ways: In total 18 (36%) papers described use of the ICF for structuring information, 8 (15%) for linking information to ICF, 12 (24%) for analysis of results, and 12 (24%) for development of a model. In total 15 (29%) papers described VR interventions involving stakeholders, whereas 32 (62%) were reviews. Forty of the papers described all the ICF components. Conclusions The review revealed use of the ICF within the field VR in 50 papers, and in various settings. The ICF framework was most often operationalized for structuring or linking information of functioning. A majority of papers were reviews and involved researchers only, whereas different stakeholders and VR professionals were involved in the interventions. In 40 papers all the ICF components were described, and the ICF was considered a useful tool to inform the VR professionals´ assessment of functioning. However, more research within VR is needed to standardize and ease the use of the ICF.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability and Validity of the Danish Version of the Readiness for Return to Work Instrument

The objective of the present study was to translate and validate the Canadian Readiness for Return To Work instrument (RRTW-CA) into a Danish version (RRTWDK) by testing its test–retest and internal consistency reliability and its structural and construct validity. Cross-cultural adaptation of the six-staged RRTW-CA instrument was performed in a standardised, systematic five-step-procedure; forward translation, panel synthesis of the translation, back translation, consolidation and revision by researchers, and finally pre-testing. This RRTW-DK beta-version was tested for its psychometric properties by intra-class correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement (n = 114), Cronbach’s alpha (n = 471), confirmatory factor analyses (n = 373), and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (n = 436) in sickness beneficiaries from a municipal employment agency and hospital wards. The original RRTW-CA stage structure could not be confirmed in the RRTWDK. The psychometric properties were thus inconclusive. The RRTW-DK cannot be recommended for use in the current version as the RRTW construct is questionable. The RRTW construct needs further exploration, preferably in a population that is homogeneous with regard to cause of sickness, disability duration and age.

Systematic review of interventions targeting sickness absence among pregnant women in healthcare settings and workplaces

Objectives The high rate of sickness absence from work during pregnancy is recognised as a problem, and may be higher than necessary from a health perspective. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in healthcare settings and workplaces targeting sickness absence among pregnant women. Methods Studies were eligible if they included pregnant women participating in any intervention in healthcare settings or workplaces. The outcome was length of sickness absence in days or number of episodes. Study design had to be either randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-experimental studies. The search for studies was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ClinicalTrials.gov and WHO trial registry. Risk of bias was assessed by the Joanna Briggs Institute standardised quality assessment instrument. Results A total of nine studies were quality assessed and of these, four were excluded due to insufficient methodological quality. Five RCTs conducted in healthcare settings in Sweden and Norway were included. Due to heterogeneity, meta-analysis was not performed. Two RCTs examined complementary and alternative medicine and three RCTs the effect of physical exercise. In general, the frequency of women on sickness absence was lower in the intervention groups than the control groups, however, only among pregnant women who participated in a 12-week exercise programme, the frequency was significantly lower (22% vs 30%, p=0.04). Conclusion The evidence of interventions targeting sickness absence among pregnant women in healthcare settings is sparse, and no studies were conducted at workplaces. Future interventions including physical activity provided in collaboration with healthcare settings and workplaces are requested. Studies should measure sickness absence based on valid methods, measure compliance to the intervention and provide transparency of statistical methods. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018084802.