Katja Spanier

Self-Reported Poor Work Ability--An Indicator of Need for Rehabilitation? A Cross-Sectional Study of a Sample of German Employees.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess associations of self-reported work ability as measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI) with modifiable behavioral and occupational health risks, health service utilization, and intended rehabilitation and pension requests. DesignThis is a cross-sectional study of a random sample of German employees aged 40–54 yrs on sickness benefits in 2012 (trial registration: DRKS00004824). ResultsIn total, 1312 male and 1502 female employees were included in the analyses. Low WAI scores (i.e., <37 points) were associated with a higher prevalence of occupational and behavioral health risks; a higher likelihood of frequent visits to general, somatic, and psychologic specialists as well as hospital stays; and four to six times higher risks of intended rehabilitation and pension requests. A two-item version of the WAI was as strongly associated with intended rehabilitation and pension requests as the total score. ConclusionsThis study indicates that the WAI is a sensitive screening tool to identify workers on sick leave with a probable need for rehabilitation. The WAI could support the assessment of need for rehabilitation by occupational health services in return-to-work strategies, which include the opportunity to access multiprofessional rehabilitation.

Direct and indirect effects of organizational justice on work ability

BACKGROUND Organizational justice (OJ), involving transparent workplace procedures and treating staff members with respect, has been of growing concern in recent epidemiological research as a determinant of health-related outcomes. AIMS To examine the factorial validity of the German version of Moormans Organizational Justice Questionnaire (OJQ), to investigate the direct cross-sectional effect of OJ on self-rated work ability and to analyse if there is an additional indirect effect of OJ on work ability mediated by effort-reward imbalance. METHODS An analysis of cross-sectional data from the Second German Sociomedical Panel of Employees, involving white-collar workers employed at least half time. We performed confirmatory factor analyses to test the factorial validity of the OJQ and analysed the direct and indirect associations of OJ and self-rated work ability by path model analysis. RESULTS Of the 1217 participants (47% female; mean age: 51) 36% had poor work ability. Factor analyses confirmed the two-factor structure of the German OJQ. Work ability was explained directly by OJ (β = 0.30) and effort-reward imbalance (β = -0.27). Additionally, we identified an indirect effect of OJ that was mediated by effort-reward imbalance (β = 0.14). The total effect of OJ on work ability was remarkably strong (β = 0.44). Associations remained unchanged after adjustment for socio-demographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS This study showed the importance of considering additional indirect pathways when examining the impact of OJ on the work ability of employees.

Individual prevention courses for occupational skin diseases: changes in and relationships between proximal and distal outcomes

To treat people with occupational contact dermatitis, the German Accident Prevention and Insurance Association in the Health and Welfare Services offers 2‐day individual prevention (IP) seminars.

Influence of social support among employees on mental health and work ability—a prospective cohort study in 2013–15

Background The study examined the association of social support with mental health, subjective work ability and psychological consultation. Methods The cohort study included 1886 German employees (40-54 years) with sickness absence exceeding six weeks in 2012. Postal surveys were carried out in 2013 and 2015. Results After adjustment for socio-demographic data, work-related characteristics and personality factors, persons with low social support compared to high social support had poorer mental health (b=-4.96; 95% CI: -7.11 to -2.81) and a lower work ability index (b=-1.10; 95% CI -2.00 to -0.21). Low social support was not associated with increased odds of consulting a psychologist (OR =1.30; 95% CI: 0.86-1.96). Conclusions Low social support is an independent predictor of poorer mental health and lower work ability. This study highlights the importance of identifying people who have limited access to social support.

Work ability, effort-reward imbalance and disability pension claims

Background Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and self-rated work ability are known independent correlates and predictors of intended disability pension claims. However, little research has focused on the interrelationship between the three and whether self-rated work ability mediates the relationship between ERI and intended disability pension claims. Aims To investigate whether self-rated work ability mediates the association between ERI and intended disability pension claims. Methods Baseline data from participants of the Third German Sociomedical Panel of Employees, a 5-year cohort study that investigates determinants of work ability, rehabilitation utilization and disability pensions in employees who have previously received sickness benefits, were analysed. We tested direct associations between ERI with intended disability pension claims (Model 1) and self-rated work ability (Model 2). Additionally, we tested whether work ability mediates the association between ERI and intended disability pension claims (Model 3). Results There were 2585 participants. Model 1 indicated a significant association between ERI and intended disability pension claims. Model 2 showed a significant association between ERI and self-rated work ability. The mediation in Model 3 revealed a significant indirect association between ERI and intended disability pension claims via self-rated work ability. There was no significant direct association between ERI and intended disability pension claims. Conclusions Our results support the adverse health-related impact of ERI on self-rated work ability and intended disability pension claims.

Translation and psychometric testing of the German version of the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ)

This journal suppl. contain abstracts presented at the 19th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Research