scholarly journals Development and content validity of the Abilitator: A self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Wikström ◽  
Heidi Anttila ◽  
Minna Savinainen ◽  
Anne Kouvonen ◽  
Matti Joensuu
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Target Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Labour Market Position

Abstract Background: The unemployed have lower work ability and poorer health than the employed. This situation deteriorates when unemployment continues. The long-term unemployed often have co-morbidities and face many other challenges. This increases the need for a multidimensional assessment of work ability and functioning in different service settings. In this study, we describe the development and analyse the content validity of the Abilitator, a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning for those in a weak labour market position. Methods: The Abilitator was developed in 2014–2017. Its construct was assessed by members of academic expert panels (n=30), practical expert panels of professionals (n=700) and target group clients (n=28). The structure and the content of the questionnaire was co-developed in 29 workshops and adjusted twice based on the expert panels’ feedback. The Abilitator was also implemented among target group clients (n=3360) in different services and projects. During its development the Abilitator was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The content validation process followed the guidelines recommended by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) panel. Results: The construct of the Abilitator combines the multidimensional and biopsychosocial models of work ability and functioning. It also includes aspects of social inclusion and employability. It evaluates social, psychological, cognitive and physical functioning, and the ability to cope with everyday life. The content of these concepts was validated by the academic and practical expert panels. The Abilitator’s 79 ICF codes covered 57% of the Generic, 77% of the Brief Vocational Rehabilitation, and 8% of the Minimal Environmental ICF Core Sets. When compared with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), the direct equivalences of the ICF codes were 36% and 44%, respectively. Conclusion: The Abilitator sufficiently comprehensively covers the relevant aspects to enable the assessment of the overall work ability and functioning of the population in a weak labour market position.

scholarly journals Development and content validity of the Abilitator – a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Wikström ◽  
Heidi Anttila ◽  
Minna Savinainen ◽  
Anne Kouvonen ◽  
Matti Joensuu
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Target Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Labour Market Position

Abstract Background The unemployed have lower work ability and poorer health than the employed. This situation deteriorates when unemployment continues. The long-term unemployed often have co-morbidities and face many other challenges. This increases the need for a multidimensional assessment of work ability and functioning in different service settings. In this study, we describe the development and analyse the content validity of the Abilitator, a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning for those in a weak labour market position. Methods The Abilitator was developed in 2014–2017. Its construct was assessed by the members of academic expert panels (n=30), practical expert panels of service actors (n=700) and target group clients (n=28). The structure and the content of the questionnaire was co-developed in 29 workshops and adjusted twice based on the expert panels’ feedback. The Abilitator was also implemented among target group clients (n=3360) in different services and projects. During its development the Abilitator was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The content validation process followed the guidelines recommended by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) panel. Results The construct of the Abilitator combines the multidimensional and bio-psycho-social models of work ability and functioning. It also includes aspects of social inclusion and employability. It evaluates social, psychological, cognitive and physical functioning, and the ability to cope with everyday life. The content of these concepts was validated by the academic and practical expert panels. The Abilitator’s 79 ICF codes covered 50% of the Generic, 73% of the Brief Vocational Rehabilitation, and 17% of the Minimal Environmental ICF Core Sets. When compared with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), the direct equivalences of the ICF codes were 29% and 39%, respectively. Conclusions The Abilitator covers the relevant aspects sufficiently comprehensively to enable the assessment of the overall work ability and functioning of the population with weak position in the labour market.

scholarly journals Development and content validity of the Abilitator – a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Wikström ◽  
Heidi Anttila ◽  
Minna Savinainen ◽  
Anne Kouvonen ◽  
Matti Joensuu
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Target Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Labour Market Position

Abstract Abstract Background The unemployed have lower work ability and poorer health than the employed. This situation deteriorates when unemployment continues. The long-term unemployed often have co-morbidities and face many other challenges. This increases the need for a multidimensional assessment of work ability and functioning in different service settings. In this study, we describe the development and analyse the content validity of the Abilitator, a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning for those in a weak labour market position. Methods The Abilitator was developed in 2014–2017. Its construct was assessed by the members of academic expert panels (n=30), practical expert panels of service actors (n=700) and target group clients (n=28). The structure and the content of the questionnaire was co-developed in 29 workshops and adjusted twice based on the expert panels’ feedback. The Abilitator was also implemented among target group clients (n=3360) in different services and projects. During its development the Abilitator was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The content validation process followed the guidelines recommended by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) panel. Results The construct of the Abilitator combines the multidimensional and bio-psycho-social models of work ability and functioning. It also includes aspects of social inclusion and employability. It evaluates social, psychological, cognitive and physical functioning, and the ability to cope with everyday life. The content of these concepts was validated by the academic and practical expert panels. The Abilitator’s 79 ICF codes covered 50% of the Generic, 73% of the Brief Vocational Rehabilitation, and 17% of the Minimal Environmental ICF Core Sets. When compared with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), the direct equivalences of the ICF codes were 29% and 39%, respectively. Conclusions The Abilitator covers the relevant aspects sufficiently comprehensively to enable the assessment of the overall work ability and functioning of the population with weak position in the labour market.

scholarly journals Development and content validity of the Abilitator: A self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miia Wikström ◽  
Heidi Anttila ◽  
Minna Savinainen ◽  
Anne Kouvonen ◽  
Matti Joensuu
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Target Group ◽  
Self Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Classification Of Functioning ◽  
Health Measurement ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Labour Market Position

Abstract Background: The unemployed have lower work ability and poorer health than the employed. This situation deteriorates when unemployment continues. The long-term unemployed often have co-morbidities and face many other challenges. This increases the need for a multidimensional assessment of work ability and functioning in different service settings. In this study, we describe the development and analyse the content validity of the Abilitator, a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning for those in a weak labour market position. Methods: The Abilitator was developed in 2014–2017. Its construct was assessed by members of academic expert panels (n=30), practical expert panels of professionals (n=700) and target group clients (n=28). The structure and the content of the questionnaire was co-developed in 29 workshops and adjusted twice based on the expert panels’ feedback. The Abilitator was also implemented among target group clients (n=3360) in different services and projects. During its development the Abilitator was linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The content validation process followed the guidelines recommended by the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) panel. Results: The construct of the Abilitator combines the multidimensional and biopsychosocial models of work ability and functioning. It also includes aspects of social inclusion and employability. It evaluates social, psychological, cognitive and physical functioning, and the ability to cope with everyday life. The content of these concepts was validated by the academic and practical expert panels. The Abilitator’s 79 ICF codes covered 57% of the Generic, 77% of the Brief Vocational Rehabilitation, and 8% of the Minimal Environmental ICF Core Sets. When compared with the Work Ability Index (WAI) and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), the direct equivalences of the ICF codes were 36% and 44%, respectively. Conclusion: The Abilitator sufficiently comprehensively covers the relevant aspects to enable the assessment of the overall work ability and functioning of the population in a weak labour market position.

scholarly journals Intrarater reliability of the Abilitator—a self-report questionnaire on work ability and functioning aimed at the population in a weak labour market position: a test–retest study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e057295
Author(s):  
Miia Wikström ◽  
Anne Kouvonen ◽  
Matti Joensuu
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Functioning ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Work Ability ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Summary Scale ◽  
Labour Market Position ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

ObjectivesThe Abilitator is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of work ability and functioning of those in a weak labour market position. It covers items for work ability and self-rated health, for example, and summary scales for social, psychological, cognitive and physical functioning, as well as everyday skills. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intrarater test–retest reliability, internal consistency and basic psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the Abilitator.Design, setting and outcomeThe test–retest study was conducted in European Social Fund projects in 2018–2019. The participants completed two Abilitator questionnaires over 7–14 days. The internal consistency analysis was based on data collected in 2017–2019 in services for the long-term unemployed. The reliability was assessed using correlations (r, rs, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)), agreement with Bland-Altman analysis and internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha.ParticipantsThe test–retest study had 67 participants (52% men, mean age 43.9 years) and the internal consistency study 10 923 (48% men, mean age 38.58 years), respectively. Of all the participants, 80% had been unemployed for over a year.ResultsThe test–retest r or rs ranged from 0.71 to 0.93 and ICC from 0.74 to 0.93 for the items and summary scales. An exception was the life satisfaction item, with an rs of 0.60 and ICC of 0.45. A statistically significant difference was observed in the summary scale for social functioning (t=−2.01, p=0.049). Agreement was observed for all variables except social functioning. Alphas for summary scales ranged from 0.74 to 0.91.ConclusionsThe Finnish version of the Abilitator is a reliable PROM for the target group and has acceptable to excellent intrarater test–retest reliability and internal consistency, apart from the life satisfaction item. Further testing is needed for the social functioning summary scale.

scholarly journals Arbeidsgehandicapten en de Participatiewet

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudi Wielers ◽  
Jacques van Hoof
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
Market Position ◽  
Active Labour Market Policies ◽  
Active Labour ◽  
Labour Participation ◽  
Labour Market Position ◽  
Further Development

Incapacitated workers and the Labour Participation Law Incapacitated workers and the Labour Participation Law In this new rubric, the editorial board of Journal of Labour Issues has asked informed researchers whether the new Dutch Labour Participation Law that is operative since the beginning of 2015 improves the labour market position of incapacitated workers. The main goal of this new law is to place a larger number of incapacitated workers in regular instead of state-subsidized work places. The researchers hesitate to answer the question in the affirmative. Their main argument is that the willingness of regular employers to hire incapacitated workers in the Netherlands is low, and that active labour market policies are necessary to improve the labour market position of incapacitated workers. The new law might renew the interest of regular employers in this category of workers, but may also curb the further development of new and promising instruments to create sheltered work places, such as group secondment and supported employment.

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