Use of the Return-to-Work-Readiness Questionnaire with patients undergoing psychiatric assessment of work ability – a pilot study

Our aim was to explore the predictive value of Return-to-Work-Readiness Questionnaire (RTW-RQ) among patients with mental disability. The cohort consists of 129 patients undergoing psychiatric assessment for work ability. RTW-RQ was used to assess self-perceived functional capacity concerning return-to-work. The questionnaire comprises an equal appearing interval scale (0–10) and qualitative questions related to facilitating and hindering factors towards return-to-work. Work status was measured at one-year. At one-year follow-up, 31 patients (24%) had returned to competitive employment (CE) and 81 (63%) were considered able to work. The mean score for RTW-RQ was 4.8 (SD 3.9) for patients having returned to CE, and 1.9 (2.7) for those having not returned. Medium and high RTW-RQ scores predicted return to CE compared to those with a low score (scores 2–4: OR 3.1, 95% 0.8–12.4; scores 5–10: OR 52.8, 95% 6.0–461.7). Health and work-related facilitating factors were positively associated with RTW-RQ and seemed to predict return to CE (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.6–9.4, and OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.6–9.0, respectively). On the other hand, health-related hindering factors were negatively associated with RTW-RQ and seemed to predict return to CE (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.1–3.3). Results were similar regarding work ability. RTW-RQ seem to predict return to competitive employment and work ability within one year among patients with mental disability. It also seems crucial to recognize facilitating and hindering factors in order to succeed in rehabilitation.

本研究旨在探讨重返工作准备问卷（Return-to-Work-Readiness Questionnaire, RTW-RQ）对精神残疾患者的预测价值。本研究队列共纳入129例为评估职业能力而接受精神科评估的患者。研究采用RTW-RQ评估患者对重返工作的自我感知功能能力。该问卷包含0~10分的等距量表，以及与重返工作的促进和阻碍因素相关的质性问题。研究在1年随访时对患者的工作状态进行评估：31例患者（占比24%）已恢复竞争性就业，81例患者（占比63%）被认定具备工作能力。恢复竞争性就业的患者RTW-RQ平均得分为4.8（标准差（Standard Deviation, SD）=3.9），未恢复竞争性就业的患者平均得分为1.9（SD=2.7）。与低分段（2~4分）患者相比，中高分段RTW-RQ得分可预测竞争性就业恢复：2~4分组优势比（Odds Ratio, OR）=3.1，95%置信区间（Confidence Interval, CI）为0.8~12.4；5~10分组OR=52.8，95%CI=6.0~461.7。健康相关与工作相关的促进因素均与RTW-RQ得分呈正相关，且可预测竞争性就业恢复：前者OR=2.4，95%CI=0.6~9.4；后者OR=2.2，95%CI=0.6~9.0。另一方面，健康相关阻碍因素与RTW-RQ得分呈负相关，且似乎可预测竞争性就业恢复（OR=0.6，95%CI=0.1~3.3）。职业能力相关的分析结果与此类似。综上，RTW-RQ可有效预测精神残疾患者1年内恢复竞争性就业及职业能力的情况。此外，识别重返工作的促进与阻碍因素，对康复干预取得成功至关重要。