The Work Experience Survey – Rheumatic conditions (United Kingdom): Psychometric properties and identifying the workplace barriers of employed people with inflammatory arthritis receiving vocational rehabilitation

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe aims were to: revise the Work Experience Survey‐Rheumatic Conditions (WES‐RC‐ UK), a work assessment listing 142 workplace barriers; investigate content validity, reliability, and concurrent validity; update the accompanying WES‐RC and WORKWELL Solutions Manuals; and investigate workplace barriers of people with inflammatory arthritis.MethodsRheumatology therapists, following vocational rehabilitation (VR) training, assessed participants in the WORKWELL VR trial using the WES‐RC. Data were extracted from the WES‐RC to identify the frequency of workplace barriers, and from trial baseline questionnaires (e.g., Work Limitations Questionnaire‐25 (WLQ‐25). Barriers reported by ≤5 participants were considered for removal. WES‐RC content validity was assessed by linking to the International Classification of Functioning, Health, and Disability Core Set for VR (ICF‐VR). Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's α and concurrent validity by correlating the total number of workplace barriers reported with WLQ‐25 scores.ResultsWES‐RCs were completed with 116 employed participants: 79% women, age 48.72 (SD 9.49) years, and 57% working full‐time. The WES‐RC was reduced to 121 barriers. Content validity was good, with 73/90 ICF‐VR items linked. Cronbach's α = 0.92, that is, suitable for individual use. Concurrent validity was moderate: WLQ‐25 (rs = 0.40). The three most common barriers were Physical Job Demands (100%: e.g., mobility 99%; hand use 74%), Mental, Time, Energy, Emotional Job Demands (91%, e.g., concentration 47%, remembering 41%); Getting Ready for and Travel to Work (87%, e.g., driving 60%).ConclusionThe WES‐RC (UK) has good content validity, reliability, and concurrent validity. The wide range of barriers emphasises the need for biopsychosocial work rehabilitation.