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Occupational Medicine Advance Access originally published online on June 4, 2007
Occupational Medicine 2007 57(5):380-382; doi:10.1093/occmed/kqm028
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Short Reports

Factors associated with self-assessed work ability

Kari-Pekka Martimo1,2, Helena Varonen1, Kaj Husman3 and Eira Viikari-Juntura1

1 Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland
2 Mehiläinen Occupational Health, Pohj. Hesperiankatu 17 C, FI-00260 Helsinki, Finland
3 Centre of Expertise for Good Practices and Competence, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland

Background Symptoms and health problems caused or aggravated by work are common. In order to study perceived work ability and associated factors, including those related to work, a closer analysis was undertaken in an occupational health setting.

Aims This study aimed to analyse self-assessed work ability and its determinants in employees seeking medical advice, with special emphasis on work-related factors.

Methods During 723 illness-related visits to occupational physicians, questionnaires covering personal data, main health problems, their work relatedness, duration and effect on work ability were completed by the employee and physician. Factors associated with self-assessed work ability were studied in a multinomial logistic regression model.

Results The majority of employees considered themselves as being able or partially able to work despite the health problem. Independent predictors of impaired work ability were mental or musculoskeletal disorders, self-assessed work relatedness of the disease, older age, blue-collar work and short duration of the symptoms. If the patient was convinced about the benefits of work-related interventions, the risk for disability was significantly reduced.

Conclusions Special attention should be paid to the recognition and modification of potential work-related causes of disability. In addition, patients with partial work ability should be encouraged to stay at work instead of taking sick leave. For effective disability management, accommodated work and other evidence-based interventions are needed at the workplace.

Keywords      Case management; disability evaluation; mental disorders; musculoskeletal diseases; occupational health services; work-related disease

Correspondence to: Kari-Pekka Martimo, Centre of Expertise for Health and Work Ability, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 50 566 5797; fax: +358 30 474 2008; e-mail: kari-pekka.martimo{at}ttl.fi


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