Risk assessment of healthcare workers' exposure to physical load in relation to patient handling and movement: a feasibility study of the instrument TilThermometer.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common among healthcare workers (HCWs) but might be prevented by risk assessment and further promotion of occupational safety and health. The aim of this study was to investigate if the risk assessment instrument TilThermometer can be used to identify risk profiles of physical exposure in HCWs working with patient handling and movement (PHM). Further aims were to describe HCWs' perceptions and experiences of using the TilThermometer.

Exploring return to work barriers through the lens of model of human occupation. The NOW WHAT project.

Background: The challenges of returning to work after sickness absence demands a wide conceptual understanding of what hinders the employee's work participation. Thus, there is a need to know more about self-perceived barriers for Return to Work (RTW).

Aim: This study aimed to investigate RTW barriers experienced by employees on long-term sick leave, through the lens of the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO).

Social Insurance Literacy Among the Sick-listed-A Study of Clients' Comprehension and Self-Rated System Comprehensibility of the Sickness Insurance System.

Introduction: Sickness insurance systems and their processes have been studied in terms of transparency, comprehensibility and fairness, highlighting the importance of just procedures that make sense to clients. Related research demonstrates differences between groups of clients, pointing towards a social gradient. The concept of social insurance literacy and the Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ) was recently developed and serves as a measure for client's ability to obtain, understand and act on information in a sickness insurance system, relating to the comprehensibility of the information that the system provides.

The Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ): Development and Psychometric Evaluation.

Purpose: For clients to understand social insurance decisions and processes, information from authorities needs to be comprehensible, and clients need sufficient individual abilities. These dimensions are captured by the concept social insurance literacy, which has been operationalized into a measure, the Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ). The aim of this study was to describe the development of the SILQ and evaluate its psychometric properties using Rasch measurement theory.

Psychometric evaluation of the Finnish version of the Worker Role interview (WRI-FI).

Background: The assessment of work ability with reliable, thoroughly tested instruments, is central to evidence-based occupational therapy practice.

Aims/objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the WRI with a focus on construct validity and measurement precision.

Material And Methods: Ninety-six WRI-FI assessments were performed by 19 occupational therapists in Finland.

Evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of a multifactorial intervention strategy for safe patient handling and movement in the healthcare sector: a study protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Healthcare workers with physically demanding work tasks, such as patient handling and movement (PHM), are at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. To facilitate safe PHM and prevent musculoskeletal disorders, a combination of workplace interventions, including risk assessments, is needed. The aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a multifactorial intervention strategy for safe PHM and compare it with a single intervention strategy.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the risk assessment instrument TilThermometer for a Swedish version - patient handling in the healthcare sector.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common in the healthcare sector due to exposure of physical demanding work tasks. Risk assessment is necessary to prevent injuries and promote a safety culture. The TilThermometer has proved to be useful in the Netherlands for assessing healthcare workers' physical exposure to patient handling.

Feasibility of a new homebased ballistocardiographic tool for sleep-assessment in a real-life context among workers.

Background: There is a need for simple and suitable tools for assessing sleep in a natural home environment.

Objectives: This study explores the feasibility in terms of implementation and acceptability of a new homebased ballistocardiographic (BCG) tool for objective sleep-assessment in a real-life context.

Methods: The participants included thirty-nine workers, taking part in two seven nights' sleep-assessment periods.

Exploring Interactions in the Sickness Insurance System in Terms of Power and Trust.

Purpose Activation policies and efforts to reduce sick leave rates has influenced sickness insurance systems in Western countries, which has led to social security being more connected with work and attempts to expose malingering among the sickness absent. The aim of this study was to explore how power and trust are expressed by clients and stakeholders within the Swedish sickness insurance system. Methods This was a longitudinal qualitative study based on semi structured interviews and case files from 31 clients on sick leave in Sweden.

Social validity of work ability evaluations and official decisions within the sickness insurance system: A client perspective.

Background: Studies of the social validity of work ability evaluations are rare, although the concept can provide valuable information about the acceptability, comprehensibility and importance of procedures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore clients' perceptions of social validity of work ability evaluations and the following official decisions concerning sickness benefits within the Swedish sickness insurance system.

Methods: This was a longitudinal qualitative study based on interviews with 30 clients on sick leave, analyzed through deductive content analysis.

Translation and validation of Assessment of Work Performance (AWP) into the Icelandic language and culture.

Background: Evidence-based services in vocational rehabilitation call for valid and reliable assessments of work performance for intervention planning and safe return to work for individuals with illness or injuries. Assessments that are easy to use, culturally adapted, and in a language professionals and clients understand is important for their utility. Translation and adaption of assessments to new languages and cultures are of importance to maintain high standards of assessments and the quality of services in the vocational rehabilitation setting.

Predictive validity of general work ability assessments in the context of sickness insurance.

Objective: The activity ability assessment is a Swedish method for assessing general work ability, based on self-reports combined with an examination by specially trained physicians, and, if needed, extended assessments by occupational therapists, physiotherapists and/or psychologists. The aim of this study was to analyse the predictive validity of the activity ability assessment in relation to future sick leave.

Design: Analysis of assessments in 300 case files, in relation to register data on sick leave.

Is a structured work task application for the assessment of work performance in a constructed environment, useful for patients with attention deficits?

Background: The purpose of our study was to develop a Structured Work Task application for the Assessment of Work Performance for patients with attention deficits.

Material And Methods: We developed a computer-based registration task titled the Attention-demanding Registration Task. It had a structured administrative procedure with additional scoring regarding time and accuracy, also linked to the original scoring of the Assessment of Work Performance.

Social insurance literacy: a scoping review on how to define and measure it.

Purpose: Sickness insurance and workers' compensation systems decide on peoples' eligibility for benefits, and are commonly based on medical certificates and assessments of work ability. Systems differ in the extent to which they preserve clients' dignity and right to fair assessments. In this article, we define a new concept for studying interactions between individuals and systems: which concerns how well people understand the different procedures and regulations in social insurance systems, and how well systems communicate with clients in order to help them understand the system.

Communication characteristics between clients and stakeholders within the Swedish sickness insurance system - a document analysis of granted and withdrawn sickness benefit claims.

The purpose of this study was to investigate how communication within the Swedish sickness insurance system differs between cases of sick leave and how this may affect clients' cases. This was a document study using 30 client files from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SIA). The clients included had been on a work ability evaluation during their sick leave spell and were aged 32-64 years.

Fair or square? Experiences of introducing a new method for assessing general work ability in a sickness insurance context.

Purpose: To study social validity and perceived fairness of a new method for assessing general work ability in a sickness insurance context. Assessments are based on self-reports, combined with examinations by physicians, and, if needed, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and/or psychologists.

Materials And Methods: Interviews with 36 insurance officials, 10 physicians, and 36 sick-listed persons, which were analysed through a qualitative content analysis.

Initial evaluation of psychometric properties of a structured work task application for the Assessment of Work Performance in a constructed environment.

Purpose: The Swedish Social Insurance Administration has developed a new assessment tool for sickness insurance. This study is a part of the initial evaluation of the application, called the Assessment of Work Performance, Structured Activities, and focuses on evaluation of the psychometric properties of social validity, content validity, and utility.

Materials And Methods: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews with occupational therapists.

Gaze-based assistive technology in daily activities in children with severe physical impairments-An intervention study.

Objective: To establish the impact of a gaze-based assistive technology (AT) intervention on activity repertoire, autonomous use, and goal attainment in children with severe physical impairments, and to examine parents' satisfaction with the gaze-based AT and with services related to the gaze-based AT intervention.

Methods: Non-experimental multiple case study with before, after, and follow-up design. Ten children with severe physical impairments without speaking ability (aged 1-15 years) participated in gaze-based AT intervention for 9-10 months, during which period the gaze-based AT was implemented in daily activities.

Eye gaze performance for children with severe physical impairments using gaze-based assistive technology-A longitudinal study.

Gaze-based assistive technology (gaze-based AT) has the potential to provide children affected by severe physical impairments with opportunities for communication and activities. This study aimed to examine changes in eye gaze performance over time (time on task and accuracy) in children with severe physical impairments, without speaking ability, using gaze-based AT. A longitudinal study with a before and after design was conducted on 10 children (aged 1-15 years) with severe physical impairments, who were beginners to gaze-based AT at baseline.

Work ability in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: An explorative and descriptive study.

Background: Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are rare, chronic inflammatory diseases leading to muscle weakness and low muscle endurance. The muscle weakness may lead to restrictions in daily activities and low health-related quality of life.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the work situation, work ability, work-related risk factors, and influence of the physical and psycho-social work environment in patients with PM and DM.

Evaluating the Psychometric Properties of a Clinical Vocational Rehabilitation Outcome Measurement: The Assessment of Work Performance (AWP).

This study examined the validity and reliability of the Assessment of Work Performance (AWP) using Rasch analysis. The AWP was administered to 365 clients with a variety of work-related problems. Rasch analysis and principal component analysis were used to examine the appropriateness of the rating scales and unidimensionality of AWP items.

Evaluation of occupational performance and pain intensity: before and after back surgery and rehabilitation.

Objective: The study had a descriptive, longitudinal design and evaluated occupational performance and pain intensity in daily occupations for patients with low back pain (LBP), assessed preoperatively, and at six and 12 months after surgery and rehabilitation.

Methods: Patients were assessed by surgeons and occupational therapists (OTs) to determine whether surgery was required. The OTs used the Assessment of Pain and Occupational Performance (POP) instrument.

Work environment impact scale: testing the psychometric properties of the Swedish version.

Background: The Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS) is an assessment that focuses on the fit between a person and his or her work environment. It is based on Kielhofner's Model of Human Occupation and designed to gather information on how clients experience their work environment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the WEIS assessment instrument.

Euro-Education: Employability for all (EEE4all). Design and implementation of an international course for future health-care professionals.

Background: Employment is a priority in the European Union, and it is essential to address the needs of individuals disadvantaged at the labour market on grounds such as ethnicity, age, gender or disability, to increase the opportunities for these groups to gain employment. The Council of the European Union recognize the important role of national organisations in increasing gender equality and the need to integrate a gender perspective in all policies. Gender equality perspectives should also, according to the EU Plan of Action and Gender Equality be integrated in education.

Construct validity of the Assessment of Work Performance (AWP).

The instrument Assessment of Work Performance (AWP 1.1) can be used to assess an individual's skills during work performance - how efficient and appropriate a client performs a work task. The instrument is currently used by over 300 assessors working in a variety of work rehabilitation settings in Sweden, and it has been used with over 10,000 clients.