Self-rated work ability predicts return to work after occupational rehabilitation

Introduction: Work ability assessments are important for planning, targeting, and executing occupational rehabilitation programs. The aim of the study was to examine whether a one-item self-rated Work Ability Score (WAS), assessed before and after rehabilitation, predicts return to work 12 months after occupational rehabilitation. Methods: were used. This cohort study included participants with a history of sick leave and complex musculoskeletal and mental health-related challenges who had participated in an occupational rehabilitation program, with a 12-month follow-up period. WAS was self-reported on a scale from 0 to 10 at the start and end of rehabilitation and linked to registry data on health-related social income benefits, as well as self-reported sociodemographic variables. Logistic regression analyses were conducted with "full return to work" (full RTW), defined as receiving no health-related social security benefits for 1 month) at 12 months follow-up as an outcome. Results: Higher WAS values were positively associated with full RTW. The odds ratio for a one-point increase in WAS at the start of rehabilitation was 1.57 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.41-1.75], and it was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.33-1.63) for a one-point increase in improvement of WAS from start to end of rehabilitation when controlling for age, sex, education, occupational status and benefits received before rehabilitation. Conclusion: Even a one-point increase in WAS significantly improved the odds of future work participation. Designing rehabilitation programs to target the workability of participants may initiate a process that leads to work participation.