Construct Validity of Functional Capacity Evaluation Lifting Tests in Construction Workers on Sick Leave as a Result of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Abstract
Gouttebarge V, Wind H, Kuijer PP, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MH. Construct validity of functional capacity evaluation lifting tests in construction workers on sick leave as a result of musculoskeletal disorders.
Objectives
To assess the construct (discriminative and convergent) validity of 5 Ergo-Kit (EK) functional capacity evaluation (FCE) lifting tests in construction workers on sick leave as a result of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Design
Cross sectional within-subject design.
Setting
Occupational health service for the construction industry.
Participants
Male construction workers (N=72) on 6-week sick leave as a result of MSDs.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure
After being assessed on 5 EK FCE lifting tests, participants were asked to complete the Von Korff questionnaire on pain intensity and disability as a result of MSDs and the instrument for disability risk assessing the risk for work disability. Discriminative validity was evaluated by comparing the results of the EK FCE lifting test scores between the 2 groups of participants based on the instrument for disability risk scores (high risk for work disability compared with low risk for work disability). Convergent validity was evaluated by assessing the associations between the results of the EK FCE lifting tests and Von Korff questionnaire self-reported pain intensity and disability as a result of MSDs.
Results
The hypothesized differences between both instrument for disability risk groups on the 5 EK FCE lifting tests were found in the expected direction but were not statistically significant (1 test exhibited a trend). Pearson correlation coefficients showed a poor convergent validity between the scores of the Von Korff questionnaire and the EK FCE lifting tests (–.29≤r≤.05).
Conclusions
Poor construct validity of the 5 EK lifting tests was found: discriminative validity was not statistically established, and convergent validity with self-reported pain intensity and disability was poor.
Department of Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Reprint requests to Vincent Gouttebarge, PhD, Academic Medical Center, Department: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Supported by Stichting Arbouw and Stichting Instituut GAK.
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT