gms | German Medical Science

Background: In trauma patients with long-lasting inactivity, work capacity is reduced. The functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is a common clinical practice to give recommendations for planning and vocational rehabilitation if handling of previous job demands is uncertain. However, FCE may also have direct effects on the patients’ appraisal of their functional capacity.

It has been shown that self-efficacy indeed affects the time off work following orthopedic trauma [1].

Aim: We aimed to describe the impact of a FCE procedure on self-reported functional capacity, which can be regarded as measure for self-efficacy.

Method: We performed a diagnostic before-after study in 161 consecutively recruited post-trauma patients who were referred for a FCE [2] at the end of a phase-2 post-trauma rehabilitation program in the Eastern part of Austria. Patients completed the Spinal Function Sort [3] to assess self-rated functional capacity prior to the FCE and after completing the FCE on the second day.

Results/findings: Self-rated functional capacity improved by 14.8 points (95% CI: 11.3 to 18.2). The number of subjects who rated their functional capacity below their functional capacity as observed by the FCE decreased from 133 (i.e., 82.6%) to 104 (i.e., 64.6%), by about 18 points.

Discussion and conclusions: The performance of the FCE in patients with trauma was associated with a modest improvement of self-rated functional capacity. The performance of a FCE in trauma rehabilitation may have a direct therapeutic effect on the patient by allowing a more realistic appraisal of the ability to perform relevant work activities.