gms | German Medical Science

Background: Different protocols exist for functional capacity evaluation. Ideally, the protocol provides individualised results about the possibility of return to the former job, and if impossible, a broad standardised work-ability profile. The WorkWell [1] protocol consists of 29 standard items in five performance categories to display a broad patients’ work-ability profile. It additionally allows to add task-specific items to assess individual job demands.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the degree of individualisation found within our routine FCE WorkWell procedure in trauma patients.

Method: We retrospectively evaluated the protocols of the 2017 FCE testing cohort in respect of additionally applied individualised test items and the number of individualised test items that were regarded as limiting factors for the return to work in the former job.

Results/findings: The sample consisted of 141 consecutive post-trauma patients (age: 42,9±11,1 years, 130 males, latency post trauma: 11,6±16,7 months). In 61 patients (43%) at least one task-specific test item was added to the standard protocol.

In 51 out of theses 61 patients (83,6%), at least one of the task-specific items was regarded as limiting factor for the fulfilment of the pre-trauma work demands.

The limiting task-specific items could be grouped in: Leather/stair climbing with weight (n=14), walking on specific surfaces (n=8), usage of specific tools (n=14), specific load geometry (including patient transfer (n=8)), specific static postures (n=3), others (n=13).

Discussion and conclusions: The additional application of at least one individualised item was relevant in 36,2% of our patients. It seems that the WorkWell protocol, a widely recommended [2] FCE protocol, not only provides a reliable [3], broad standardised work-ability profile, but additionally provides an individualised jobmatch in respect of the former job.