Associations between rehabilitants’ functional limitations and conclusions made by a multidisciplinary team during vocational rehabilitation evaluation: Turku ICF Study

Mikhail Saltychev, Aila Kinnunen, Katri Laimi

Department of Brain Trauma and Rehabilitation, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland;.

DOI: 10.4236/ojtr.2013.12007                

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate associations between functional limitations experienced by rehabilitants and multidisciplinary team’s recommendations during vocational rehabilitation evaluation. Methods: The descriptions of functional limitations were retrospectively identified for 32 patients with chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Vocational rehabilitation evaluation was conducted by a multidisciplinary team in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. The descriptions were converted to ICF second-level categories. Square contingency coefficient Phi (φ) was calculated to describe the associations between ICF-categories appearing ≥10 times in the study sample and the recommendations given by a professional team. Results: In the study sample, 84 different ICF second-level categories were identified (average 18 codes/subject, range 9 - 25). Of them, 18 categories were observed for at least in 10 rehabilitants. Three statistically significant correlations were observed between these 18 categories and recommendations given by a rehabilitation team. Of them, positive association of moderate strength was found between joint mobility and muscle power functions and recommendation for retirement. Difficulties in walking showed weak negative correlation with recommendation for vocational rehabilitation. Conclusions: During vocational rehabilitation evaluation, the final recommendations given by rehabilitation professionals were only weakly correlated with functional limitations experienced by rehabilitants.

Keywords

Occupational Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Assessment; Work Ability; Work Capacity; Correlation

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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