Work outcome measures in arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of work patient reported outcome measures in people with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK, Sweden and the Czech Republic; and in osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or fibromyalgia in the UK.
IRAS ID
233651
Contact name
Alison Hammond
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Salford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many people with arthritis struggle at work. Therapists and researchers need good quality assessments to find out: the work problems of working people with arthritis; what services can help them; if work rehabilitation helps; and how arthritis affects working lives. To do this, assessments must ask about what people with arthritis think is important. They must be valid (i.e. ask about what they say they do). They must also be reliable (i.e. give the same answers, given nothing changes when they are done a second time).
We will adapt seven self-report assessments, developed in Canada, for the UK. These ask about: job difficulties; work policies and support at work; managing arthritis and work; support from managers/co-workers; work stress; work-life balance; and changes at work people make because of arthritis. We will ask 20 working people (at least 5 each with either rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or fibromyalgia) about what is in the assessments. We will make any changes needed.
We will then ask working people with arthritis, identified from out-patient occupational therapy, physiotherapy or rheumatology departments, patient organisations or research volunteers, to take part. We will mail them a questionnaire booklet to fill in at home in their own time. About 2 to 3 weeks later, we will mail a second booklet. Booklets are mailed back to us. We will then statistically compare the assessments’ scores to see if they are reliable and valid.
We will publish the assessments so they can be used by therapists and researchers.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EM/0409
Date of REC Opinion
20 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion