Responsiveness of the physical work performance evaluation, a functional capacity evaluation, in patients with low back pain.
OBJECTIVE
The Physical Work Performance Evaluation (PWPE) is a functional capacity evaluation. This study investigated the responsiveness of the PWPE.


METHODS
The internal and external responsiveness was tested. For the internal responsiveness, the change in the pre-/post-test PWPE scores of a group participating in a work rehabilitation program (n = 27) was compared to that of a comparison group of healthy subjects (n = 30). The external responsiveness was tested with the rehabilitation group, and the change in their PWPE scores was compared to concurrent and empirical criteria.


RESULTS
The comparison of the change in pre-/post-test PWPE scores showed that the change for the rehabilitation group was significantly different from that for the comparison group, but only for one section of the PWPE. Changes in six criteria were seen after completion of the program, but there was no significant correlation between these changes and the change in the overall PWPE score.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall PWPE level of work score does not appear to have the ability to measure clinically significant changes achieved through a work rehabilitation program.
Durand
Marie-José
MJ
Department of Rehabilitation, Université de Sherbrooke, Longueuil, QC, Canada. marie-jose.durand@usherbrooke.ca
Brassard
Bruno
B
Hong
Quan Nha
QN
Lemaire
Jacques
J
Loisel
Patrick
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation