title: Psychometric evaluation of the Work Readiness Questionnaire in schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Unemployment can negatively impact quality of life among patients with schizophrenia. Employment status depends on ability, opportunity, education, and cultural influences. A clinician-rated scale of work readiness, independent of current work status, can be a valuable assessment tool. A series of studies were conducted to create and validate a Work Readiness Questionnaire (WoRQ) for clinicians to assess patient ability to engage in socially useful activity, independent of work availability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content validity, test-retest and inter-rater reliability, and construct validity were evaluated in three separate studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content validity was supported. Cronbach's α was 0.91, in the excellent range. Clinicians endorsed WoRQ concepts, including treatment adherence, physical appearance, social competence, and symptom control. The final readiness decision showed good test-retest reliability and moderate inter-rater reliability. Work readiness was associated with higher function and lower levels of negative symptoms. Low positive and high negative predictive values confirmed the concept validity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WoRQ has suitable psychometric properties for use in a clinical trial for patients with a broad range of symptom severity. The scale may be applicable to assess therapeutic interventions. It is not intended to assess eligibility for supported work interventions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WoRQ is suitable for use in schizophrenia clinical trials to assess patient work functional potential.
authors.affiliation: 1Professor,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior,University of California-Irvine,Orange,California,USA.
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Potkin
authors.affiliation: 2Neuroscience Product Development (PDN),F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bugarski-Kirola
authors.affiliation: 3Neuroscience Product Development (PDN),Roche Products Ltd.,Welwyn Garden City,United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5638-9188
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edgar
authors.affiliation: 2Neuroscience Product Development (PDN),F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: 4Product Development,Biometrics,Roche Products Ltd.,Welwyn Garden City,United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Scouiller
authors.affiliation: 5Medical Director,Excell Research, Inc.,Oceanside,California,USA.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kunovac
authors.affiliation: 6Resolution Psychopharmacology Research Institute,Mendoza,Argentina.
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miguel Velasco
authors.affiliation: 2Neuroscience Product Development (PDN),F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd,Basel,Switzerland.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Garibaldi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D000067029:Physical Appearance, Body; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D066107:Social Skills; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology
keywords: clinical outcomes research; employment; function; readiness for work; schizophrenia