title: A practical tool to improve outcomes in Work Injury Management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial factors have the greatest influence on work rehabilitation outcomes yet effective and efficient systems to manage these factors are not widely utilized in Work Injury Management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report on the development and validation of a comprehensive assessment tool with practical utility in identifying and measuring the biopsychosocial factors which are barriers to return to work and community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search identified many instruments designed to identify the presence of psychosocial factors impacting recovery and return to work following musculoskeletal injury. This research aimed to match assessment with intervention. In clinical practice over a 5 year period, this led to development of a composite questionnaire, the Abilita Rehabilitation Index, which was trialed with 43 adults participating in Occupational Rehabilitation. The validation data are based on the results of 957 case records of Occupational Rehabilitation participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of Cronbach coefficient alpha of the instrument indicates strong internal consistency (0.90) and factor analysis supports satisfactory construct validity of the domains (subscales) with factor loading scores ranging from 0.73 to 0.90.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is evidence that the proprietary Abilita Rehabilitation Index is a valid and reliable instrument to identify and measure the influence of psychosocial factors impacting an individual's recovery and return to work. Automated reports generated from this tool provide an evidence-based resource to identify risk and support rehabilitation planning in Work Injury Management.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garton
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Halloran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009520:New Zealand; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Return to work; biopsychosocial; musculoskeletal disorders; pain; psychosocial factors