Worker productivity outcome measures: OMERACT filter evidence and agenda for future research

Kenneth Tang; Annelies Boonen; Suzanne M M Verstappen; Reuben Escorpizo; Jolanda J Luime; Diane Lacaille; Bruno Fautrel; Ailsa Bosworth; Mary Cifaldi; Monique A M Gignac; Cathy Hofstetter; Amye Leong; Pam Montie; Ingemar F Petersson; Oana Purcaru; Claire Bombardier; Peter S Tugwell; Dorcas E Beaton

doi:10.3899/jrheum.130815

Worker productivity outcome measures: OMERACT filter evidence and agenda for future research

J Rheumatol. 2014 Jan;41(1):165-76. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.130815. Epub 2013 Oct 15.

Authors

Kenneth Tang¹, Annelies Boonen, Suzanne M M Verstappen, Reuben Escorpizo, Jolanda J Luime, Diane Lacaille, Bruno Fautrel, Ailsa Bosworth, Mary Cifaldi, Monique A M Gignac, Cathy Hofstetter, Amye Leong, Pam Montie, Ingemar F Petersson, Oana Purcaru, Claire Bombardier, Peter S Tugwell, Dorcas E Beaton

Affiliation

¹ From the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto; Mobility Program Clinical Research Unit, St. Michael's Hospital; and Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Rheumatology, Maastricht University Medical Center, and CAPHRI Research Institute, Maastricht, Netherlands; Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, the University of Manchester; Manchester, UK; Department of Physical Therapy, School of Allied Health Professions, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne; Swiss Paraplegic Research, ICF Research Branch of World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications in Germany (DIMDI), Nottwil, Switzerland; Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands; Division of Rheumatology, University of British Columbia; Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Rheumatology, Pierre et Marie Curie University (UPMC - Paris 6), APHP Pitié-Salpétriêre Hospital, Paris, France; National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, UK; Global Lead Rheumatology, PPG, Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA; Division of Health Care and Outcomes Research, Toronto Western Research Institute at the University Health Network; Arthritis Community Research and Evaluation Unit; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ON, Canada; Consumer Advisory Council, Canadian Arthritis Network, Canada; Healthy Motivation, Santa Barbara, California, USA; Consumer Advisory Board, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Canada; Epi-centrum Skåne; Department of Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital; Department of Orthopaedics, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Health Economics, GMAP, Immunolo

PMID: 24128774
DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.130815

Abstract

The objective of the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Worker Productivity working group is to identify worker productivity outcome measures that meet the requirements of the OMERACT filter. At the OMERACT 11 Workshop, we focused on the at-work limitations/productivity component of worker productivity (i.e., presenteeism) - an area with diverse conceptualization and instrumentation approaches. Various approaches to quantify at-work limitations/productivity (e.g., single-item global and multi-item measures) were examined, and available evidence pertaining to OMERACT truth, discrimination, and feasibility were presented to conference participants. Four candidate global measures of presenteeism were put forth for a plenary vote to determine whether current evidence meets the OMERACT filter requirements. Presenteeism globals from the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (72% support) and Rheumatoid Arthritis-specific Work Productivity Survey (71% support) were endorsed by conference participants; however, neither the presenteeism global item from the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire nor the Quantity and Quality method achieved the level of support required for endorsement at the present time. The plenary was also asked whether the central item from the Work Ability Index should also be considered as a candidate measure for potential endorsement in the future. Of participants at the plenary, 70% supported this presenteeism global measure. Progress was also made in other areas through discussions at individual breakout sessions. Topics examined include the merits of various multi-item measures of at-work limitations/productivity, methodological issues related to interpretability of outcome scores, and approaches to appraise and classify contextual factors of worker productivity. Feedback gathered from conference participants will inform the future research agenda of the working group.

Keywords: ABSENTEEISM; OSTEOARTHRITIS; PRESENTEEISM; RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY; RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS; WORK PRODUCTIVITY.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Efficiency*
Humans
Outcome Assessment, Health Care / methods*
Rheumatology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Work*

Grants and funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada