Study protocol: 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

Hammond, Alison; Prior, Yeliz

Abstract

Work disability is high in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs). Reliable, valid measures are required to identify workers with RA and other MSCs’ work difficulties, to plan and evaluate work rehabilitation and determine work service needs. This study will culturally adapt and test patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) about work for use in the UK, Sweden and the Czech Republic. The PROMs being tested assess: presenteeism (the Workplace Activities Limitations Scale) and six measures evaluating contextual factors affecting presenteeism (i.e. the Work Transitions Index, Arthritis Work Spillover Scale, Perceived Workplace Support Scale, Chronic Illness Job Strain Scale, Workplace Accommodations, Benefits, Policies and Practices Scale, Work-Health-Personal Life Perceptions Scale). These measures were developed in Canada and need cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric testing before they can be used in other countries, as cultural and socio-economic settings differ. First, we will: linguistically validate and culturally adapt these into British English, then Swedish and Czech for use with employed people with RA or inflammatory arthritis (IA); and three other MSCs (osteoarthritis (OA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and fibromyalgia (FM)) in the UK only. Secondly, we will test their psychometric properties: unidimensionality, construct validity, (using Rasch analysis), internal consistency, concurrent validity, test-retest reliability, and minimal detectable differences. This ensures they provide robust information for clinical and research use. These measures can then be used in these countries to identify: patients’ at risk for poor work outcomes; their work rehabilitation needs; and effectiveness of work rehabilitation; as well as for research evaluating the impact of these conditions on working lives, and as outcomes in rehabilitation and other trials.

Citation

Hammond, A., & Prior, Y. Study protocol: 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. [Print]

• Other Type: Manual / Guide
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2023
• Additional Information: This is the study protocol for the WORK-PROM study. The results of this study are published in::; Hammond A, Tennant A, Ching A, Parker J, Prior Y, Gignac M, Verstappen S, O’Brien R. (2023). Psychometric testing of the British-English Workplace Activity Limitations Scale in four rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. Rheumatology Advances in Practice. 7(1):rkad028. DOI: 10.1093/rap/rkad028; ; ; Hammond A, Tennant A, Ching A, Parker J, Prior Y, Gignac M, Verstappen S, O’Brien R. ; Psychometric testing of the British-English Long Term Conditions Job Strain Scale, Arthritis Work Spillover Scale and Work – Health-Personal Life Perceptions Scale in four rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Care published online 11.5.23 DOI: 10.1002/msc.1774; ; Hammond A, Tennant A, Ching A, Parker J, Prior Y, Gignac M, Verstappen S, O’Brien R. Psychometric testing of the British-English Perceived Work Support Scale, Work Accommodations, Benefits, Policy and Practices Scale and Work Transitions Index in four rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal Care Published online first 19.8.23. DOI:10.1002/msc.1807; ; Brown T, Hammond A, Ching A, Parker J. (2023) Work limitations and associated factors in working people with rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia. Musculoskeletal Care 21: 827-844. DOI: 10.1002/msc.1760 (published online 28.3.23); ; Hammond A, Tennant A, Brown T, Prior Y, Ching A, Parker J. Psychometric testing of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Work Instability Scale in employed people with fibromyalgia. Musculoskeletal Care DOI: 10.1002/msc.1829