Study protocol: Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of work patient reported outcome measures in people with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK, Sweden, and Turkey: the Work PROM study

Hammond, Alison; Prior, Yeliz; Bjork, Mathilda; Bumin, Gonca; Tennant, Alan

Abstract

Work disability is high in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions (RMD). Reliable, valid measures are required to identify workers with RA and other RMDs’ work difficulties, to plan and evaluate work rehabilitation and determine work service needs. This study will culturally adapt, and test work-related patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) for use in the UK, Sweden, and Turkey. The Work PROMs being tested assess: presenteeism (the Workplace Activity Limitations Scale) and six measures evaluating contextual factors affecting presenteeism (i.e., the Work Transitions Index, Arthritis Work Spillover Scale (now renamed the Long Term Conditions Work Spillover Scale), Perceived Workplace Support Scale, Chronic Illness Job Strain Scale (now renamed the Long-Term Conditions Job train 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 Turkish for use with employed people with RA or early inflammatory arthritis (IA). 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.

• Other Type: Manual / Guide
• Deposit Date: Oct 1, 2023
• Pages: 25
• Keywords: work; arthritis; musculoskeletal; patient reported outcome measure; work rehabilitation.