Use of the Return-to-Work-Readiness Questionnaire with patients undergoing psychiatric assessment of work ability - a pilot study.

Objectives: Our aim was to explore the predictive value of Return-to-Work-Readiness Questionnaire (RTW-RQ) among patients with mental disability.

Material and methods: The cohort consists of 129 patients undergoing psychiatric assessment for work ability. RTW-RQ was used to assess self-perceived functional capacity concerning return-to-work. The questionnaire comprises an equal appearing interval scale (0-10) and qualitative questions related to facilitating and hindering factors towards return-to-work. Work status was measured at one-year.

Results: At one-year follow-up, 31 patients (24%) had returned to competitive employment (CE) and 81 (63%) were considered able to work. The mean score for RTW-RQ was 4.8 (SD 3.9) for patients having returned to CE, and 1.9 (2.7) for those having not returned. Medium and high RTW-RQ scores predicted return to CE compared to those with a low score (scores 2-4: OR 3.1, 95% 0.8-12.4; scores 5-10: OR 52.8, 95% 6.0-461.7). Health and work-related facilitating factors were positively associated with RTW-RQ and seemed to predict return to CE (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.6-9.4, and OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.6-9.0, respectively). On the other hand, health-related hindering factors were negatively associated with RTW-RQ and seemed to predict return to CE (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.1-3.3). Results were similar regarding work ability.

Conclusions: RTW-RQ seem to predict return to competitive employment and work ability within one year among patients with mental disability. It also seems crucial to recognize facilitating and hindering factors in order to succeed in rehabilitation.