Psychometric evaluation of the Finnish version of the Worker Role interview (WRI-FI).

BACKGROUND: The assessment of work ability with reliable, thoroughly tested instruments, is central to evidence-based occupational therapy practice. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the WRI with a focus on construct validity and measurement precision. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-six WRI-FI assessments were performed by 19 occupational therapists in Finland. A Rasch analysis was conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties. RESULTS: The WRI-FI presented an overall fit to the Rasch model, with good targeting and separation among persons. The four-point rating scale structure was supported by the Rasch analysis, except for one item with disordered thresholds. The WRI-FI indicated stable measurement properties across gender. Seven of the 96 persons showed misfit, which slightly exceeds the criteria of 5%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this first psychometric evaluation of the WRI-FI provided evidence of construct validity and support for measurement precision. The hierarchy among items corresponded with previous studies. The WRI-FI can offer occupational therapy practitioners a valid tool to evaluate psychosocial and environmental perspectives of persons' work ability.

Feasibility of a new homebased ballistocardiographic tool for sleep-assessment in a real-life context among workers.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for simple and suitable tools for assessing sleep in a natural home environment. OBJECTIVES: This study explores the feasibility in terms of implementation and acceptability of a new homebased ballistocardiographic (BCG) tool for objective sleep-assessment in a real-life context. METHODS: The participants included thirty-nine workers, taking part in two seven nights' sleep-assessment periods. Objective data regarding sleep was collected with BCG. Subjective data regarding sleep was collected with a sleep diary. Implementation was analysed by determining the number of nights with usable signal quality and comparing with the total number of potential nights and by exploring associations between objective and subjective sleep data. Acceptability was analysed by categorizing the participants' experiences of how the BCG tool impacted the sleep. RESULTS: In terms of implementation, usable BCG data increased from 40% at assessment phase 1 to 70% during assessment phase 2. Moreover, in assessment phase 2, there was a significant moderate correlation between the 'time in bed' assessed by the BCG and in sleep diary by participants in the first five nights. In terms of acceptability, almost one third of the participants did not experience any impact of the BCG on the sleep. Two participants experienced a major negative impact on the sleep. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the novel BCG tool could be feasible for objective assessing of sleep in workers natural home-environment in the future, but there is still a need for development of the BCG both regarding technology and implementation process.

Regular clinical follow-up of oral potentially malignant disorders results in improved survival for patients who develop oral cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether clinical follow-up programs of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) result in earlier detection and improved survival rates if malignant transformation occurs, as compared to OPMD patients without follow-up and other patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three OSCC groups were retrospectively studied for disease stage at diagnosis and survival rates (N = 739): Group A, patients with OSCC with regular follow-up of preceding OPMD (N = 94); Group B, patients with OSCC with preceding OPMD but no follow-up (N = 68); Group C, patients with OSCC without previously known OPMD diagnosis (N = 577). RESULTS: The patients with OPMD with follow-up (Group A) was diagnosed at a significantly earlier stage and have significantly higher survival rates compared to Group B (p < 0.001 and p = 0.022, respectively) and Group C (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference between Group B and Group C in terms of survival rate (p = 0.143) or stage at diagnosis (p = 0.475). Patients with OPMD and follow-up (Group A) had a 5-year net survival rate of 90.0% (95%CI 80.3-100.8%), as compared to 68.3% percent (95% CI 54.5-85.7) for Group B and 56.1% (95% CI 51.4-61.3) for Group C. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that regular follow-up of patients with OPMD results in earlier detection of OSCC (if malignant transformation occurs) and improved survival.