Psychometric testing of the Icelandic Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA-IS).

BACKGROUND: The Occupational Self-Assessment (OSA) is a self-report measure of occupational competence and values used to identify goals and assess outcomes. The Icelandic version of the OSA (OSA-IS) has been through several developmental stages to evaluate its psychometric properties. Through each stage, revisions have been made. AIM: To investigate the psychometric properties of the fourth revised version of OSA-IS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective data from 291 rehabilitation clients with a range of conditions were analysed using Rasch analysis of unidimensionality and descriptive statistics. All statistics were compared to established criteria. RESULTS: Analyses suggest the OSA-IS items define unidimensional constructs of occupational competence and values. Most (89%) participants completed the assessment in a reliable manner and no association was observed between demographic variables and fit status. Differences in the item hierarchies were observed between the original OSA and the OSA-IS, suggesting that Icelandic clients responded differently due to cultural, linguistic and/or sample differences. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: OSA-IS is a psychometrically sound instrument that may be used to support identification of client-centred goals and for intervention development. Clinicians should use score tables specifically developed for the OSA-IS to measure outcomes.

Translation and validation of Assessment of Work Performance (AWP) into the Icelandic language and culture.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based services in vocational rehabilitation call for valid and reliable assessments of work performance for intervention planning and safe return to work for individuals with illness or injuries. Assessments that are easy to use, culturally adapted, and in a language professionals and clients understand is important for their utility. Translation and adaption of assessments to new languages and cultures are of importance to maintain high standards of assessments and the quality of services in the vocational rehabilitation setting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Assessment of Work Performance (AWP), into the Icelandic language and culture. Furthermore, to investigate the content validity and utility of the evaluation instrument. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases. The first phase, based on the Dual-Panel translation method, included two expert panels performing translation and cultural adaption of the original Swedish AWP. In the second phase field testing of the translated instrument was followed by an online survey among vocational rehabilitation professionals for content validation and utility. RESULTS: The results of the study showed satisfactory opinions from experienced professionals toward the content validity, translation, cultural adaption, and utility of the Icelandic version of the AWP. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that the Dual-Panel translation method is a valid method when translating instruments from one language and culture to another. Furthermore, the results of the study imply that the AWP can be regarded as content valid up to an acceptable degree for implementation in vocational rehabilitation services in Iceland.

Social justice, access and quality of healthcare in an age of austerity: users' perspective from rural Iceland.

Iceland is sparsely populated but social justice and equity has been emphasised within healthcare. The aim of the study is to examine healthcare services in Fjallabyggð, in rural northern Iceland, from users' perspective and evaluate social justice, access and quality of healthcare in an age of austerity. Mixed-method approach with transformative design was used. First, data were collected with questionnaires (response rate of 53% [N=732] in 2009 and 30% [N=415] in 2012), and analysed statistically, followed by 10 interviews with healthcare users (2009 and 2014). The results were integrated and interpreted within Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model. There was significantly less satisfaction with accessibility and variety of healthcare services in 2012 after services downsizing. Solid primary healthcare, good local elderly care, some freedom in healthcare choice and reliable emergency services were considered fundamental for life in a rural area. Equal access to healthcare is part of a fundamental human right. In times of economic downturn, people in rural areas, who are already vulnerable, may become even more vulnerable and disadvantaged, seriously threatening social justice and equity. With severe cutbacks in vitally important healthcare services people may eventually choose to self-migrate.

Worker Role Interview: testing the psychometric properties of the Icelandic version.

In Iceland, the worker role is one of the most enacted and valued roles, but the national disability rate is increasing and is often associated with the loss of the worker role. Resources in work rehabilitation in Iceland are disjointed, and the Ministry of Health and Social Security is calling for more focused and effective services in the field of work rehabilitation. One step towards reaching the goal of more effective services is having a reliable and theory-based assessment tool available to clinicians. The Worker Role Interview (WRI) is a psychometrically sound assessment tool based on the Model of Human Occupation. WRI assesses the psychosocial and environmental factors influencing injured and disabled workers' ability to return to work. This article examines the psychometric properties of the Icelandic version of the WRI (WRI-IS) in order to determine whether therapists can use the instrument in a consistent and dependable manner. Fourteen Icelandic occupational therapists completed the WRI-IS with 146 clients who intended to return to work. Eleven of the interviewed clients were videotaped and rated by more than one therapist. Total ratings were 249. A many-faceted Rasch measurement (MFRM) approach was used to analyze the WRI-IS. Fifteen of the 17 WRI-IS items showed acceptable fit to the measurement model, and the items represented a meaningful continuum of psychosocial ability to return to work. The 14 therapists and over 95% of the clients showed acceptable fit to the model. The results indicate that the WRI-IS can generate reliable and valid measures of a client's psychosocial ability to return to work.

Psychometric properties of the Worker Role Interview.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the psychometric properties of the rating scale of the Worker Role Interview (WRI). The study also asked whether the scale's items formed a valid measure of the construct, psychosocial capacity for work, and whether they were targeted to and could effectively discriminate between persons at different levels of psychosocial ability for work. METHOD OF STUDY: Data were collected from 21 raters on 440 participants from the United States, Sweden and Iceland. A many-faceted Rasch model was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Most items of the scale worked effectively to measure the underlying construct for which the WRI was designed. In addition, the items were ordered from least to more of the underlying construct as expected. The scale validly measured 90.23% of the participants, who varied by nationality, culture, age and diagnostic status. The scale's items distinguished participants into approximately three different strata and were appropriately targeted to the participants. Seventeen of the 21 raters used scale in a valid manner. CONCLUSIONS: The WRI scale and items are valid across ages, diagnoses, and culture and effectively measure a wide range of persons.