Test–retest reliability of the manual handling component of the WorkHab functional capacity evaluation in healthy adults

Abstract

Purpose. The WorkHab Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is one of many FCEs currently available and is widely used in the Australian workplace injury management and occupational rehabilitation arena. This study investigated the test–retest reliability of manual handling tasks within the WorkHab FCE in healthy adults.

Method. A convenience sample of 25 healthy subjects, consisting of 19 women and 6 men with a mean age of 29 years (SD: 12.0) participated in this study. Two FCE sessions were held a week apart and subjects completed a floor to bench, bench to shoulder and bench to bench lift. Analysis of the outcomes of the FCE included descriptive analysis, intra-class correlations (ICC), kappa, percentage agreement and 95% limits of agreement where appropriate.

Results. The ICCs for the three lifts show an excellent reliability (0.90–0.92), and a moderate reliability for the manual handling score (0.74). Further analysis of the components of the manual handling score found the percentage agreement was high for all components ranging from 72 to 92%; however, the kappa scores suggested poor to moderate reliability (range: −0.06 to 0.52). Internal consistency of the manual handling score was good (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.92) indicating this is a reliable scale.

Conclusions. The ratings for the lifting components identified substantial levels of test–retest reliability for the lifting components of the WorkHab FCE in healthy adults.

Keywords:

• Functional capacity evaluation
• occupational rehabilitation
• WorkHab functional capacity evaluation
• test–retest reliability

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the individuals who volunteered to participate in this study and WorkHab Australia who donated the equipment to complete the study. This study was made possible with the support of a University of Newcastle grant (No: GO187308).