Objective: To examine and compare the sensibility attributes (face/content validity and feasibility) of five at-work productivity measures from the perspective of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Study design and setting: Workers with OA or RA (n = 250) completed a survey that includes five at-work productivity (presenteeism) measures and questions asking about their comprehensiveness, understandability, length, and suitability of response options. A final question asked respondents which single measure was considered "best" overall. Measures compared included the Workplace Activity Limitations Scale (WALS), Stanford Presenteeism Scale, Endicott Work Productivity Scale, Work Instability Scale for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA-WIS), and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ-25). Sensibility performance was assessed quantitatively (% respondent endorsement) and qualitatively via written feedback.
Results: The WLQ-25 was considered most comprehensive (endorsed by 92.8%), the WALS performed best in terms of understandability (97.6%) and suitability of response options (97.9%), and the RA-WIS was favored in terms of length (91.6%). Consistent sensibility performance between OA and RA was found. The WALS (32.6%) and WLQ-25 (30.0%) were moderately preferred in the final overall appraisal.
Conclusion: Sensibility criteria were generally met by all five at-work productivity measures. Variable endorsement levels across specific sensibility attributes were also revealed across the measures compared.
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