ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Rehabil. Sci.
Sec. Disability, Rehabilitation, and Inclusion
Self-rated work ability predicts return to work after occupational rehabilitation
Chris Jensen 1
Tarja Rajalahti Kvalheim 2
Svein Ove Tjøsvoll 3
Anita Dyb Linge 4
Thomas Johansen 5
1. Rehabiliteringssenteret AiR, Rauland, Norway
2. Red Cross Haugland Rehabilitation Center, Flekke, Norway
3. Betania Malvik Avdeling Helse og Arbeidsliv, Malvik, Norway
4. Muritunet, Valldal, Norway
5. Hernes, Elverum, Norway
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Abstract
Introduction Work ability assessments are important to plan, target and execute occupational rehabilitation programs. The aim of the study was to examine a one-item self-rated Work Ability Score (WAS) before and after rehabilitation as predictor for return to work 12 months after occupational rehabilitation. Methods Data from four institution in the Norwegian registry for occupational rehabilitation were used. This was a cohort study with 12 months follow-up of participants with a history of sick leave and complex challenges related to musculoskeletal and mental health issues, who had participated in an occupational rehabilitation program. WAS was self-reported using a scale from 0 to 10 at start and end of rehabilitation and linked to registry data on health-related social income benefits as well as self-reported sociodemographic variables. Logistic regression analyses were carried out with "Full Return To Work" (Full RTW defined as receiving no health-related social security benefits for one month) at 12 months follow-up as outcome. Results Higher WAS scores were positively associated with Full RTW. The odds ratio for a one-point increase on the WAS scale at the start of rehabilitation was 1.57 (95% CI: 1.41-1.75) and it was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.33-1.63) for a one-point increase in improvement of WAS from start to end of rehabilitation when controlling for age, sex, education, occupational status and benefits received before rehabilitation. Conclusion Even a one-point increase in WAS significantly improved the odds of future work participation. Designing rehabilitation programs to target the workability of participants may initiate a process that leads to work participation.
Summary
Keywords
occupational rehabilitation, physical medicine and rehabilitation, Return to Work, Work ability, Work participation
Received
24 October 2025
Accepted
26 January 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Jensen, Kvalheim, Tjøsvoll, Linge and Johansen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Chris Jensen
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