Mitchell Dawn, Hancock Elizabeth, Alexander Lyndsay
Work. 2015;53(2):337-45. doi: 10.3233/WOR-152154.
A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) can provide a comprehensive, objective measure of a worker's ability to meet work demands to support return to work decision making. Research evidence of a FCE's reliability and validity, involving more than one study, and covering all test components with a diverse range of populations, is essential to ensure confidence in any FCE system.
This study aimed to establish the inter-rater reliability of the Valpar Joule FCE functional capacity evaluation (FCE) for which there is currently limited published literature regarding its reliability.
Twelve healthy subjects were digitally recorded completing the initial protocol of the Valpar Joule. Assessments were rated separately by 3 raters and the results then compared.
Using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), with percentages of agreement and t-tests to determine bias, inter-rater reliability was high for determining last safe weight lifted for forceful tasks with ICC>0.90. Agreement ranged from 97.2% -100% for determining reasons for terminating tests; 97.2% -98.6% for identifying maximum safe capacity, but was only between 8.3% -50% for full agreement for identification of last weight safely lifted in forceful tasks. Differences were identified between raters with different training and experience for identifying poor body mechanics in lifting.
Results demonstrated high inter-rater reliability for the Valpar Joule functional capacity evaluation in healthy adults. Further development of criteria identifying poor body mechanics and training in its use is recommended to increase evaluator objectivity.
功能能力评估（FCE）可以提供对工人满足工作需求以支持重返工作岗位决策能力的全面、客观衡量。FCE可靠性和有效性的研究证据，涉及不止一项研究，涵盖所有测试组件并针对不同人群，对于确保对任何FCE系统的信心至关重要。
本研究旨在确定Valpar Joule功能能力评估（FCE）的评分者间信度，目前关于其可靠性的已发表文献有限。
对12名健康受试者完成Valpar Joule初始方案的过程进行数字记录。由3名评分者分别进行评估，然后比较结果。
使用组内相关系数（ICC）、一致性百分比和t检验来确定偏差，对于确定强力任务中最后安全举起的重量，评分者间信度较高，ICC>0.90。确定终止测试原因的一致性范围为97.2% - 100%；确定最大安全能力的一致性为97.2% - 98.6%，但在确定强力任务中最后安全举起的重量时，完全一致的比例仅在8.3% - 50%之间。在识别举重时不良身体力学方面，不同培训和经验的评分者之间存在差异。
结果表明，Valpar Joule功能能力评估在健康成年人中的评分者间信度较高。建议进一步制定识别不良身体力学的标准并进行相关使用培训，以提高评估者的客观性。
