An evaluation of the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of OccuPro’s functional capacity evaluation

BACKGROUND: OccuPro’s functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is used for assessing the client’s readiness to return to work and three separate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability studies are explored here. OBJECTIVE: Three separate studies were conducted on injured and un-injured adults to evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the OccuPro FCE (upper extremity and material handling subtests). All three studies are summarized in this publication. METHODS: In study one, twenty participants completed firm grasp, simple grasp, pinch, fine motor, and gross motor testing. The participants included subjects with an orthopedic or musculoskeletal disorder affecting the upper extremities. In study two and three, 62 participants completed occasional squat lifts, occasional power lifts, occasional carrying, frequent squat lifts, frequent power lifts, and frequent carrying. The participants in all three studies were adult subjects between 20 and 70 years of age. Study one subjects had a previous illness or injury while subjects in study two and three had no history of injury. RESULTS: Results from study one showed that the OccuPro FCE’s four upper extremity subtests have moderate to excellent inter-rater reliability. In study two and three, results showed that the intra-rater reliability of these subtests were excellent and the inter-reliability of these subtests were moderate to good. CONCLUSIONS: These three studies establish inter-rater and intra-rater reliability for the four upper extremity subtests and material handling testing within the OccuPro FCE system. This allows for multiple therapists to use OccuPro’s FCE system with the same patient or multiple patients while having the confidence they will achieve consistent results and make sound return-to work or residual functional capacity decisions.