SENSE OF COHERENCE AND WORK ABILITY AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS IN FINLAND

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the association between sense of coherence and work ability among psychiatric patients with prolonged disability. One hundred consecutive and consenting patients who were assessed for work ability at the Outpatient Psychiatric Unit of the Helsinki University Hospital in 2010-2011 were included. The sense of coherence was assessed at baseline, and the participants were contacted for a phone interview after one year of follow-up. Sense of coherence was measured by the 13-item Sense of Coherence scale (SOC). In addition, self-efficacy was measured by the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy scale and functioning by the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Work ability was measured by selfreported ability to work at the one-year follow-up. Ten participants were lost at follow-up, thus, 90 participants were included in the analysis. SOC was highest among psychotic patients (mean 64.2, SD 17.0.) and lowest among patients with mood disorders (mean 46.8, SD 14.1). High SOC correlated with high self-efficacy (rho 0.62) and high SOFAS (rho 0.31). At follow-up, 62 patients (62%) had returned or were able to return to work. High sense of coherence was associated with ability to work at one year (OR=7.0, 95%CI 1.4-36.3). Sense of coherence was associated with ability to work at one year despite mental illness. SOC seems to be a useful instrument in the assessment of work ability among psychiatric patients.

Keywords

• functional capacity
• work ability
• mental disorders
• assessment of work ability
• sense of coherence
• return-to-work self-efficacy
• sofas