Affiliations: School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences, Faculty of
Health Sciences, University of Sydney. P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825,
Australia | School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences,
Curtin University of Technology, Selby St., Shenton Park, WA 6008,
Australia
Abstract: Insufficient evidence of the reliability of work-related assessments
is a major concern in this area of practice. Despite this concern there has
been ongoing development of new assessments, while existing assessments have
been revised, modified and updated and others are no longer used or available.
{\it Objectives:} The purpose of this study was to determine the extent and
quality of evidence for the reliability of work-related assessments. {\it Study
Design:} This study examined available literature and sources in order to
review the extent which reliability has been established for 28 work-related
assessments. {\it Results:} The levels of evidence and reliability are
presented for each assessment. This indicates that a number of commercially
available work-related assessments have insufficient evidence of reliability.
For the limited number of work-related assessments with an adequate level of
evidence on which to judge their reliability, most demonstrate a moderate to
good level. Few assessments, however, have demonstrated levels of reliability
sufficient for clinical (and legal) purposes. {\it Conclusion:} With this study
clinicians will be able to examine their options with regard to the reliability
of the assessments they choose to use. Interpretation of changes in test
results can be considered in the light of the evidence for the reliability of
the instrument used.
