A review of the evidence in support of the SF-36 and general-efficacy scale to evaluate a vocational rehabilitation service

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence for using the General self-efficacy scale and physical functioning scale of the SF-36 to evaluate a vocational rehabilitation service to 1) inform researchers, clinicians and commissioners about the properties of the measures in use and 2) make recommendations for the future evaluation of vocational rehabilitation.

Methods: Electronic databases, United Kingdom government websites, generic internet search engines and hand searches of reference lists were reviewed for relevant articles. Abstracts were selected against inclusion criteria and relevant articles retrieved for appraisal.

Findings: 19 articles were retrieved and reviewed for inclusion criteria.7 articles met the inclusion criteria and contributed to the review of the evidence. The use of the SF-36 and GSES in vocational rehabilitation settings appears to be based on evidence drawn from studies with methodological flaws. No evidence could be found in support of the sensitivity and responsiveness of the GSES.

Discussion and implications for practice: The use of outcome measures that have questionable reliability and validity, and an absence of evidence with regard to responsiveness and sensitivity in vocational rehabilitation populations, contributes to an inability to evaluate the effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation services. Further enquiry into how vocational rehabilitation operates, would help to clarify the nature and range of specific activities to be targeted and aid the selection of existing appropriate measures or the development of new measures that reflect the conceptual premises that support
vocational rehabilitation.

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