Development of the Huntington disease work function scale

J Occup Environ Med. 2012 Oct;54(10):1300-8. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31825f30ab.

Abstract

Objective: A work function measure specific for persons with prodromal Huntington disease (HD) was created to assist with workplace accommodations.

Methods: A self-report HD Work Function (HDWF) measure was developed from focus group and expert validation.

Results: Pilot studies with 238 people with prodromal HD, and 185 companions; and 89 people without prodromal HD, and 70 companions indicate that HDWF has acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.77), acceptable interrater reliability (r = 0.58), and acceptable convergent validity with selected items from the Endicott Work Productivity Scale (r = -0.56), Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (r = -0.29), and Everyday Cognition (r = -0.70). The HDWF can distinguish between people with prodromal HD and people with an HD family history who do not have prodromal HD (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: The HDWF is a brief self-assessment that may be used to monitor work function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prodromal Symptoms
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self-Assessment
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Work Capacity Evaluation*
  • Young Adult