Research

The Finnish Institute of Occupational Health carries out research related to the Abilitator® in three areas:

1. The Abilitator as a tool for evaluating work ability and functioning 

The Abilitator is composed mainly of questions already in wide use in other established instruments and national surveys. It is by nature a wide-ranging survey of the different areas of life and has no direct counterpart. Thus, the Abilitator’s validity is examined by comparing its results to information from several different sources (questionnaires, expert assessments, register data). We are currently carrying out research on the consistency of the Abilitator’s measurements (test-retest reliability), and on how the Abilitator relates to two other self-assessment questionnaires of work ability and functioning: WHODAS 2.0 and the Work Ability Index® and the changes that take place within them. In the future, we plan to gather information on the associations between the Abilitator and other indicators and different concrete events (use of services, beginning and continuing with studies, gaining employment, work disability), to support its interpretations.

2. Usability of the Abilitator for different purposes and as part of different services

We are examining the usability of the Abilitator in different service systems such as social, health and employment services. We collect different actors’ experiences of the factors that promote or impede the use of the Abilitator, and the applicability of the method to their activities. We are modelling the use of the Abilitator as part of the customer service process. We are also studying whether the Abilitator, and plans related to it, are transferred along with the customer as they move from one service to another.

3. Data on work ability and functioning in Finland gathered by the Abilitator

As the use of the Abilitator spreads, we will regularly report on the different aspects of the information gathered via the Abilitator questions and conduct more detailed analyses on, for example, different background factors.

If you are interested in research co-operation related to the Abilitator, please contact kykyviisari@ttl.fi.