About the DWA
Dialogue about Work Ability (DWA) is designed by the occupational therapists Eva Norrby and Iréne Linddahl. The instrument has been used in Sweden since 2001 (original Swedish title: Dialog om arbetsförmåga, DOA). The first English translation was launched in 2007. This new version from 2020 is sold as an eBook (pdf document).
DWA provides a great deal of support both for the client and the occupational therapist in assessing the person’s ability to work and rehabilitation. The purpose of DWA is to provide an overall picture of a person’s resources and limitations in relation to work or work-related activities.
The instrument focuses on participation through an individual’s assessment of his/her ability to work, as well as in the dialogue with an occupational therapist on the results of self-assessment and the occupational therapist assessment. Repeated assessments can lead to changes in the person’s ability to work, being traced in relation to the goals formulated in the rehabilitation plan.
Development and use
One starting point for the development was the lack of tools to assess an individual’s ability to work, above all for the large number of people with long-term sick-leave. The instrument has undergone validity and reliability testing with favorable results (Linddahl, Norrby & Bellner, 2003; Norrby & Linddahl, 2006, Linddahl, 2007).
DWA is intended to be used in the mapping and assessment of work ability, as well as to set goals and follow up work-oriented interventions for persons. DWA can also be used to measure changes in work ability at group level. The target group is persons of working age. DWA is based on the perspective of activity, and not on specific diagnoses.
DWA has a person-centered approach and is based on the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO). Also the items of DWA have been linked to concepts in International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF).
Content and structure
DWA consists of 34 questions (items) divided into five areas:
- Self-awareness, interests and values.
- Roles and habits.
- Physical ability.
- Organisational and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to interact and communicate.
The rating is based on a Likert scale with levels of option 1-5, from low degree (1) to high degree (5). DWA is comprised of two parts: one for self-assessment to be filled in by the client and one for assessment by the user (occupational therapist), independent of that by the person. In direct connection to each question are spaces for the person’s and the occupational therapist’s respective comments.
The instrument also includes a summary form, which the user fills in during a follow-up dialgue) with the person that takes place after both assessments have been completed.
Finally, two cases are included in the manual:
- Ali: 41-year-old man with visual impairment.
- Maria: 30-year-old woman with mental illness.
Order and translation inquiries
The DWA manual contains 50 pages including the assessment forms and a linking to the ICF terms and codes. The manual is only for sale as an Ebook (pdf document) for personal use only (no further distribution). The price is 400 Swedish kronor (SEK) including VAT.
Order the manual
Contact Tina Sandulf with complete invoice address. When ordering outside the Nordic countries a invoice should be paid aforehead.
Contact Tina Sandulf and describe the purpose of and the plan for the translation.