Proposal for classification of contextual factors relevant for studies with work participation as an outcome domain. Contextual factors can be facilitators or barriers
| Personal contextual factors | Environmental contextual factors |
| Health* | Nature of work |
| Pain | Physical/mental demands |
| Fatigue | Job autonomy |
| Physical function | |
| Demographics | Workplace support/barriers |
| Age and gender | Assistance by coworkers |
| Education | Attitude of employer |
| Economic need | Workplace organisation |
| Income needs | Team dynamics at work |
| Quality of benefits | Compensation of absence (eg, replacement practices) |
| Personal appraisal of work | Workplace accommodation |
| Job satisfaction | Adaptive devices |
| Career perspectives | Modified hours/duties |
| Skills and abilities | Economic climate/labour regulations |
| Work-efficacy | Income compensation |
| Coping | Employment opportunities |
| Work-life balance | Workplace accommodation |
| Competing social roles | Adaptive devices |
| Quality of leisure | Modified hours/duties |
| Non-workplace support/barriers | |
| Support from family | |
| Task assistance at home |
*In the setting of clinical studies, health factors are relevant to interpret the study results and (contrary to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) definition) considered to represent personal contextual factors. In the ICF classification, contextual factors are by definition external to health factors. In the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology methodological definition, health factors can be covariates (effect modifiers, confounders).