Translation, validity and reliability of the Turkish Chronic Illness Job Strain Scale (CIJSS) in people with inflammatory arthritis.

Objective: This study aimed to adapt the Chronic Illness Job Strain Scale (CIJSS) into Turkish and evaluate its validity and reliability in individuals with rheumatologic conditions. Methods: The CIJSS was culturally adapted following Beaton's protocol. Construct validity was assessed using Rasch analysis. Concurrent validity was examined through correlations with work-related [Work Limitation Questionnaire-Short Form (WLQ-SF), Rheumatoid Arthritis Work Instability Scale (RA-WIS), Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health V2.0 (WPAI-GH)] and health-related [Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Rheumatoid Arthritis Impact of Disease (RAID)] measures. Test-retest reliability was assessed 2 weeks later. Results: The CIJSS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.96) and excellent test-retest reliability (Spearman's r = 0.886; ICC(2,1) = 0.88). The scale met Rasch model requirements for fit. Significant correlations were observed between the CIJSS total score and the WLQ total score (r = -0.61), WPAI scores (r = 0.19-0.47), HAQ (r = 0.33), and RAID (r = 0.61), supporting concurrent validity. Conclusions: The Turkish CIJSS is a valid, reliable, and culturally appropriate tool for assessing job strain in individuals with inflammatory arthritis. It can support both clinical assessment and vocational rehabilitation planning for Turkish-speaking populations.