Internal Consistency and Validity of a New Physical Workload Questionnaire

Overview

Journal Occup Environ Med

Specialties Environmental Health
Occupational Medicine

Date 2004 Nov 20

PMID 15550603

Citations 25

Authors

S D M Bot

C B Terwee

D A W M van der Windt

A Feleus

S M Bierma-Zeinstra

D L Knol

L M Bouter

J Dekker

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aims: To examine the dimensionality, internal consistency, and construct validity of a new physical workload questionnaire in employees with musculoskeletal complaints.

Methods: Factor analysis was applied to the responses in three study populations with musculoskeletal disorders (n = 406, 300, and 557) on 26 items related to physical workload. The internal consistency of the resulting subscales was examined. It was hypothesised that physical workload would vary among different occupational groups. The occupations of all subjects were classified into four groups on the basis of expected workload (heavy physical load; long lasting postures and repetitive movements; both; no physical load). Construct validity of the subscales created was tested by comparing the subscale scores among these occupational groups.

Results: The pattern of the factor loadings of items was almost identical for the three study populations. Two interpretable factors were found: items related to heavy physical workload loaded highly on the first factor, and items related to static postures or repetitive work loaded highly on the second factor. The first constructed subscale "heavy physical work" had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92 to 0.93 and the second subscale "long lasting postures and repetitive movements", of 0.86 to 0.87. Six of eight hypotheses regarding the construct validity of the subscales were confirmed.

Conclusions: The results support the internal structure, internal consistency, and validity of the new physical workload questionnaire. Testing this questionnaire in non-symptomatic employees and comparing its performance with objective assessments of physical workload are important next steps in the validation process.

Citing Articles

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the physical workload questionnaire (PWQ).

Noshadha M, Mokhtarinia H, Vahedi M, Melloh M BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025; 26(1):99.

PMID: 39893399 PMC: 11786373. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-025-08345-0.

Focus group-supported development and psychometric exploration of an instrument to assess perceived physical exertion in nursing students.

Lorenz E, Grune E, Popp J, Pfeifer K, Carl J BMC Nurs. 2024; 23(1):957.

PMID: 39736619 PMC: 11687016. DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02639-9.

Psychosocial Factors and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Office Workers: Validating the Maastricht Upper Extremity Questionnaire.

Koukamari P, Nikbakht R, Karimy M, Mohammadi Z Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2024; 38:29.

PMID: 38803388 PMC: 11129282. DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.38.29.

The influence of chronic diseases and poor working conditions in working life expectancy across educational levels among older employees in the Netherlands.

Schram J, Schuring M, Oude Hengel K, Burdorf A, Robroek S Scand J Work Environ Health. 2022; 48(5):391-398.

PMID: 35471244 PMC: 9527781. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.4028.

Assessing physical workload among people with musculoskeletal disorders: validity and reliability of the physical workload questionnaire.

Kjono L, Killingmo R, Vigdal O, Grotle M, Storheim K BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022; 23(1):282.

PMID: 35331205 PMC: 8944019. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-022-05222-y.

References

Hoogendoorn W, van Poppel M, Bongers P, Koes B, Bouter L . Physical load during work and leisure time as risk factors for back pain. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1999; 25(5):387-403. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.451. View

Hollmann S, Klimmer F, Schmidt K, Kylian H . Validation of a questionnaire for assessing physical work load. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1999; 25(2):105-14. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.412. View

van der Windt D, Thomas E, Pope D, de Winter A, Macfarlane G, Bouter L . Occupational risk factors for shoulder pain: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med. 2000; 57(7):433-42. PMC: 1739981. DOI: 10.1136/oem.57.7.433. View

Miranda H, Viikari-Juntura E, Martikainen R, Takala E, Riihimaki H . A prospective study of work related factors and physical exercise as predictors of shoulder pain. Occup Environ Med. 2001; 58(8):528-34. PMC: 1740169. DOI: 10.1136/oem.58.8.528. View

Hildebrandt V, Bongers P, van Dijk F, Kemper H, Dul J . Dutch Musculoskeletal Questionnaire: description and basic qualities. Ergonomics. 2002; 44(12):1038-55. DOI: 10.1080/00140130110087437. View

Leijon O, Wiktorin C, Harenstam A, Karlqvist L . Validity of a self-administered questionnaire for assessing physical work loads in a general population. J Occup Environ Med. 2002; 44(8):724-35. DOI: 10.1097/00043764-200208000-00007. View

Atroshi I, Andersson I, Gummesson C, Leden I, Odenbring S, Ornstein E . Primary care patients with musculoskeletal pain. Value of health-status and sense-of-coherence measures in predicting long-term work disability. Scand J Rheumatol. 2002; 31(4):239-44. DOI: 10.1080/030097402320318440. View

Picavet H, Schouten J . Musculoskeletal pain in the Netherlands: prevalences, consequences and risk groups, the DMC(3)-study. Pain. 2003; 102(1-2):167-78. DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3959(02)00372-x. View

Norman G, Sloan J, Wyrwich K . Interpretation of changes in health-related quality of life: the remarkable universality of half a standard deviation. Med Care. 2003; 41(5):582-92. DOI: 10.1097/01.MLR.0000062554.74615.4C. View

10.

van der Waal J, Bot S, Terwee C, van der Windt D, Bouter L, Dekker J . Determinants of the clinical course of musculoskeletal complaints in general practice: design of a cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003; 4:3. PMC: 151672. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-4-3. View

11.

Blair S, Kohl H, Gordon N, Paffenbarger Jr R . How much physical activity is good for health?. Annu Rev Public Health. 1992; 13:99-126. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.pu.13.050192.000531. View

12.

Streiner D . Figuring out factors: the use and misuse of factor analysis. Can J Psychiatry. 1994; 39(3):135-40. DOI: 10.1177/070674379403900303. View

13.

van der Beek A, Braam I, Douwes M, Bongers P, Frings-Dresen M, Verbeek J . Validity of a diary estimating exposure to tasks, activities, and postures of the trunk. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1994; 66(3):173-8. DOI: 10.1007/BF00380776. View

14.

Pate R, Pratt M, Blair S, Haskell W, Macera C, Bouchard C . Physical activity and public health. A recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. JAMA. 1995; 273(5):402-7. DOI: 10.1001/jama.273.5.402. View

15.

Badley E, Webster G, Rasooly I . The impact of musculoskeletal disorders in the population: are they just aches and pains? Findings from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey. J Rheumatol. 1995; 22(4):733-9. View

16.

Wiktorin C, Hjelm E, Winkel J, Koster M . Reproducibility of a questionnaire for assessment of physical load during work and leisure time. Stockholm MUSIC I Study Group. MUSculoskeletal Intervention Center. J Occup Environ Med. 1996; 38(2):190-201. DOI: 10.1097/00043764-199602000-00017. View

17.

Viikari-Juntura E, Rauas S, Martikainen R, Kuosma E, Riihimaki H, Takala E . Validity of self-reported physical work load in epidemiologic studies on musculoskeletal disorders. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1996; 22(4):251-9. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.139. View

18.

Campbell L, Pannett B, Egger P, Cooper C, Coggon D . Validity of a questionnaire for assessing occupational activities. Am J Ind Med. 1997; 31(4):422-6. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199704)31:4<422::aid-ajim7>3.0.co;2-x. View

19.

Pope D, Croft P, Pritchard C, Silman A, Macfarlane G . Occupational factors related to shoulder pain and disability. Occup Environ Med. 1997; 54(5):316-21. PMC: 1128779. DOI: 10.1136/oem.54.5.316. View

20.

Pope D, Silman A, Cherry N, Pritchard C, Macfarlane G . Validity of a self-completed questionnaire measuring the physical demands of work. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1998; 24(5):376-85. DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.358. View