Workplace barrier’s questionnaire: creation and reliability analysis

Abstract

Workers’ functioning is related to the environmental conditions that influence their activities, favoring or hindering their fulfilment. The Work Rehabilitation Questionnaire (WORQ) was based on a core set of the Classification of Functioning (ICF) to assess workers. It has a validated Portuguese version for use with active Brazilian workers but it only assesses function body limitations, activities, and participation. This study developed a questionnaire to assess environmental barriers at work following the WORQ format and tested its reliability. This study reached a consensus (10 professionals and 11 workers) to choose environmental categories in the CIF core set that originated the WORQ to be integrated into the questionnaire. This research selected elements if at least 85% of participants reported it. Categories were transformed into questions. For reliability analysis, the questionnaire was applied to a random sample of 123 active workers at a public university in Brazil. The questionnaire had 20 questions based on the ICF core set for vocational rehabilitation and WORQ. This study evaluated its reliability, finding an r=0.855 (test-retest) and Cronbach’s alpha=0.936 (internal consistency). This study developed an ICF-based questionnaire to assess environmental barriers in the workplace. The analysis of psychometric characteristics showed strong test-retest reliability and the internal consistency of the instrument.