Face Validity of the Single Work Ability Item: Comparison with Objectively Measured Heart Rate Reserve over Several Days

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the face validity of the self-reported single item work ability with objectively measured heart rate reserve (%HRR) among blue-collar workers. Methods: We utilized data from 127 blue-collar workers (Female = 53; Male = 74) aged 18–65 years from the cross-sectional “New method for Objective Measurements of physical Activity in Daily living (NOMAD)” study. The workers reported their single item work ability and completed an aerobic capacity cycling test and objective measurements of heart rate reserve monitored with Actiheart for 3–4 days with a total of 5,810 h, including 2,640 working hours. Results: A significant moderate correlation between work ability and %HRR was observed among males (R = −0.33, P = 0.005), but not among females (R = 0.11, P = 0.431). In a gender-stratified multi-adjusted logistic regression analysis, males with high %HRR were more likely to report a reduced work ability compared to males with low %HRR [OR = 4.75, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.31 to 17.25]. However, this association was not found among females (OR = 0.26, 95% CI 0.03 to 2.16), and a significant interaction between work ability, %HRR and gender was observed (P = 0.03). Conclusions: The observed association between work ability and objectively measured %HRR over several days among male blue-collar workers supports the face validity of the single work ability item. It is a useful and valid measure of the relation between physical work demands and resources among male blue-collar workers. The contrasting association among females needs to be further investigated.

Prediction of objectively measured physical activity and sedentariness among blue-collar work using survey questionnaires

“…Workers were recruited from seven blue-collar occupations (manufacturing, assembling, construction, cleaning, garbage collection, mobile plant operation, and health services) in the cross-sectional New Method for Objective Measurements of Physical Activity in Daily Living (NOMAD) study (33) to obtain a wide range of exposures while maintaining homogeneity among workers with respect to socioeconomic status.…”

Does aerobic exercise improve or impair cardiorespiratory fitness and health among cleaners? A cluster randomized controlled trial

“…Heart rate reserve (HRR) is a validated objective measure of relative aerobic workload, ie, the relationship between physical work demands and a worker's aerobic capacity (cardiorespiratory fitness) (12,13). HRR is assessed by resting heart rate, which depends on cardiorespiratory fitness, and maximal heart rate (HR max ), which depends on age (14), and is thereby applicable across workers of varying age and aerobic capacities (15).…”

Job-related stress and work ability of dispatchers in a metropolitan fire department

“…This kind of stress can lead to a decreased well-being and consequently to a higher number of disability days [11] -also without a corresponding elevation of objective stress parameters (such as heart frequency) [12,28]. Most of available studies on work ability using the WAI haven't included biometric measurements [13].…”

“…Furthermore, the authors described conflicting correlations at individual level. Therefore, psychological instruments, such as WAI, appear to be more sensitive to determine work ability than biometric parameters [12].…”

“…As described in several studies, a relevant high stress level can lead to an elevation in biometric stress parameters (such as heart rate or clinical laboratory indices) and may increase the risk for work disability [11][12][13]. According to a review on work-related stressors and strain, it was concluded that both subjective aspects and objective indices (from physical examinations) are required to assess the level of strain and to promote mental health [14].…”