Validation of Short Measures of Work Ability for Research and Employee Surveys

Abstract

Work ability (WA) is an important concept in occupational health research and for over 30 years assessed worldwide with the Work Ability Index (WAI). In recent years, criticism of the WAI is increasing and alternative instruments are presented. The authors postulate that theoretical and methodological issues need to be considered when developing alternative measures for WA and conclude that a short uni-dimensional measure is needed that avoids conceptual blurring. The aim of this contribution is to validate the short and uni-dimensional WAI components WAI 1 (one item measuring “current WA compared with the lifetime best”) and WAI 2 (two items assessing “WA in relation to the [mental/physical] demands of the job”). Cross-sectional and 12-month follow-up data of two large samples was used to determine construct validity of WAI 1 and WAI 2 and to relate this to respective results with the WAI. Data sources comprise nurses in Europe investigated in the European NEXT-Study (Sample A; Ncross-sectional = 28,948 and NLongitudinal = 9462, respectively) and nursing home employees of the German 3Q-Study (Sample B) where nurses (N = 786; 339, respectively) and non-nursing workers (N = 443; 196, respectively) were included. Concurrent and predictive validity of WAI 1 and WAI 2 were assessed with self-rated general health, burnout and considerations leaving the profession. Spearman rank correlation (ρ) with bootstrapping was applied. In all instances, WAI 1 and WAI 2 correlated moderately, and to a similar degree, with the related constructs. Further, WAI 1 and 2 correlated with WAI moderately to strongly with ρ ranging from 0.72–0.76 (WAI 1) and 0.70–0.78 (WAI 2). Based on the findings and supported by theoretical and methodological considerations, the authors confirm the feasibility of the short measures WAI 1 and WAI 2 for replacing WAI at least in occupational health research and employee surveys.

Optimizing Employee Creativity in the Digital Era: Uncovering the Interactional Effects of Abilities, Motivations, and Opportunities

“…According to the AMO literature, in the multiple configurations of bundles of the three AMO dimensions, there are two main models of interactions: the combination model (i.e., motivational-or opportunity-enhancing practices that separately activate the positive influences of ability-enhancing practices on creative performance) and the multiplicative model (i.e., motivationalor opportunity-enhancing practices that jointly activate the positive influences of ability-enhancing practices on creative performance) [21]. Acknowledging ability-enhancing practices as a prerequisite for performance [22], the existing research suggests that the combination model indicates higher performance and the multiplicative model indicates the highest performance [23]. Thus, the two main models are applied in our conceptual framework to complement the interactional perspective on creativity by clarifying how personal predictors (i.e., ability-enhancing practices) leading to a higher or the highest level of employee creativity can be explained by different types of interplay among contextual predictors (i.e., motivation-and opportunity-enhancing practices).…”

Work profiles of older employees in Germany-results from the lidA-cohort study

“…This two-item scale, ranging from 2 (=no work ability) to 10 (=optimal work ability), assesses the estimation of one's own mental and physical work ability. It has been validated and recommended recently for the use in epidemiological studies [32].…”

Walking at work: Maximum gait speed is related to work ability in hospital nursing staff

“…The workability question was item 1 (WAS) from the WAI, which has been shown to be predictive of long-term sickness and absence 10 and feasible in occupational health research. 9 Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from the reported height and weight measurements. Due to the short time window to collect data, objective measurement of gait speed was prioritized.…”

“…This classification scheme is consistent with other studies. 9,14 For gait speed measures, they were stratified in tertiles for both conditions. Binomial proportion tests were utilized to determine level of significance between work ability groups.…”

“…7 It has been utilized in studying nursing populations. 8,9 Gait speed and work ability assess health status using different scales. Gait speed provides an objective measure of physical function and health at the moment of testing, while the WAI utilizes a respondent's overall perception of their own health and abilities.…”