Validation of the Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 in workers

Abstract

Background We set out to investigate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the CDC core healthy day measures assessing health‐related quality of life (CDC HRQOL‐4) in Japanese workers. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 1360 Japanese workers of one Japanese company located in Kyushu. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to evaluate the internal consistency of CDC HRQOL‐4 items. The concurrent validity was tested by assessing whether the CDC HRQOL‐4 items correlated well with the corresponding domains of the SF‐8 and the overall WFun score. The construct validity was tested by assessing the ability of the CDC HRQOL‐4 to discriminate groups with and without any current disease, pain, mental problem, and sleeping disorder. Results Cronbach's alpha for three of the four CDC HRQOL‐4 items was 0.80, which is greater than the minimal standard (0.70) recommended for internal consistency reliability. Correlation coefficients ranging from 0.25 to 0.67 were obtained between CDC HRQOL‐4 items and the SF‐8 domains and WFun score. Workers with any current disease, mental problem, pain or sleeping disorder reported higher numbers of unhealthy days, and a higher odd of poor health than those without such problems. Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL‐4 shows a good concurrent validity with the SF‐8 and the WFun tool and good construct validity among Japanese workers in the current study. Conclusions Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL‐4 is a reliable and valid instrument that may be used to assess overall health and physically and mentally unhealthy days in Japanese workers.

Protocol for a nationwide Internet-based health survey in workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020

“…Psychosocial conditions were examined through assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), K6[15], and loneliness. HRQOL was measured using the CDC HRQOL-4[16,17], which was originally developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health-related items included medical history, treatment interruptions, back pain, and stiff shoulders.…”

A Cross-sectional Study on Perceived Workplace Health Support and Health-Related Quality of Life

“…A Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 has also been developed, and several previous studies have been conducted on Japanese workers using the same. 15,16 Previous studies have reported that the Japanese version of the HRQOL shows good concurrent validity with the Short Form-8 (SF-8 Form), a widely used indicator of HRQOL in Japan and the work functioning impairment scale (WFun), an indicator of the worker’s functional disability at work due to health problems which has good construct validity among Japanese workers. 15 The forward translations were reconciled.…”

“…15,16 Previous studies have reported that the Japanese version of the HRQOL shows good concurrent validity with the Short Form-8 (SF-8 Form), a widely used indicator of HRQOL in Japan and the work functioning impairment scale (WFun), an indicator of the worker’s functional disability at work due to health problems which has good construct validity among Japanese workers. 15 The forward translations were reconciled. After that, the back translation was performed by a native English-speaking researcher to ensure the equivalence between the original English version and the Japanese translated version.…”

A cross-sectional study of the relationship between exercise, physical activity, and health-related quality of life among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Self-rated health was recorded as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor [19]. We used the Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 developed by Japanese epidemiologists and occupational physicians [17].…”

“…In 2020, the Japanese version of the CDC HRQOL-4 was developed, and evaluated for its reliability and validity for use with workers [16]. Furthermore, because the CDC HRQOL-4 was found to be associated with indicators of work functioning impairment [17], the measurement of HRQOL is helpful for both health and labor-management assessment of workers.…”