Work Ability Index: Validation and Model Comparison of the Malaysian Work Ability Index (WAI)

Abstract

The study aimed to (1) measure the Work Ability of employees with disability; (2) assess the factor structure of different potential models of Work Ability Index (WAI) for employees with disability; and (3) identify the best factor structure of Work Ability Index for employees with disability in the Malaysian cultural context. Methods: Data was collected using the Work Ability Index (WAI) translated into Malay language. The study sample consisted of 275 employees with physical disability, from both public and private sectors across Malaysia. Descriptive statistics were calculated using IBM SPSS 20 to evaluate the score of each subscale and the cumulative index of Work Ability among employees with disability. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using IBM SPSS AMOS 21 to assess the factor structure of WAI and evaluate the validity of the proposed models for employees with disability. Results: The WAI scores were 29.5% poor, 35.3% moderate, 28.7% good and 6.5% excellent. In the validation process, a non-orthogonal two dimensional structure was identified. In this model of WAI, the subscales were attributed to two factors: (1) subjective Work Ability factor that consisted of subscales 1, 2 and 7; and (2) health-related Work Ability factor, comprised of subscales 3, 5, 4 and 6. These two factors were positively correlated, which indicates that employees with disability who exhibit positive subjective Work Ability tend to also report positive health-related Work Ability. Conclusion: This study has provided the first Malay version of WAI and has paved the way for future studies on work ability among employees with disability. The WAI translation has been validated among employees with disability and has shown adequate psychometric properties, thus making it

Analysis of the Return to Work Program for Disabled Workers during the Pandemic COVID-19 Using the Quality of Life and Work Ability Index: Cross-Sectional Study

“…According to the description in Figure 2 , the distribution score of the work ability index sets the majority of the data in the “good” category for a group of workers participating in the RTW program, which was between 37 and 44 [ 17 ]. Conversely, those who were disabled but did not participate in the RTW program showed a lower score of WAI.…”

“…Conversely, those who were disabled but did not participate in the RTW program showed a lower score of WAI. The use of WAI analysis among employees with disabilities in this research, which were practically in the same context as the study [ 17 , 18 ] of the work ability index in the population of people receiving state insurance, was accomplished.…”

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“…WAIQ is a widely used instrument all over the world ( 3 ). Its reliability and validity have been tested in various working populations so far ( 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ), including among nurses, where it proved to be a very predictive instrument ( 17 ).…”

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“…According to the description of figure 9, the distribution score of the work ability index sets the majority of the data in the "good" category for group of workers participated in the RTW program, which is between the numbers 37 and 44 104 . Conversely, those who got disabled but did not participate in the RTW program showed a lower score of WAI.…”

“…Conversely, those who got disabled but did not participate in the RTW program showed a lower score of WAI. The use of WAI analysis among employees with disabilities in this research, which were practically in the same context as the study 104,105 of work ability index in the population of people receiving state insurance, was accomplished.…”