TY - JOUR
T1 - Validity and Reliability of the Upper Extremity Work Demands Scale
AU - Jacobs, Nora W.
AU - Berduszek, Redmar J.
AU - Dijkstra, Pieter U.
AU - van der Sluis, Corry K.
PY - 2017/12
Y1 - 2017/12
N2 - Purpose: To evaluate validity and reliability of the upper extremity work demands (UEWD) scale. Methods: Participants from different levels of physical work demands, based on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles categories, were included. A historical database of 74 workers was added for factor analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated by comparing observed and self-reported UEWD scores. To assess structural validity, a factor analysis was executed. For reliability, the difference between two self-reported UEWD scores, the smallest detectable change (SDC), test-retest reliability and internal consistency were determined. Results: Fifty-four participants were observed at work and 51 of them filled in the UEWD twice with a mean interval of 16.6 days (SD 3.3, range = 10-25 days). Criterion validity of the UEWD scale was moderate (r = .44, p = .001). Factor analysis revealed that 'force and posture' and 'repetition' subscales could be distinguished with Cronbach's alpha of .79 and .84, respectively. Reliability was good; there was no significant difference between repeated measurements. An SDC of 5.0 was found. Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement = .84) and all item-total correlations were >.30. There were two pairs of highly related items. Conclusion: Reliability of the UEWD scale was good, but criterion validity was moderate. Based on current results, a modified UEWD scale (2 items removed, 1 item reworded, divided into 2 subscales) was proposed. Since observation appeared to be an inappropriate gold standard, we advise to investigate other types of validity, such as construct validity, in further research.
AB - Purpose: To evaluate validity and reliability of the upper extremity work demands (UEWD) scale. Methods: Participants from different levels of physical work demands, based on the Dictionary of Occupational Titles categories, were included. A historical database of 74 workers was added for factor analysis. Criterion validity was evaluated by comparing observed and self-reported UEWD scores. To assess structural validity, a factor analysis was executed. For reliability, the difference between two self-reported UEWD scores, the smallest detectable change (SDC), test-retest reliability and internal consistency were determined. Results: Fifty-four participants were observed at work and 51 of them filled in the UEWD twice with a mean interval of 16.6 days (SD 3.3, range = 10-25 days). Criterion validity of the UEWD scale was moderate (r = .44, p = .001). Factor analysis revealed that 'force and posture' and 'repetition' subscales could be distinguished with Cronbach's alpha of .79 and .84, respectively. Reliability was good; there was no significant difference between repeated measurements. An SDC of 5.0 was found. Test-retest reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement = .84) and all item-total correlations were >.30. There were two pairs of highly related items. Conclusion: Reliability of the UEWD scale was good, but criterion validity was moderate. Based on current results, a modified UEWD scale (2 items removed, 1 item reworded, divided into 2 subscales) was proposed. Since observation appeared to be an inappropriate gold standard, we advise to investigate other types of validity, such as construct validity, in further research.
KW - Work
KW - Occupational exposure
KW - Upper extremity
KW - Self report
KW - Reproducibility of results
KW - UPPER-LIMB DISORDERS
KW - EXPLORATORY FACTOR-ANALYSIS
KW - RISK-FACTORS
KW - ASSESSING AGREEMENT
KW - POPULATION
KW - REPRODUCIBILITY
KW - QUESTIONNAIRE
KW - PREDICTORS
KW - EXPOSURES
KW - OUTCOMES
U2 - 10.1007/s10926-016-9683-9
DO - 10.1007/s10926-016-9683-9
M3 - Article
VL - 27
SP - 520
EP - 529
JO - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
SN - 1053-0487
IS - 4
ER -