The Work-Related Quality of Life scale for healthcare workers.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study to develop and test the psychometric properties of the Work-Related Quality of Life scale for healthcare workers.


BACKGROUND
As problems associated with stress and job satisfaction are evident for healthcare workers and nurses, a reliable tool to assess employees' quality of working life is required. However, previous research has produced inconsistent factor structures and inadequate psychometric properties for a range of quality of working life measures. This new scale expands the concept of quality of working life by incorporating a broad six-factor structure derived from a theoretical review of the field.


METHODS
We used data from a 2003 survey of 953 healthcare workers. Eighty-six per cent of the sample is female and 36% had been employed by the organization for 1-5 years. Approximately 50% of workers were employed full-time.


RESULTS
Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis using split-half data sets produced a good fit and a reliable 23-item, six-factor measurement model of Work-Related Quality of Life. The factors generated were labelled: Job and Career Satisfaction, General Well-Being, Home-Work Interface, Stress at Work, Control at Work and Working Conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The Work-Related Quality of Life measure is one of the most succinct yet psychometrically valid and reliable Quality of Working Life scales in the literature. We propose that it can appropriately be used in healthcare organizations to assess quality of working life. Further research is required to refine the instrument and assess its applicability to other areas.
Van Laar
Darren
D
Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.
Edwards
Julian A
JA
Easton
Simon
S
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*