Work and Health Questionnaire (WHQ): A Screening Tool for Identifying Injured Workers at Risk for a Complicated...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychometrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Unintentional injuries frequently lead to disabilities and significant costs.
• Early identification of vulnerable injured workers is crucial for effective management and compensation.
• The Work and Health Questionnaire (WHQ) is a tool used by the Swiss Accident Insurance Fund (Suva).

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Work and Health Questionnaire (WHQ) as a screening tool.
• To demonstrate the prognostic value of the WHQ in identifying workers at risk of complicated recovery.
• To evaluate the psychometric properties and clinical utility of the WHQ.

Main Methods:

• 1963 injured workers with minor to moderate injuries completed the WHQ within 3 months post-accident.
• Factorial analyses assessed construct validity; hierarchical multiple regression analyzed prognostic validity for work disability.
• Well-being and job satisfaction were evaluated at 18 months in a subsample.

Main Results:

• Factor analyses supported five underlying factors: Job Design, Work Support, Job Strain, Somatic Condition/Pain, and Anxiety/Worries.
• The WHQ subscales demonstrated moderate correlations, indicating distinct measurement of psychosocial risk factors.
• Each subscale predicted at least one outcome 18 months post-injury, showing prognostic value.

Conclusions:

• The WHQ exhibits strong psychometric qualities and clinical utility for identifying injured workers with multiple psychosocial risk factors.
• The questionnaire is suitable for assessing diverse rehabilitation needs in individuals with minor to moderate injuries.
• Early screening with the WHQ can facilitate targeted interventions and improve recovery trajectories.