Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Physical Workload Questionnaire

Although it is necessary to regularly record and assess physical workloads in a workplace to prevent work-related musculoskeletal disorders, there is no easy to use, valid and reliable questionnaire such as the Physical Workload Questionnaire (PWQ) in Turkish.

To linguistically and culturally adapt the PWQ into Turkish, and to examine the validity and reliability of this adapted version.

One hundred twenty-six participants were recruited. All participants filled in the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. To determine test-retest reliability, all participants filled in the PWQ after a time interval of one week.

There was a significant difference in the PWQ indices between the participants with an occupation requires less vs. higher workload (p < 0.05). The PWQ index was significantly correlated with the proximal musculoskeletal symptoms (ρ= 0.301, p < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with distal musculoskeletal symptoms (ρ= 0.121, p > 0.05). The PWQ index was significantly correlated with the ODI (ρ= 0.193, p < 0.05). The internal consistency of the PWQ was excellent (α= 0.865) and item-total correlations were acceptable. Test-retest reliability was high (ICC = 0.865).

The PWQ is the unique valid and reliable questionnaire available in Turkish for assessing physical workload due to body posture and strenuous effort during work.