The Work Organisation Assessment Questionnaire: validation for use with community nurses and paramedics

The current study aimed to assess the suitability of the Work Organisation Assessment Questionnaire (WOAQ) for use in the healthcare sector, specifically for community nurses and paramedics. Community nurses and paramedics work in complex environments and are exposed to a range of psychosocial hazards linked with the development of musculoskeletal and mental health disorders. To reduce the incidence of these disorders, assessment and then control of psychosocial hazards is required. WOAQ addresses this need through an employee survey to identify key hazards, with the responses used to underpin a participative development of solutions.

Using a bifactor model, the WOAQ and five nested factors were cross validated using a sample of 1255 community nurses and paramedics using data collected in 2011 and 2012.

The results of metric invariance testing demonstrated that the WOAQ is a valid tool across health organizations. Full invariance testing at mean constructs level also showed strong support of validity of the 'general score' of the WOAQ. However, minor mean differences were found between two nested factors (workload issues and the relationships with the coworkers).

The WOAQ is a valid assessment tool for application within the nursing and paramedic settings. Practical implications for these findings in healthcare settings are discussed.