Affiliations: MEDTAP International, Seattle WA, USA | Exponent, Alexandria, VA, USA | MEDTAP International, Bethesda, MD, USA | GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Michael T. Halpern, M.D., Ph.D., Exponent,
Inc., 1800 Diagonal Rd., Suite 355, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. Tel.: +1 571 431
7214; Fax: +1 571 431 7269; E-mail: mhalpern@exponent.com
Abstract: Background. Workplace productivity evaluations often involve
subjective assessments. This study was performed to develop and validate a new
multidimensional instrument, the Health and Work Questionnaire (HWQ), for
measuring workplace productivity and worker heath. Methods. In a prospective, non-randomized study, objective and
subjective workplace productivity (measured with the HWQ) was assessed among 96
current, 94 former, and 104 non-smoking volunteer reservation agents at a
US-based international airline. Results. Six HWQ sub-scales were identified from factor analyses:
productivity, concentration/focus, supervisor relations,
impatience/irritability, work satisfaction, and non-work satisfaction.
Non-smokers (individuals who had never smoked) had higher scores on all scales.
The HWQ scale scores all correlated significantly with the objective measure
"Time Lost"; two of the scales correlated significantly with the summary
objective performance measure. Magnitudes of the significant correlations were
modest (0.12 to 0.22). Conclusions. The HWQ may be useful for evaluating the impact of
interventions on workplace productivity. Additional validation research on the
HWQ is recommended before use as a primary measure in studies of worker
productivity.
