Affiliations: Department of Health Sciences, Community and
Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of
Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands | Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ON,
Canada | University of Texas School of Public Health, Health
Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: F.I. Abma, MSc, Department of Health
Sciences, Work and Health, University Medical Center Groningen, University of
Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, FA10, Room 610, 9713 AV Groningen, The
Netherlands. Tel.: +3150 3638920; Fax: +3150 3636251; E-mail:
f.i.abma@umcg.nl
Abstract: Objective: The study objectives were to perform a cross-cultural
adaptation of the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire, a health-related work
outcome measure, into Dutch and to assess the questionnaire's reliability and
validity in the Dutch context (WRFQ-DV). Participants: 40 workers with a health problem (duration > one
month). Methods: The WRFQ translation and adaptation were conducted using a
systematic approach with the following steps: forward translation, synthesis,
back-translation, consolidation of translations with expert committee, and
pre-testing. To evaluate the comprehensibility, usability, applicability and
completeness of the translated questionnaire, a total of 40 interviews with
workers with a health problem were performed. Results: The questionnaire translation was conducted without major
difficulties. During the process, questionnaire instructions were modified and
5 items reformulated based on the participants' responses. Participants were
positive on the comprehensibility, usability, applicability and completeness of
the questionnaire, and also made suggestions for the further development of the
WRFQ-DV. Furthermore, the study shows promising results concerning the
psychometric properties of the WRFQ-DV (e.g. Cronbach's alphas for the
subscales between 0.70 and 0.91, and good content validity). Conclusions: The results indicate that the cross-cultural adaptation
of the WRFQ-DV was successful and that the psychometric properties of the
translated version are promising.
Keywords: Psychometrics, validation, work outcome measure, health condition
