Measures of perceived work characteristics for health services research: Test of a measurement model and normative data

Objectives. The aim of this paper is to describe che development and refine ment of nine measures of perceived work characteristics for use in studies of the psychological wellbeing of health services employees. The constructs measured are: autonomy/control, feedback, influence, leader support, profe ssional compromise, role clarity, role conflict, peer support and work dema nds. Design. The study was a large scale cross-sectional survey. Methods. National Health Service Trust staff were selected from seven major occupational groups (nurses, doctors, administrative staff, managers, prof essions allied to medicine, professional and technical staff, and ancillary staff) within a sample of Trusts chosen to be representative of those in E ngland. Questionnaires incorporating the scale items were completed by over 9,000 staff. The hr with the a priori nine-dimensional measurement model w as tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Scale internal reliabilities and norms were calculated, and aspects of construct validity were examined. Results. The findings show a good fit to the measurement model for the samp le as a whole and across occupational groups. All the scales exhibit accept able internal reliabilities; and normative data is provided for all seven o ccupations (with norms for more specific job categories available on reques t). Analyses suggest good construct validity, showing the scales discrimina te as anticipated across occupational groups and job categories, and they h ave the expected relationships with jot, satisfaction and psychological str ain. Conclusions. The measures developed are usable for research purposes across the major occupational groups, with the possible exception of ancillary st aff. Further work is desirable to confirm the measurement properties and ex tend the normative database.