Development of the Workplace Work Environment Ergonomics Scale for Nurses

Abstract

This study aimed to design and validate a comprehensive scale to assess ergonomic risks in the work environment for nurses. The instrument includes five subscales: Work Area Ergonomic Risks, Occupational Health and Safety, Ergonomic Risks Related to Medical Devices, Cognitive Ergonomic Risks, and Environmental Ergonomic Risks. The development process involved expert opinions for content validity and a pilot study for surface validity, leading to a 32-item draft. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a 5-factor structure, explaining 77.804% of total variance. Items with factor loadings below 0.30 were removed, resulting in a final 28-item scale. The Cronbach's alpha for the scale was found to be 0.922, indicating high internal consistency. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the 5-factor structure. These findings suggest that the Workplace Ergonomics Scale for Nurses is a valid and reliable tool that can aid in identifying ergonomic risks in nursing work environments. By using this instrument, healthcare organizations can implement targeted strategies to improve workplace conditions and enhance the well-being of their nursing staff. Future research should aim to verify the scale's applicability in different countries and healthcare settings.