scholarly journals The validation of the Utrecht work engagement scale for emergency medical technicians in Gauteng

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
JLP Naudé ◽  
S Rothmann

The objectives of this study were to validate the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for emergency medical technicians in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and to determine its construct equivalence and bias for different language groups. A cross-sectional survey design was used with a convenient sample (N = 318) of emergency medical technicians in Gauteng. The UWES and a biographical questionnaire were administered. A two-factor model of work engagement, consisting of Vigour/Dedication and Absorption was found. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed the construct equivalence of the work engagement construct for white and black employees.

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. P. Naudé ◽  
S. Rothmann

The objectives of this study were to validate the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) for emergency medical technicians in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and to determine its construct equivalence and bias for different race groups. A cross-sectional survey design with an accidental sample (N = 318) was used. The MBIHSS and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Evidence of uniform bias was found for one item of the MBIHSS. Exploratory factor analyses resulted in a 3-factor model of burnout, consisting of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and Personal Accomplishment. The scales showed acceptable internal consistencies. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed construct equivalence of scales for the White and Black groups. Opsomming Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was om die Maslach Uitbrandingsvraelys – Menslike Dienste-Opname (MBI-HSS) te valideer vir die Nood Mediese Tegnici in die Gauteng Provinsie van Suid-Afrika en om die konstrukekwivalensie en sydigheid daarvan vir die verskillende rassegroepe te bepaal. ’n Dwarssnee opname-ontwerp met ’n beskikbaarheidsteekproef (N = 318) is gebruik. Die MBI-HSS en ’n biografiese vraelys is afgeneem. Uniforme sydigheid is gevind vir een item van die MBI-HSS. Verkennende faktorontleding met teikenrotasies het geresulteer in ’n 3-faktormodel van uitbranding bestaande uit Emosionele Uitputting, Depersonalisasie en Persoonlike Bereiking. Die skale het aanvaarbare interne konsekwentheid getoon. Verkennende faktorontleding met teikenrotasies het die konstrukekwivalensie vir die drie faktore bevestig vir die Wit en Swart groepe.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (03) ◽  
pp. 288-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca E. Cash ◽  
Remle P. Crowe ◽  
Julie K. Bower ◽  
Randi E. Foraker ◽  
Ashish R. Panchal

AbstractBackground:Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals face high physical demands in high-stress settings; however, the prevalence of cardiovascular health (CVH) risk factors in this health care workforce has not been explored. The primary objective of this study was to compare the distribution of CVH and its individual components between a sample of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. The secondary objective was to identify associations between demographic and employment characteristics with ideal CVH in EMS professionals.Methods:A cross-sectional survey based on the American Heart Association’s (AHA; Dallas, Texas USA) Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) was administered to nationally-certified EMTs and paramedics. The LS7 components were scored according to previously described cut points (ideal = 2; intermediate = 1; poor = 0). A composite CVH score (0-10) was calculated from the component scores, excluding cholesterol and blood glucose due to missing data. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR; 95% CI) for demographic and employment characteristics associated with optimal CVH (≥7 points).Results:There were 24,708 respondents that were currently practicing and included. More EMTs achieved optimal CVH (n = 4,889; 48.8%) compared to paramedics (n = 4,338; 40.6%). Factors associated with higher odds of optimal CVH included: higher education level (eg, college graduate or more: OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.97-2.59); higher personal income (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17-1.37); and working in an urban versus rural area (OR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.23-1.40). Paramedic certification level (OR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.78-0.91), older age (eg, 50 years or older: OR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.58-0.73), male sex (OR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.50-0.56), working for a non-fire-based agency (eg, private service: OR = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.62-0.74), and providing medical transport service (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94) were associated with lower odds of optimal CVH.Conclusions:Several EMS-related characteristics were associated with lower odds of optimal CVH. Future studies should focus on better understanding the CVH and metabolic risk profiles for EMS professionals and their association with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD), major cardiac events, and occupational mortality.Cash RE, Crowe RP, Bower JK, Foraker RE, Panchal AR. Differences in cardiovascular health metrics in emergency medical technicians compared to paramedics: a crosssectional study of Emergency Medical Services professionals.Prehosp Disaster Med.2019;34(3):288–296.


CJEM ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (01) ◽  
pp. 44-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura M. Visentin ◽  
Susan J. Bondy ◽  
Brian Schwartz ◽  
Laurie J. Morrison

ABSTRACTObjective:We sought to assess the knowledge of, use of and barriers to the use of personal protective equipment for airway management among emergency medical technicians (EMTs) during and since the 2003 Canadian outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).Methods:Using a cross-sectional survey, EMTs in Toronto, Ont., were surveyed 1 year after the SARS outbreak during mandatory training on the use of personal protective equipment in airway management during the outbreak and just before taking the survey. Practices that were addressed reflected government directives on the use of this equipment. Main outcome measures included the frequency of personal protective equipment use and, as applicable, why particular items were not always used.Results:The response rate was 67.3% (n= 230). During the SARS outbreak, an N95-type particulate respirator was reported to bealwaysused by 91.5% of respondents. Conversely, 72.9% of the respondents reported that theyneverused the open face hood. Equipment availability and vision impairment were often cited as impediments to personal protective equipment use. In nonoutbreak conditions, only the antimicrobial airway filter was most often reported to bealwaysused (52.0%), while other items were used at an intermediate frequency. The most common reason for notalwaysdonning equipment was that paramedics deemed it unnecessary for the situation.Conclusion:Personal protective equipment is not consistently employed as per medical directives. Reasons given for nonuse included nonavailability, judgment of nonnecessity or technical difficulties. There are important public health implications of noncompliance.


2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Storm ◽  
S. Rothmann

The objectives of this research were to validate the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and to determine its construct equivalence and bias in different race groups. A cross-sectional survey design was used. Stratified random samples (N = 2396) were taken of police members of nine provinces in South Africa. The UWES and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Structural equation modelling confirmed a 3-factor model of work engagement, consisting of Vigour, Dedication and Absorption. These three factors have acceptable internal consistencies. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations showed equivalence of the three factors for different race groups in the SAPS. No evidence was found for uniform or non-uniform bias of the items of the UWES for different race groups. Opsomming Die doelstellings van hierdie navorsing was om die Utrecht- werksbegeesteringskaal (UWES) te valideer vir die Suid- Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) en die konstrukekwivalensie daarvan vir verskillende rassegroepe te bepaal. ’n Dwarssnee opname-ontwerp is gebruik. Gestratifiseerde ewekansige steekproewe (N = 2396) is van polisielede uit nege provinsies geneem. Die UWES en ’n biografiese vraelys is afgeneem. Strukturele vergelykingsmodellering het ’n 3-faktormodel, bestaande uit Energie, Toewyding en Absorpsie, aangetoon. Hierdie drie faktore het aanvaarbare interne konsekwentheid getoon. Eksploratiewe faktoranalise met teikenrotasies het konstrukekwivalensie vir die drie faktore vir verskillende rassegroepe in die SAPD getoon. Bewyse is nie gevind vir uniforme of nie-uniforme sydigheid van die items van die UWES vir verskillende rassegroepe nie.


2003 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. P. Naudé ◽  
S. Rothmann

The objectives of this study were to determine the construct validity, internal consistency, construct equivalence and item bias of the Emergency Worker Stress Inventory (EWSI) and to identify occupational stressors for emergency workers. A cross-sectional survey design was used. An accidental sample (N = 405) of emergency workers in Gauteng was used. The EWSI was developed as a measuring instrument and administered together with a biographical questionnaire. Three internally consistent stress factors, namely Lack of Resources, Job Demands and Inherent Emergency Work Stressors w ere extracted. Low structural equivalence regarding perceived stressors was detected for the Nguni-language group. No practically significant differences were found between occupational stressors of emergency workers in different positions and language groups. Opsomming Die doelstellings van hierdie navorsing was om die konstrukgeldigheid, interne konsekwentheid, konstrukekwivalensie en itemsydigheid van die Nooddienswerker Stresvraelys (NWSV) te bepaal en beroepstressore vir nooddienswerkers te identifiseer. ’n Dwarssnee opname-ontwerp is gebruik. Die studiepopulasie is met behulp van ’n beskikbaarheidsteekproef (N = 405) van nooddienswerkers in Gauteng verkry. Die NWSV is ontwikkel vir die studie en saam met ’n biografiese vraelys afgeneem. Drie interne konsekwente stresfaktore, naamlik Tekort aan Hulpbronne, Poseise en Inherente Nooddiens Stressore is onttrek. Lae konstrukekwivalensie is ten opsigte van waargenome stressore vir die Nguni taalgroep gevind. Geen prakties betekenisvolle verskille is tussen die beroepstressore van nooddienswerkers in verskillende posisies en taalgroepe gevind nie.


2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Coetzer ◽  
S Rothmann

The objectives of this study were to validate two measures of affective well-being, namely the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) for employees in an insurance company, to assess their construct equivalence for different language groups and to determine the relationship between burnout and work engagement. A cross-sectional survey design with an availability sample (N = 613) was used. The MBI, UWES and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Structural equation modelling confirmed a three-factor model of burnout, consisting of Exhaustion, Cynicism and Professional Efficacy and a three-factor model of work engagement consisting of Vigour, Dedication and Absorption. Acceptable construct equivalence of the three-factor model of burnout and work engagement for different language groups was confirmed. A second-order factor analysis of the scales resulted in two factors, namely burnout and work engagement.


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remya Lathabhavan ◽  
Senthil Arasu Balasubramanian ◽  
Thamaraiselvan Natarajan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the psychometric properties of different versions of Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) in the Indian context in terms of factorial validity, scale reliability, descriptive statistics and construct validity. Design/methodology/approach The data collected through a cross-sectional survey among 467 women employees from banking sector in India and structural equation modeling has been performed for the analysis. Findings Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a better fit for the three-factor model of UWES-9 than the other versions. Work engagement is positively related to in-role performance and negatively related to turnover intention. Research limitations/implications The study recommends further longitudinal studies in this area. Practical implications More studies and practical investigations can be conducted in organizations, academics and societies since the current study explored the appropriate version of UWES in the Indian context. Originality/value This is a key study which analyses psychometric properties of UWES in Indian banking sector by considering all its versions.


Author(s):  
Palesa Mpkhine ◽  
Ita Geyser

The demographic influences affecting the wellbeing of front of house (FoH) female employees who are employed in hotels. The work engagement subscales, vigour, dedication and absorption were measured against the participants’ age, level of education and marital status. A cross-sectional survey was done from a sample (n = 100) of female participants. A biographical questionnaire and The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) were administered. Significant relationships were found on the vigour, dedication and absorption subscales. FoH female employees younger than 35, those with tertiary education and those without life partners displayed higher levels of wellbeing. Therefore work engagement levels vary with regards to age, marital and educational status. Human resource specialists for hotels could measure work engagement and apply it through in-house policies and supportive practices as well as defend these practices regarding their FOH female employees as female employees are the majority of employees within the hospitality industry. The workforce in South Africa is characterized by demographic diversity. The variances of work engagement are imperative as it enhances the guest experience and improves productivity and ultimately increases financial turnover for the hotels who operate in a very competitive market.


Author(s):  
Anita Sandmeier ◽  
Debbie Mandel

Zusammenfassung. Die Forschung zu Beanspruchung im Lehrberuf ist nach wie vor stark auf negative Auswirkungen wie Stress, Erschöpfung und Burnout fokussiert. Um ein vollständiges Bild zu erhalten, müssen auch die positiven Aspekte von Beanspruchung analysiert werden. Dafür bietet sich ein Konstrukt an, das sich in der internationalen arbeits- und organisationspsychologischen Forschung in den vergangenen Jahren durchgesetzt und in verschiedenen Berufsfeldern und nationalen Kontexten bewährt hat: Arbeitsengagement, gemessen mit der Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES). Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert die deutschsprachige Version der 9-Item Version der UWES an einer Stichprobe von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern ( N = 162) im Vergleich mit Personen aus intellektuell-forschenden Berufen ( N = 195). Konfirmatorische Mehrgruppen-Faktoranalysen zeigten, dass die UWES-9 über beide Berufsgruppen hinweg messinvariant ist. Die latente Mittelwertsanalyse ergab, dass die Lehrerinnen und Lehrer in Bezug auf das Arbeitsengagement besser abschneiden als die Fachkräfte der anderen Gruppe. Dabei hängt das Arbeitsengagement in beiden Gruppen wie erwartet positiv mit affektivem organisationalem Commitment und negativ mit der Kündigungsabsicht zusammen, was die Validität der deutschen Version des Tests belegt. Vor dem Hintergrund dieser Erkenntnisse wird am Schluss des Beitrags das Potenzial des Konstrukts für die Erforschung der positiven Beanspruchung im Lehrberuf diskutiert.


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