The 11‐item workplace organizational policies and practices questionnaire (OPP‐11): examination of its construct validity, factor structure, and predictive validity in injured workers with upper‐limb disorders

BACKGROUND: Reliable and valid measurement of workplace organizational policies and practices (OPPs) is needed to evaluate their influences on the prevention and management of occupational injuries. METHODS: Injured workers (n = 614) attending an upper-limb specialty clinic operated by the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board of Ontario were recruited for a 1-year study. The OPP-11, completed at baseline, was examined for scaling properties (floor/ceiling effects, internal consistency, and item-convergent/discriminant validity), construct validity, and factor structure. Predictive validity for longitudinal work disability was examined using multivariable logistic regressions. RESULTS: Strong scaling properties were observed for the OPP-11. High internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.80-0.90) and expected associations with comparator constructs were evident. A 4-domain structure (fit statistics: CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.97, and RMSEA = 0.06) was supported. Higher OPP-11 predicted more favorable 12-month work disability outcomes, after adjusting for demographic and health attributes. CONCLUSIONS: The OPP-11 is valid for use in upper-limb disorders. Expanding the ergonomic practices domain could be considered.