The Working in Healthcare Questionnaire: collaboration and support in clinical working as a means of quality improvement and creasing person-centered care

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Published: Sep 11, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5750/ijpcm.v2i3.257
Keywords:
Collaborative working healthcare staff maternity care person-centered care quality improvement WHQ

Main Article Content

Margaret Redshaw
National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford,
Colin R. Martin
School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, University of the West of Scotland, UK

Abstract

Objective: To test the validity, reliability and discriminating capacity of an instrument to measure support, collaboration and communication in clinical working.Study setting: National Health Service organisations providing maternity care in England.Design: Validation study. Participants: Health professionals working in maternity care (177 doctors and 1991 midwives). Data collection: On-line questionnaire in organisations providing maternity care in 2007.Main outcome measure: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identifying factors making up the Working in Healthcare measure (WHQ)Principal findings: Marked differences were found between the professional groups in their perceptions of the working environment: medical staff were more likely to feel supported and engaged and midwifery staff less likely to be positive about collaborative working. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a two factor structure for the Working in Healthcare Questionnaire (WHQ) with a 9-item version of the measure. Two factors represented by sub-scales ‘support and encouragement’ and ‘communication in practice’, were supported by confirmatory factor analysis.Conclusion: The study shows that the WHQ-9 is a valid, reliable and discriminating self-report measure of clinical working, reflecting the work experience and perceptions of healthcare staff, which could be used to monitor change over time and to support quality improvement and person-centered care.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2012): September
Section
Health Profession Issues

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