Measures and Measurement Tools for Studying Total Worker Health® (June 2025)-Measures and Measurement Tools for Studying Total Worker Health®

Measures and Measurement Tools for Studying Total Worker Health®

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The study conducted by Julianne Payne et al. focuses on identifying survey, interview, and observational measures and tools to assess constructs related to Total Worker Health (TWH). TWH is a comprehensive approach introduced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in 2011, aimed at promoting worker health, safety, and well-being through integrated policies, programs, and practices. The researchers carried out a scoping review to explore existing measures and tools, drawing from a variety of sources such as peer-reviewed articles and websites associated with TWH. <br /><br />The review led to the identification of 102 measures and tools that cover workplace health, safety, and well-being outcomes. The majority of these measures focus on work conditions and employee outcomes. However, 10 tools lacked evidence of psychometric evaluation, bringing to light the importance of further validating these instruments to enhance their credibility and effectiveness.<br /><br />The study also highlighted key constructs and the need for consensus measures—standardized approaches that facilitate cross-study comparisons and data integration. The authors noted that while most measures and tools were publicly accessible and covered a comprehensive range of topics, some areas—such as enterprise outcomes beyond productivity—lacked sufficient measurement tools. <br /><br />Challenges were noted in tool length, with some instruments containing excessive items, contributing to participant burden. The need for concise tools and culturally tailored measures was emphasized to ensure relevance across diverse occupational sectors and demographies. Comprehensive assessments using qualitative or observational approaches remain underrepresented in TWH studies. <br /><br />Future work as proposed by the authors includes designing an interactive repository of measures and tools to assist researchers and practitioners in selecting appropriate instruments for their studies, moving towards a unified approach in TWH research.

Keywords

Total Worker Health

occupational safety

worker well-being

psychometric evaluation

scoping review

survey measures

interview tools

observational measures

consensus measures

culturally tailored