As work environments become more complex and demanding, organizations are becoming more interested in measuring the impact of their human resource development programs and initiatives. With this increased attention on data and measurement, human resource professionals have been encouraged to utilize data collection and data analysis techniques to make more objective and rationale human capital decisions and to verify business impact. As a result, the human resource profession has seen a significant increase in the use of surveys to measure anything from training effectiveness to the efficacy of recruitment procedures. The increase in the use of survey instruments requires that more focused attention is placed on the reliability and validity of data from any instrument used to make important human resource and business decisions. One instrument that is currently being used to measure career plateaus and job fit is the Work Perceptions Profile. The purpose of this research study was to conduct a construct validity analysis of the Work Perceptions Profile data and to determine the factor structure of data from its items. The data in this analysis supported a two-factor model structure with the first factor measuring Work Characteristics and a second factor measuring Performance. The results of this analysis will be helpful in exploring further how employees perceive their work place, their careers and their relationships with others within the organization.

Li, Tsz Wai Gloria. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 34-40). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendix in Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Table of Content --- p.V / Lists of figures --- p.vii / Lists of tables --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Background of Work Engagement --- p.2 / Work Engagement and JD-R Model --- p.2 / Personal Resources and JD-R Model --- p.4 / Buffering Effects of Job and Personal Resources --- p.6 / Work Engagement and Employee Performance --- p.7 / Chapter CHAPTER 2. --- METHOD --- p.10 / Sample and Procedure --- p.10 / Instruments --- p.11 / Analysis Strategies --- p.13 / Chapter CHAPTER 3. --- RESULTS --- p.15 / Descriptive Analyses --- p.15 / Confirmatory Factor Analyses --- p.17 / Hypotheses Testing --- p.17 / Chapter CHAPTER 4. --- DISCUSSION --- p.23 / Main Effects of Job Demands and Job Resources --- p.23 / Job Demands as Eustress --- p.24 / Resources as Enhancers --- p.26 / Linking Antecedents to Job Performance: The Role of Work Engagement --- p.27 / Chapter CHAPTER 5. --- PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS --- p.30 / Chapter CHAPTER 6. --- LIMITATIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH --- p.32 / References --- p.34 / Appendix --- p.41

Wen, Shanshan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-54). / Abstracts and appendix in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Problem Statement --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Research Questions --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of Subsequent Chapters --- p.4 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Theoretical Framework --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Dirty Work in Organizations --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Stigma and Its Impact --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3 --- Perceived Physical Work Dirtiness and Its Impact on Dirty Workers --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4 --- Coping Strategies for Identity Threat due to Stigma --- p.11 / Chapter 2.5 --- Social Comparison and Its Impacts --- p.12 / Chapter 2.6 --- Individual Differences in Social Comparison --- p.15 / Chapter 2.7 --- Hypothesis Development --- p.16 / FIGURE 1 Hypothesized effects on Job Satisfaction --- p.25 / FIGURE 2 Hypothesized effects on Occupational Identification --- p.25 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Methods --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Participants and Procedures --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2 --- Measures --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- Control Variables --- p.32 / TABLE 1 Demographic Characteristics of Participants --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Analytical Tools --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter4: --- Results --- p.35 / "TABLE 2 Means, Standard Deviations, and Correlations" --- p.38 / TABLE 3 Multiple Regression Analysis on Job Satisfaction --- p.39 / TABLE 4 Multiple Regression Analysis on Occupational Identification --- p.40 / FIGURE 3 Variance of Perceived Physical Work Dirtiness --- p.41 / FIGURE 4 Moderating Effect of Upward comparison Orientation --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Discussion --- p.42 / Chapter 5.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.42 / Chapter 5.2 --- Contributions --- p.43 / Chapter 5.3 --- Limitations --- p.44 / Chapter 5.4 --- Practical Implications --- p.45 / References --- p.46 / APPENDIX A Questionnaire (English Version) --- p.55 / APPENDIX B Questionnaire (Chinese Version) --- p.59

A literatura indica que os profissionais de enfermagem possuem alto risco de adquirir doenças osteomusculares devido aos problemas ergonômicos e posturais presentes na rotina hospitalar. A satisfação no trabalho é considerada um dos indicadores de qualidade de vida e pode influenciar na saúde física e mental do trabalhador. A dor no ombro em profissionais de enfermagem, apesar de menos comum que a dor lombar, é uma importante causa de morbidade, podendo acarretar limitação das atividades diárias e ocupacionais e interferir na qualidade de vida. Dentre as patologias do ombro, a desordem do manguito rotador é a patologia mais comum, e tratamentos conservadores ou cirúrgicos podem ser indicados. O tratamento fisioterapêutico tem-se mostrado uma importante ferramenta na reabilitação dos sujeitos com distúrbios do manguito rotador. Os objetivos deste estudo foram comparar o efeito da aplicação de dois programas fisioterapêuticos diferenciados pelos exercícios de propriocepção, em trabalhadores de enfermagem com desordem do manguito rotador, segundo indicadores de qualidade de vida e satisfação no trabalho. Trata-se de um estudo experimental, randomizado, prospectivo e comparativo, com análise quantitativa dos dados. A coleta de dados foi realizada, no período de junho de 2010 a julho de 2011, por meio da aplicação de um questionário contendo informações sociodemográficas, profissionais e relativas à fisiopatologia do ombro, por um instrumento de qualidade de vida (The Western Ontário Rotador Cuff Index - WORC) e pela Escala de Satisfação no Trabalho (Occupational Stress Indicator - OSI). A partir da randomização, os sujeitos foram alocados em dois grupos. No Grupo 1 (controle), foram aplicados exercícios de alongamento, fortalecimento e crioterapia. No Grupo 2 (experimental), foram realizados os mesmos exercícios que no Grupo 1 acrescidos de exercícios de propriocepção. Os dados foram analisados por meio do Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) versão 16.0 for Windows. Após a aplicação dos programas fisioterapêuticos, foi verificado que houve melhora significativa da dor nos sujeitos dos dois grupos e melhora significativa da qualidade de vida nos trabalhadores do Grupo 2. A prescrição de exercícios proprioceptivos tem se mostrado importante no tratamento dos distúrbios osteomusculares, no entanto, os resultados não permitem inferir a melhor efetividade dos exercícios de propriocepção, pois não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Em relação à satisfação no trabalho, não houve alteração dos indicadores de satisfação, após aplicação dos tratamentos fisioterapêuticos nos dois grupos. Estudos clínicos de maior valor amostral são necessários para dar continuidade às pesquisas referentes ao tratamento fisioterapêutico a portadores de desordens de manguito rotador, com vistas à melhoria da qualidade de vida dos trabalhadores de enfermagem. / The literature indicates that nursing professionals possess high risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to ergonomical or postural problems which are present within the hospital routine. Work satisfaction is considered one of the indicators of quality of life and can influence the physical and mental wellbeing of workers. Shoulder pain in nursing professionals, although less common than low back pain, is an important cause of morbidity, and may lead to limitations in occupational and daily activities and consequently interfere with quality of life. Among the various shoulder pathologies, rotator cuff disorders are the most common and conservative or surgical treatment can be indicated. Physical therapy treatment has been proven to be a fundamental tool in the rehabilitation of persons with rotator cuff disorders. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two physical therapy programs which differed in the proprioceptive exercises utilized on the nursing professionals with rotator cuff disorder, according to quality of life and work satisfaction indicators. This study was an experimental, randomized, prospective, and comparative trial, with quantitative analysis of the data. The data sampling was realized between the months of June 2010 and July 2011, by means of a questionnaire containing socio-demographic and professional information, the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff Index (WORC), and the Occupational Stress Indicator (OSI). Based on randomization, the subjects were divided into two groups. Group 1 (control) was submitted to stretching and strengthening exercises, and cryotherapy. Group 2 (experimental) was treated with the same protocol as group control, with the addition of proprioception exercises. The data was analyzed by means of the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0 for Windows. After physical therapy intervention, significant reduction in pain levels occurred in both groups, with a significant improvement in quality of life for Group 2. The utilization of proprioceptive exercises was shown to be important in musculoskeletal care; however, the results do not permit the researchers to infer the influence of these exercises since no significant differences were seen between groups. In relation to work satisfaction, no changes were observed in the satisfaction indicators after the two types of physical therapy interventions. Other clinical trials with greater samples are needed in order to give continuity to research regarding physical therapy care for patients with rotator cuff disorder while aiming toward an improvement in the quality of life of nursing professionals.

Data pertaining to stress and job satisfaction of faculty at five Tennessee Board of Regents community colleges in east Tennessee were collected and analyzed in this study. Questionnaires were distributed to all full-time faculty at the colleges, with 51.3% returned. Questionnaires consisted of a socio-demographic survey, the Faculty Stress Index (FSI) to measure stress levels, and the Job Descriptive Index (JDI) to measure job satisfaction. Of those responding, 92.4% were white, 76.5% were married, 61.2% were female, 58.9% were tenured, and 81.3% were 40 or older, with 52.2% over 50. Only 1.9% were 30 or younger, but 51.1% had been in their current positions for six years or less. A total of 72.4% were assistant (22.9%) or associate (49.5%) professors, with 19.2% ranking as instructors and 8.4% as professors. Previous factor analysis of FSI items determined the dimensions Reward/Recognition, Time Constraints, Departmental Influence, and Student Interaction. In this study, faculty FSI scores implied low stress levels in Reward/Recognition and Departmental Influence, with moderate levels in Time Constraints and Student Interaction. Those in position for less than three years, non-whites, and non-tenured faculty reported significantly less stress in Student Interaction. Tenured faculty and associate professors were significantly more pressured by Time Constraints than non-tenured or other-ranked faculty. The JDI consisted of six sub-scales: Work on Job, Pay, Opportunities for Promotion, Supervision, People on Job, and Job in General. Respondents indicated high satisfaction in Work, Supervision, People, and Job in General but showed dissatisfaction with Pay. Negative feelings were measured in Opportunities for Promotion, with significantly less satisfaction for older, more experienced, tenured faculty, and associate professors. Non-tenured faculty members were significantly more satisfied in Work and Supervision than were tenured respondents. Correlation analysis showed significant inverse relationships among all FSI dimensions and JDI sub-scales. In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, FSI dimensions were significant predictors of satisfaction in all JDI sub-scales, whereas the socio-demographic variables were significant predictors only for Opportunities for Promotion. Recommended were longitudinal studies of stress and satisfaction among specific groups and/or colleges. Encouraged were stress management programs and improved systems of reward and recognition for faculty.

The proposed dually licensed advanced dental therapy program, a graduate level curriculum created by the American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA) encompassing both dental hygiene and basic restorative procedures, creates an innovative career path in dental hygiene and increases the standing of the dental hygienist from an auxiliary role to an independent midlevel dental practitioner. Data were gathered via an online anonymous survey tool from Massachusetts registered dental hygienists to assess support of this proposed curriculum by practicing hygienists. Eighty-seven percent of survey respondents are in agreement that the scope of dental hygiene responsibilities should increase with level of education, and that the inclusion of limited restorative procedures should generate independent midlevel dental practitioner status.

As the nation’s healthcare system moves through the 21st century, unprecedented changes are occurring on both a local and global stage. Healthcare organizations are faced with creating and implementing leadership strategies to enhance the overall patient experience. When coupled with the need to ensure increased nurse job satisfaction, improved cost-effectiveness and healthy organizational cultures with fiscally sound budgets, improvement work has led efforts to ensure effective leadership techniques are used across an agency. This task may be viewed as commonplace for some organizations, while others may perceive this process as a complete paradigm shift from historical practices related to leadership style, behaviors and performance. A successful transition during this time of unprecedented change may depend on an organization’s ability to accept and implement the tenets of transformational leadership. Empirical research illustrates that transformational leadership empowers staff, increases job satisfaction and facilitates cost-effectiveness while constructing an environment conducive to the development of a supportive organizational culture. In an effort to ascertain the current state of leadership at a southeastern Veterans Affair Medical Center, this research study explored the self-reporting leadership practices of all supervisory staff employed at the facility. As a means of measurement, the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) was coupled by demographic questionnaire developed by the researcher. Both measurement tools were used to collect the data.

Poor interprofessional communication has been linked to decreased quality of patient care and increased numbers of medical errors. Increased occupational stress due to lack of effective interprofessional communication can lead to poor job satisfaction and burnout. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to interprofessional communication as perceived by radiologic technologists. In particular, how did demographic data influence these perceptions? The research was conducted during June of 2009. The population for this survey consisted of registered radiologic technologists employed at hospitals in Northeast Tennessee. A locally developed survey questionnaire covering the subject of interprofessional communication was distributed to a cluster sample directly involved in patient care. Participants indicated that interprofessional communication effects their occupational stress and job satisfaction in addition to the quality of patient care. This analysis revealed that radiographers experienced the most difficulty communicating with nurses.

Excerpt:The purpose of this quantitative study was to better understand the relationship of perceived ethical climate on the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of full time faculty members in institutions of higher education.

Not all organizations in Wisconsin have transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policies. Leadership can use the results of this study to understand the effect of antidiscrimination policies on transgender employee job satisfaction. Quantitative data were collected from transgender employees aged 18 years or older who were employed but not self-employed in the state of Wisconsin. The relationship between the presence and absence of transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policy and job satisfaction was addressed by creating an anonymous online survey that contained demographic questions, the 1997 Job Descriptive Index (JDI) and the Job in General (JIG). Participants were notified of the study using fliers disseminated via community service groups and events, web magazines, social media, and personal contact. Participants (n = 38) self-selected to participate. Fourteen participants reported that their workplace had transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policy (37%), 12 participants (31.5%) reported no such policy, and 12 participants (31.5%) were not aware of the presence of this policy. Data were analyzed to determine correlations between job satisfaction facets within the JDI and the JIG and the presence of antidiscrimination policy that includes employees who are transgender. Results revealed that the job satisfaction of employees whose workplaces had transgender inclusive antidiscrimination policies was highest when correlated to promotion opportunities, r = .854 followed by the employee's viewpoints about their actual work, r = .832, people in the workplace, r = .820, with the lowest correlation for the supervision facet, r = .808. These findings contribute to positive social change by promoting antidiscrimination policies for transgender employees, increasing job satisfaction, and reducing turnover.