Validation of a ‘Work Readiness Scale’ for health professional (HP) graduates

Abstract

Background

There is a continuing concern about how graduate work readiness (WR) reflects on the success of universities meeting the requirements of employment. This study is to establish a valid and reliable instrument measuring WR in health professions (HP) graduates of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry.

Methods

The study from March 2016 to April 2017 was conducted to validate the ‘Work Readiness Scale’ (WRS; Deakin University) using Principal Component Analysis and Cronbach - α for internal consistency. It was modified to a four-item even-point scale and distributed as an online survey to 335 final year students of the three programs.

Results

A reduction from 64 to 53 items provided good internal consistency in all factors: WC 0.85, OA 0.88, SI 0.88 and PC 0.71. The PC domain had the greatest item reduction from 22 to 6, whilst the SI domain increased in items from 8 to 19. These changes may be associated with difference in understanding or interpretation of the items in the SI domain.

Conclusion

The modified WRS can be used to evaluate job readiness in HP graduates. However, it needs further refinement and validation in specific educational and employment contexts.

Acknowledgements

We thank the IMU Research and Ethics committee for approving and funding this study (Research ID: IMU 342/2016). Research assistants Koo Koon Lim, Yiu Lee Liu, and Reena Prhiya provided invaluable help with data collection, collation and analysis, without which the study would have not been possible.

The IMU supplement is sponsored and supported by IMU Education Sdn Bhd.

Disclosure statement

We declare no financial, political or self-recognition conflicts of interest.

Glossary

Work readiness: A combination of competence and attributes graduates are perceived to possess at the point of entering workforce.

Social intelligence: The capacity to know oneself and to know others (developing relationships and working with others).

Personal characteristics: Includes resilience, flexibility and ability to manage stress.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sharifah Sulaiha Syed Aznal

Sharifah Sulaiha Sulaiha Syed Aznal, MBChB (Glasgow), MMed O&G (Malaysia), PGCert Med Edu (Dundee), International Medical University, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Vishna Devi V Nadarajah

Vishna Devi V Nadarajah, PHD Biochem (Cambridge), MHPE (Maastricht), International Medical University, Teaching and Learning, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 15, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Siew Kim Kwa

Siew Kim Kwa, MBBS (Malaysia), FRACGP, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia.

Liang Lin Seow

LiangLin Seow, BDS (Mal), MSc (London), FDSRCS (England), PhD (Mal), International Medical University, School of Dentistry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

David WK Chong

David WK Chong, BPharm(London), MSc ClinPharm (Strathclyde), International Medical University, Pharmacy, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Nagashekhara Molugulu

Nagashekhara Molugulu, BPharm (India), MPharm (India), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Erwin Jiayuan Khoo

Erwin Jiayuan Khoo, MBBS (IMU), MRCPH, Cert.in Paeds Bioethics (Missouri), International Medical University, School of Medicine, Clinical School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Pei Sin Keng

Pei Sin Keng, PhD (UPM), BSc (UPM), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.