A PMO questionnaire that better suits practically trained employees
At FitzMe, we are committed daily to making vitality accessible to everyone. This starts with a good understanding of how employees are doing. That is why we use a validated questionnaire as the basis for the Preventive Medical Examination (PME). However, we noticed that this questionnaire did not always align equally well with all target groups, particularly employees with practical training.
Many organizations recognize this: a questionnaire that is strong in content but is perceived as difficult due to the wording or the sheer number of questions. The result? Employees sometimes disengage or do not complete the list fully. That is a shame, because it is precisely then that we miss valuable insights and the power of the PMO is lost.
A variant that fits better
To break this pattern, we have developed a variant of the PMO questionnaire together with our partners. The substantive themes – such as lifestyle, health, job satisfaction, and resilience – have remained the same. However, the questioning method and the length of the questionnaire have changed. adapted to the experience and language of practically trained employees.
The goal of this is clear: the questionnaire must be understandable and feasible for everyone. This increases the likelihood that employees will actually participate and that the results are representative of the entire organization.
In addition to the adjustments in length and language, we have taken another important step. We observed that the current, validated questionnaire is strongly focused on mental aspects. This aligns well with theoretically trained employees, as psychological complaints are more often a reason for absenteeism in that group.
With practically trained employees, we see precisely that physical strain and physical complaints play a role more often. Therefore, we have placed more emphasis on this theme in the new variant. In the same way as with the adjustment of language and length, we have opted for a questionnaire that better aligns with the reality of this target group.
| Element | Standard variant (those with a more theoretical education) | New variant (more practically trained) |
|---|---|---|
| Length & language use | More questions, standard formulations | Wording aligned with the target audience |
| Main themes | All facets of vitality with an emphasis on mental health and psychological stress | All facets of vitality with an emphasis on physical strain and physical complaints |
| Validity | High (fully scientifically validated) | Lower, but sufficiently directional |
| Practical applicability | More suitable for a theoretically trained employee | More suitable for a practically trained employee |
| Additional measurements | Vision, cortisol, HRV, vitamin-mineral profile and more | Physical exertion, lung function, audiometry, hazardous substances and more |
Applicability over perfection
We realize that these adjustments have consequences. Because the original questionnaire is scientifically validated, we are making a concession with this variant. validity and reliability.
At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the new variant says enough about the themes being measured. After all, the questionnaire is always supplemented with the standard physical measurements (such as blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, lung function). Together, these ensure an outcome that is sufficiently valid and reliable to truly help organizations and employees move forward.
With the new variant, we expect that more employees participate, identify with the questions and actually complete the questionnaire. This provides organizations with a broader and fairer picture of the vitality of their entire population – not just the group that can easily work with the standard list.
And that is ultimately what it’s all about: giving everyone the chance to participate and helping organizations make choices that contribute to a healthier, more vibrant, and more sustainable work environment.