Development and validation of the occupational balance assessment scale for healthcare professionals

Introduction: Occupational balance significantly affects healthcare professionals’ health and well-being. However, existing scales for assessing the occupational balance cannot measure multiple aspects. This study aimed to develop and validate the Occupational Balance Assessment Scale (OBAS) to analyze occupational balance of healthcare professionals across multiple aspects. Method: Phase 1 involved the development of conceptual framework and item pool through literature review and consensus among five occupational therapists, followed by assessment content validity. Phase 2, psychometric tests were performed to refine the scale using data from 318 healthcare professionals in Japan, assessing internal consistency, structural validity, criterion validity, and construct validity. Results: The final OBAS included 15 items across five factors (Resources, Time, Adjustment, Taxonomy, and Meaning). The scale demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.903) and good structural validity (comparative fit index = 0.947, root mean square error of approximation = 0.082). Criterion validity showed strong positive correlation with occupational dysfunction ( r = 0.81, p < 0.001), moderate positive correlation with stress response ( r = .61, p < 0.001), and moderate negative correlation with self-control ( r = −0.47, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The OBAS has established reliability and validity. This tool is useful for comprehensively assessing occupational balance of healthcare professionals.