Work ability of hospital workers: associated factors

Introduction Hospital jobs are characterized by important mental and physical demands associated with the development of lesions and health symptoms, and eventually reducing work ability. The aim of this study is to evaluate associated factors related to work ability among hospital professionals.  

Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2010. Participants were 1,153 hospital workers (76.1% of the total number of workers). A self- administered questionnaire included socio-demographic data, life styles, functional and working features, the Brazilian versions of the short Job Stress Scale (JSS), Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), Work-related activities that may contribute to job-related pain and/or injury (WRAPI) and the Work Ability Index (WAI).

Dsescriptive and multivariate linear analyses were performed.   Results The majority of workers were females (71.2%), under 40 years old (61.7%), married (52.0%), and time at this job 10 years or less (82.5%). WAI mean was 42.9 points (score from 7.0 to 49.0). Participants referred high demands (76.8%), low control (12.0%), low social support (2.5%), effort-reward imbalance (2.1%). The WRAPI means was 60.3 points (score from 0.0 to 150.0).  The final multivariate model showed variables negatively associated with WAI: females (p=0,008), sedentariness (p<0.001), increase years at this hospital (p<0.001), morning shift (p=0.002), increase violence at work (p=0.006), history of work injury (p=0.001), history of work-related disease (p=0.001), increase effort-reward imbalance (p<0.001), decrease social support, increase over commitment (p<0.001), increase WRAPI (p<0.001) and responsibility for growing children (p=0.002).  

Discussion Multivariate analyses showed that individual features, working and living conditions and the health-related work outcome (work injury and work-related diseases) were associated with reduced WAI. The results indicate that comprehensive actions are required when planning and implementing measures to maintain or improve the work ability among hospital workers.