Effect of Body Mass Index on Occupational Health of Clinicians: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Clinicians in the present scenario are always exposed to constant and sustained levels of physical and mental stress. As they form the backbone of healthcare setup, the health of clinicians themselves is a very significant factor towards providing good health to all. Aim: To determine the effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Work Related Musculoskeletal Discomfort (WMSD) and Occupational Stress (OS) in clinicians. Materials and Methods: The descriptive study with inferential design was conducted on 200 clinicians working in Out-Patient Department (OPD) clinics of various departments of our Medical College, various private hospitals and clinics of Jalandhar with approximate duration of study being one year. BMI was calculated as ratio of Weight (kg) to the square of height (m). WMSD and OS were determined through reliable and valid questionnaires and their values were associated with demographic variables via statistical tests of Chi-square, ANOVA and Student t-test to infer their inter-relational significance. Results: High BMI was reported more in above 40-year-old clinicians with higher incidence in surgical doctors than medical doctors. Majority (n=115) 57.5% of the clinicians were found to have mild musculoskeletal discomfort followed by no discomfort (23%) while 19.5% of them exhibited moderate to severe discomfort. Female clinicians showed more level of discomfort than male clinicians. BMI has high significance in relation to the questionnaire score. Clinicians with BMI >25 also showed high percentage (57.1%) of moderate and severe levels of OS. Conclusion: BMI is positively related to physical as well as mental well-being of clinicians, especially in the middle age group. This information serves as an awareness and warning signal for the clinicians to safeguard their own health.