Η Ποιότητα Ζωής Και Το Επίπεδο Υγείας Των Εργαζομένων Σε Ελληνικά Νοσοκομεία

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to examine the health status and the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of hospital personnel in Greece, which is an important component of health, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It is the first large scale study focusing on health status and HRQoL not only of healthcare workers but of workforce in Greece in general. In addition, the present study attempts to investigate into the factors that influence the health status and HRQoL of the employees, work-related parameters and factors that influence disease prevention behaviour, in order to pinpoint needs for health promotion interventions for the employees. Material and Method: A stratified random sample of 719 personnel of 13 Health Promotion Hospitals (HNHPH) was selected, including 10% of employees of all staff categories (administrative, medical, nursing, technical and auxiliary staff). In order to assess HRQoL, the Greek version of SF-36 was administered. A purpose made questionnaire concerning self reported chronic morbidity, work accidents, risk factors (smoking, diet, obesity, alcohol consumption, physical activity), work related factors (stress at work, workplace problems, job satisfaction) and disease prevention behaviour was administered as well. Statistical analysis included linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis to specify the independent predictive factors of HRQoL and preventive behaviour, respectively. Results: As far HRQoL is concerned, the mean scores of the 8 dimensions of SF-36 of hospital staff were lower than those measured in previous studies of the general population in Greece. Linear regression analysis revealed tht sex, self reported chronic morbidity and job satisfaction are important independent predictive factors of all the dimensions of HRQoL, whereas age, staff category, physical exercise and diet can be considered as independent predictive factors of some of the scales of SF-36. 38,7% of the employees reported chronic morbidity and 12,6% had an workplace accident during the previous year. 46,7% of the sample are current smokers, 58,3% follow a balanced diet according to the standards of the Mediterranean diet, 13,9% of the sample are obese, 70,7% consumes at least one drink daily and 24,7% are physically inactive. As far as workrelated factors are concerned, 78,8% reported stress at work, and 40,8% reported high levels of job satisfaction. As for preventive 300 behaviour, 90,1% replied that they have ever measured their blood pressure, 83,2% reported that they have ever measured thei blood cholesterol, and 63,1% reported a dental visit during the previous year. Self reported chronic morbidity was found to be the only independent predictive factor for blood pressure measurement. Daily alcohol consumption, diet and chronic morbidity can be considered as independent predictive factors for blood cholesterol measurement, whereas sex was found to be the only independent predictive factor for dental visits. As far as preventive tests for gynaecological cancers are concerned, only 15,6% of the women employees do self breast examination on a monthly basis and no indepent predictive factor was found for this test. 60,8% of the female of the sample have undergone breast clinical examination and staff category, job satisfaction and chronic morbidity were found to predict breast clinical examination independently. 77% of women of the sample over the age of 50 have undergone mammography and staff category, job satisfaction and chronic morbidity can be considered as indendent predictive factors for this test. 90,3% of the female sample has ever done a Pap test and balanced diet and chronic morbidity were found to be independent predictive tests for this test. Conclusions: HRQoL of hospital staff was found to be lower than that of the general population in Greece and inequalities in HRQoL were revealed among the hospital employees. Self reported chronic morbidity of the sample is comparable to those of the Greek general population and the incidence of severe work accidents is one third of that measured in the general workforce in Greece according to Eurostat. Smoking prevalence is similar to that measured in studies of greek employees and diet is far from the recommendations for the weekly consumption of fish, eggs, dairy products, fruit and vegetables. The prevalence of obesity and alcohol consumption is similar to that of the general population in Greece, whereas the levels of physical activity are higher than those of the general population. Important inequalities were discovered in all the above mentioned risk factors according to sex, age and staff category. The observed levels of work stress in the sample were higher than those of the general workforce in Greece as well as the percentage of employees that report high levels of job satisfaction. As far as preventive behaviour is concerned, the percentage of those in the sample who have ever measured their blood pressure is higher than that of the general population, while the percentage of those who have jhad their blood cholesterol checked is similar to that of the Greek general population. As for womens‘ preventive tests, the percentage of women who perform monthly selfbreast 301 examination observed is lower than those observed ina study of healthcare workers in Greece. The compliance to clinical brest examination and mammography is similar to that of the Greek general population whereas the compliance to Pap smear test is higher than the general population