Differences between day and nonday workers in exposure to physical and psychosocial work factors in the Danish eldercare sector

TY - JOUR

T1 - Differences between day and nonday workers in exposure to physical and psychosocial work factors in the Danish eldercare sector

AU - Nabe-Nielsen, Kirsten

AU - Tüchsen, Finn

AU - Christensen, Karl Bang

AU - Garde, Anne Helene

AU - Diderichsen, Finn

N1 - Keywords: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Denmark; Female; Geriatric Nursing; Home Care Services; Home Health Aides; Humans; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Psychology; Work Schedule Tolerance

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - OBJECTIVE: The possible interaction between individual and occupational risk factors, the need for meaningful intervention, and the demand for valid shift work research make the accumulation of adverse exposures at certain times of the day of special relevance with respect to occupational health. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine whether there was a clustering of detrimental work factors among female eldercare workers in fixed evening or fixed night shifts when they are compared with workers in fixed day shifts. METHODS: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 4590 female health care workers in the Danish eldercare sector. The participants worked in nursing homes, in home care, or in both. They answered questions on job demands, job control, and social support, together with questions on physical and psychological violence, physical workload, and passive smoking. RESULTS: We found that-compared with day workers-fixed nonday workers were more exposed to low job control, low support from leaders, physical and psychological violence, and high physical demands. Nonday workers were, however, less exposed to high demands. These differences remained after control for age, job title, and workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Exposures in the work environment of Danish eldercare workers varied between shifts. In a research perspective these findings stress the importance of adequate adjustment for work factors when the health effects of shift work are studied. Moreover, the results underscore the need for an increased awareness of work factors of special importance among nonday workers when interventions against shiftwork-related occupational disorders are designed.

AB - OBJECTIVE: The possible interaction between individual and occupational risk factors, the need for meaningful intervention, and the demand for valid shift work research make the accumulation of adverse exposures at certain times of the day of special relevance with respect to occupational health. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine whether there was a clustering of detrimental work factors among female eldercare workers in fixed evening or fixed night shifts when they are compared with workers in fixed day shifts. METHODS: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 4590 female health care workers in the Danish eldercare sector. The participants worked in nursing homes, in home care, or in both. They answered questions on job demands, job control, and social support, together with questions on physical and psychological violence, physical workload, and passive smoking. RESULTS: We found that-compared with day workers-fixed nonday workers were more exposed to low job control, low support from leaders, physical and psychological violence, and high physical demands. Nonday workers were, however, less exposed to high demands. These differences remained after control for age, job title, and workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Exposures in the work environment of Danish eldercare workers varied between shifts. In a research perspective these findings stress the importance of adequate adjustment for work factors when the health effects of shift work are studied. Moreover, the results underscore the need for an increased awareness of work factors of special importance among nonday workers when interventions against shiftwork-related occupational disorders are designed.

U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.1307

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.1307

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19277434

SN - 0355-3140

VL - 35

SP - 48

EP - 55

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

IS - 1

ER -