Work-related determinants of psychosocial risk factors among employees in the hospital setting

Understanding which factors influence occupational safety and health risks is crucial to promote psychosocial risk management.

To assess the main work-related determinants of high exposure to psychosocial risk factors among Portuguese employees in the hospital setting.

Between May and July 2014, 399 employees of a public hospital completed a structured questionnaire. Psychosocial factors were assessed by the Portuguese medium length version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Age and gender adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were computed by logistic regression models.

The highest psychosocial risks emerged in the p ersonality (53.8%), workplace demands (28.1%), and social relationships and leadership (24.4%) categories. Professionals with non-health care roles presented a higher risk in the worker-work interface (OR = 2.60;95% CI:1.02-6.62), that evaluated work insecurity, satisfaction and the work-family interface. Shift workers were exposed to a higher psychosocial risk in workplace demands (OR = 1.79;95% CI:1.10-2.91), personality (OR = 2.45;95% CI:1.36-4.41), and health and well-being (OR = 3.18; 95% CI:1.72-5.66). Non-government employees had a higher risk exposure in personality (OR = 2.20;95% CI:1.15-4.21), and those who were absent from work in personality (OR = 2.62;95% CI:1.41-4.86), and health and wellbeing (OR = 2.34;95% CI:1.27-4.31).

Employees working in the hospital setting are vulnerable to psychosocial risk factors. Identifying those risks contributes to optimize workers' psychosocial health, increasing the effectiveness of the organization.