Occupational stressors in healthcare workers in France

To describe psychosocial constraints and mental health of hospital workers, and to identify the psychosocial constraints significantly associated with mental health difficulties, especially in two groups: caregivers and other hospital workers.

Data about working conditions and health status collected by the Evrest National observatory in 2018-2019 during occupational health consultation were used. Psychosocial constraints and mental health among caregivers, other hospital workers and non-hospital workers were described.

There were 1251 hospital workers (843 caregivers, 408 other hospital workers) and 25 129 other workers. Intensity and working time (time pressure, extra working time, missing or shortening a meal), and ethical dilemmas (not having the means to ensure high-quality work, too rapidly handling a procedure that would require more painstaking care) were significantly more reported by the caregivers than by the other hospital workers (50.8% vs 44.2%, 43.4% vs 32.5%, 47.2% vs 17.2%, 21.4% vs 16.4% and 41.5% vs 29.0% respectively). Prevalence of psychological distress was not significantly higher for caregivers (12.3%) than for other hospital workers (12.4%) but was significantly higher than for other workers (7.3%). For caregivers, factors significantly associated with psychological distress were time pressure (Odds Ratio adjusted on sociodemographic factors (OR) = 2.33 CI95% [1.35-4.04]), "difficulties to reconcile private life and work life" (OR = 2.95 [1.54-5.69]), "work not recognized in the professional setting" (OR = 1.89 [1.08-3.31]) and "fear of losing one's job" (OR = 2.98 [1.53-5.8]). For other hospital workers, they were "difficulties to reconcile private life and work life (OR = 2.76 [1.04-7.30]), "insufficient possibilities of mutual aid" (OR = 2.85 [1.24-6.53] and "not having the means to ensure high-quality work" (OR = 3.42 [1.62-7.21]).

Factors significantly associated with psychological distress were not the same for caregivers and other hospital workers, nor were they the most frequently reported. Detailed description of the constraints according to group of workers could help to develop a high-priority preventive program regarding psychosocial risk factors.