Occupational risk perception and its associated factors among nurses and physicians in Peruvian health facilities

A high perceived risk is related to lower rates of occupational accidents in the health personnel.

To determine the levels of occupational risk perception and its associated factors in nurses and physicians from health facilities in Peru during 2016.

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary data from the National Survey of Health Users Satisfaction (Encuesta Nacional de Satisfacción de Usuarios en Salud) 2016. The problem variable was the occupational risk perception, and sociodemographic variables and variables related to occupational risk exposure were included as possible associated factors. Crude and adjusted ordinal logistic regression models were developed to determine the associated factors. All estimates were weighted according to the National Survey of Health Users Satisfaction 2016 complex sampling.

Levels of perceived occupational risk were similar between nurses and physicians. Weekly working hours, having a previous work accident, and receiving protective equipment were found to be associated with occupational risk perception in nurses. Age, institution of origin, having a specialty, suffering from a chronic disease, and receiving occupational risk training were found to be associated with occupational risk perception in physicians.

In Peru, the levels of occupational risk perception in nurses and physicians are similar. However, the associated factors differ according to the profession. These findings may contribute to the norms or laws related to the occupational safety of health personnel.