[Health care personnel in Norway]

Area of Science:

• Occupational health
• Public health
• Healthcare workforce studies

Background:

• The Nordic Council of Ministers launched a project in 1990 focusing on work and health among healthcare personnel.
• The healthcare sector in Nordic countries employs over one million individuals, representing nearly 10% of the total labor force.
• The healthcare workforce is predominantly female (84-87%) and includes a significant proportion of part-time workers in Norway and Sweden.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review and evaluate existing research on the health and work conditions of healthcare personnel in Nordic countries.
• To stimulate new, collaborative Nordic research projects within the healthcare sector.
• To foster enhanced collaboration among Nordic researchers in the field of occupational health.

Main Methods:

• A review and evaluation of existing research data on healthcare personnel's health and work.
• Initiation of joint Nordic research projects.
• Promotion of collaborative efforts among Nordic researchers.

Main Results:

• When controlling for sex and education, sick leave among healthcare personnel is comparable to the general working population.
• Sick leave rates are higher for women and individuals with lower educational attainment, consistent with general population trends.
• Healthcare workers in the Nordic region generally do not face a higher risk of occupationally related injuries compared to other occupational groups.
• A Swedish study indicated that healthcare personnel have a higher risk of work absence due to violence or threats than the general working population.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare personnel in Nordic countries exhibit similar overall occupational injury risks to other workers.
• While general sick leave patterns align with the broader population, healthcare workers, particularly women and those with less education, experience higher rates.
• A notable exception is the increased risk of absence due to workplace violence and threats faced by healthcare personnel in Sweden.