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

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

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

Methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.