Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital
Abstract Background A growing body of evidence clearly documents the benefits of integrated systems approaches to protecting and promoting the safety, health and well-being of workers. The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic view of the work ability of employees of an Italian University H...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10465-z |
| _version_ | 1797363513870516224 |
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| author | Loretta Casolari Ylenia Curzi Michele Mastroberardino Barbara Pistoresi Erica Poma Lorenzo Broccoli Tommaso Fabbri |
| author_facet | Loretta Casolari Ylenia Curzi Michele Mastroberardino Barbara Pistoresi Erica Poma Lorenzo Broccoli Tommaso Fabbri |
| author_sort | Loretta Casolari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A growing body of evidence clearly documents the benefits of integrated systems approaches to protecting and promoting the safety, health and well-being of workers. The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic view of the work ability of employees of an Italian University Hospital measuring their resources in relation to job demands. In particular, it examines socio-demographics, family and organizational antecedents of health professionals’ work ability. Methods A survey was conducted to assess the work ability of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses and administrative staff, working at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy). The data collection allows us to get a sample of 443 workers, who correspond to 11% of the target population. The data were analyzed using preliminary statistics on the main characteristics of the sample in terms of work ability, socio-demographic variables, family and organizational characteristics. In addition, logit models of the likelihood of having high work ability were estimated using SPSS version 25. Results Work ability decreases with increasing age, comorbidity, high body mass index, having at least one child under 5 and/or a dependent adult, having a poor work-life balance, and doing more than 20 h of housework. Specific job resources can significantly promote work ability, including relationship-oriented leadership, autonomy in decision making and individuals’ skill match. The nursing profession is associated with a low work ability. Finally, a significant gender gap has been documented. Women find it more difficult to reconcile life and work, especially when they have children of preschool age and work in professions with greater responsibilities, as in the case of women doctors, who experience lower work capacity. Conclusions Our results suggest that it is necessary to consider other factors, in addition to age, that are equally relevant in influencing work ability. Consequently, organisational interventions could be implemented to improve the work ability of all workers. In addition, we propose targeted interventions for groups at risk of reduced work capacity, in particular older workers (45 years and over), nurses, women with children of preschool age and in the position of physician. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:22:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7bda732c90d642a7ae690bba53438aed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:22:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-7bda732c90d642a7ae690bba53438aed2024-01-07T12:17:43ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-01-0124111210.1186/s12913-023-10465-zFactors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospitalLoretta Casolari0Ylenia Curzi1Michele Mastroberardino2Barbara Pistoresi3Erica Poma4Lorenzo Broccoli5Tommaso Fabbri6University Hospital of ModenaUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaUniversity Hospital of ModenaUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaUniversity Hospital of ModenaUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaAbstract Background A growing body of evidence clearly documents the benefits of integrated systems approaches to protecting and promoting the safety, health and well-being of workers. The purpose of this study is to provide a holistic view of the work ability of employees of an Italian University Hospital measuring their resources in relation to job demands. In particular, it examines socio-demographics, family and organizational antecedents of health professionals’ work ability. Methods A survey was conducted to assess the work ability of healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses and administrative staff, working at the University Hospital of Modena (Italy). The data collection allows us to get a sample of 443 workers, who correspond to 11% of the target population. The data were analyzed using preliminary statistics on the main characteristics of the sample in terms of work ability, socio-demographic variables, family and organizational characteristics. In addition, logit models of the likelihood of having high work ability were estimated using SPSS version 25. Results Work ability decreases with increasing age, comorbidity, high body mass index, having at least one child under 5 and/or a dependent adult, having a poor work-life balance, and doing more than 20 h of housework. Specific job resources can significantly promote work ability, including relationship-oriented leadership, autonomy in decision making and individuals’ skill match. The nursing profession is associated with a low work ability. Finally, a significant gender gap has been documented. Women find it more difficult to reconcile life and work, especially when they have children of preschool age and work in professions with greater responsibilities, as in the case of women doctors, who experience lower work capacity. Conclusions Our results suggest that it is necessary to consider other factors, in addition to age, that are equally relevant in influencing work ability. Consequently, organisational interventions could be implemented to improve the work ability of all workers. In addition, we propose targeted interventions for groups at risk of reduced work capacity, in particular older workers (45 years and over), nurses, women with children of preschool age and in the position of physician.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10465-z |
| spellingShingle | Loretta Casolari Ylenia Curzi Michele Mastroberardino Barbara Pistoresi Erica Poma Lorenzo Broccoli Tommaso Fabbri Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital BMC Health Services Research |
| title | Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital |
| title_full | Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital |
| title_fullStr | Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital |
| title_short | Factors associated with work ability among employees of an Italian university hospital |
| title_sort | factors associated with work ability among employees of an italian university hospital |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10465-z |
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