TY - JOUR

T1 - Main and interactive effects of shiftwork, age and work stress on health in an Italian sample of healthcare workers

AU - Conway, Paul Maurice

AU - Campanini, P

AU - Sartori, S

AU - Dotti, R

AU - Costa, G

PY - 2008/9

Y1 - 2008/9

N2 - Among healthcare workers, shiftwork (mostly if nightwork is also included), ageing and work-related stress may be factors leading to impaired health. Such risk factors may also operate in interaction, resulting in an even increased harm for health. The present study aims at evaluating these relationships in a sample of 1842 hospital workers in Northern Italy. Subjects were mainly women, 33.1% were aged > or = 45 yr, and they were almost evenly distributed between dayworkers and rotating shiftworkers (nights included). Shiftwork was associated with poor sleep, while it was protective against gastrointestinal disorders, poor work ability and job dissatisfaction. Work stress was the risk factor with the highest relevance for poor health. Ageing was associated with lower physical health. Few significant interactions were observed. Shiftwork with nights and high work stress significantly interacted in increasing the risk for poor sleep. The "healthy worker effect" may have played a strong role in study findings.

AB - Among healthcare workers, shiftwork (mostly if nightwork is also included), ageing and work-related stress may be factors leading to impaired health. Such risk factors may also operate in interaction, resulting in an even increased harm for health. The present study aims at evaluating these relationships in a sample of 1842 hospital workers in Northern Italy. Subjects were mainly women, 33.1% were aged > or = 45 yr, and they were almost evenly distributed between dayworkers and rotating shiftworkers (nights included). Shiftwork was associated with poor sleep, while it was protective against gastrointestinal disorders, poor work ability and job dissatisfaction. Work stress was the risk factor with the highest relevance for poor health. Ageing was associated with lower physical health. Few significant interactions were observed. Shiftwork with nights and high work stress significantly interacted in increasing the risk for poor sleep. The "healthy worker effect" may have played a strong role in study findings.

KW - Age Factors

KW - Female

KW - Health Personnel

KW - Humans

KW - Italy

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Multivariate Analysis

KW - Nurses

KW - Personnel Staffing and Scheduling

KW - Prevalence

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Work Schedule Tolerance

KW - Workplace

U2 - 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.01.007

DO - 10.1016/j.apergo.2008.01.007

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18313640

VL - 39

SP - 630

EP - 639

JO - Applied Ergonomics

JF - Applied Ergonomics

SN - 0003-6870

IS - 5

ER -