Human resources health related quality of life: A case study of Groot Schuur Hospital in South Africa.

The achievement of health policy goals of cost-saving, efficiency and equity critically depends on health status of the personnel implementing those policies at the facility level. An aim of our study was to elicit using the EQ-SD instrument self-descriptions, ratings and valuations of the current health related quality of life (HRQoL) from a sample health care professionals in a tertiary hospital. The setting for the study was Groot Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. A total of 99 health care professionals in Groot Schuur Hospital completed the EQ-SD. 55% of the respondents were in perfect health state 11111 (no problems with mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression).12% had some problems with mobility. 2% had some problems with self-care. 7% had either some or extreme problems with usual activities of daily living. 32% had either moderate pain/discomfort or extreme pain/discomfort 27% were either moderately anxious/depressed or extremely anxious/depressed. Regression analysis coefficients for usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression were negative and statistically significant at 5 per cent level. Significant numbers of the hospital health care personnel were not in their normal health status. Thus, there is a need for regular monitoring of health status of health care personnel with a view to implementing appropriate preventive and curative intervention policies.