The health status of Portuguese healthcare professionals.

Several studies have shown that healthcare professionals are at greater risk than the rest of the population of having certain health problems due to the specificity of their workplace and the physical and psychological demands of their work. Additionally, healthcare professionals seem to behave differently when seeking health care. Several studies also indicate that the health of healthcare professionals has an impact on the performance of services and on the health of the population. The present paper analyzes morbidity patterns, health behaviors and lifestyles, self-perceived health status and health service utilization among healthcare professionals, by using the Portuguese 1999 National Health Survey. Results differ from those found in international studies. Portuguese healthcare professionals did not suffer more from some health problems than non-healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals tended to assess their health as good and better as that of other workers. They also reported healthier behaviors (smoked less, drank less and practiced exercise more often) and missed fewer workdays due to sickness. The percentage of healthcare professionals suffering from back pain was lower than the percentage of other workers but they started to complain earlier.