Marjan Vaez1, Malin Josephson2, Eva Vingård2, Margaretha Voss1. 1. Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Work-related violence is one of the most serious threats to employee safety and health. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the extent of self-reported violence or threats of violence at work in relation to the general health of public sector employees. METHODS: The study population comprised 9,611 female (83%) and male public employees in Sweden. A questionnaire based on items derived mainly from validated instruments was constructed to cover aspects such as health, lifestyle, and physical and psychosocial work conditions. RESULTS: One in three employees reported work-related violence, with the highest proportions among psychiatric nurses (79%) and psychiatric attendants (75%). Work-related violence more often affected those who were < 45 years old, worked < 40 hours/week, worked nights, or reported poor health. Regardless of gender, age, hours of work, night work, and type of occupation, exposure to work-related violence was associated with less than good general health, and this relationship was strongest for psychiatric nurses (OR=3.19; 95% CI=1.28-7.98), medical doctors/dentists (OR=2.46; 95% CI=1.35-4.49), compulsory school teachers (OR=2.14; 95% CI=1.33-3.45), and other nurses (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.23-2.84). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related violence was frequently reported by employees in the most common public sector occupations, and it was associated with poor health in both genders.
BACKGROUND: Work-related violence is one of the most serious threats to employee safety and health. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the extent of self-reported violence or threats of violence at work in relation to the general health of public sector employees. METHODS: The study population comprised 9,611 female (83%) and male public employees in Sweden. A questionnaire based on items derived mainly from validated instruments was constructed to cover aspects such as health, lifestyle, and physical and psychosocial work conditions. RESULTS: One in three employees reported work-related violence, with the highest proportions among psychiatric nurses (79%) and psychiatric attendants (75%). Work-related violence more often affected those who were < 45 years old, worked < 40 hours/week, worked nights, or reported poor health. Regardless of gender, age, hours of work, night work, and type of occupation, exposure to work-related violence was associated with less than good general health, and this relationship was strongest for psychiatric nurses (OR=3.19; 95% CI=1.28-7.98), medical doctors/dentists (OR=2.46; 95% CI=1.35-4.49), compulsory school teachers (OR=2.14; 95% CI=1.33-3.45), and other nurses (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.23-2.84). CONCLUSIONS: Work-related violence was frequently reported by employees in the most common public sector occupations, and it was associated with poor health in both genders.
Entities:
Keywords:
Psychiatric nurses; health care workers; health status; medical doctors/dentists; work conditions
Authors: Virve Pekurinen; Laura Willman; Marianna Virtanen; Mika Kivimäki; Jussi Vahtera; Maritta Välimäki Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2017-10-18 Impact factor: 3.390