G D'Ettorre1, A Vullo2, V Pellicani3, G Ceccarelli4. 1. Department of Occupational Medicine, Unit of Occupational Prevention and Protection, Local Health Authority, Brindisi, Italy. 2. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. 3. Department of Mental Health, Local Health Authority, Lecce, Italy. 4. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The safety and health of healthcare workers employed in twenty-four-hour hospital wards and exposed to rotational shiftwork (RS), including night shift, is an hot topic of international literature; in fact shift workers incur increased rates of burnout, accidents and injuries, absenteeism and, consequently, reduced work efficiency than non-shift workers. The aims of the present study were: 1) to analyze the occupational risk associated with RS in healthcare sector and 2) to detect the consequent interventions effective in minimizing RS risk. METHODS: The authors designed a questionnaire entitled Rotating Shiftwork Questionnaire (RSQ) which is made up of two sections: 1) Sentinel Events; 2) Risk Factors. The authors used the RSQ to evaluate the RS-Risk among homogeneous groups employed in a twenty-four-hour hospital department. RESULTS: Results. The authors found a medium level of risk among all homogeneous groups. The analysis led to suggest organizational interventions for reducing the sources of RS-risk among healthcare workers. CONCLUSION: The proposed questionnaire revealed effective in approaching the assessment of RS-risk; the findings were also useful in prioritizing and implementing strategic interventions aimed to moderate the occupational risk related to RS.
BACKGROUND: The safety and health of healthcare workers employed in twenty-four-hour hospital wards and exposed to rotational shiftwork (RS), including night shift, is an hot topic of international literature; in fact shift workers incur increased rates of burnout, accidents and injuries, absenteeism and, consequently, reduced work efficiency than non-shift workers. The aims of the present study were: 1) to analyze the occupational risk associated with RS in healthcare sector and 2) to detect the consequent interventions effective in minimizing RS risk. METHODS: The authors designed a questionnaire entitled Rotating Shiftwork Questionnaire (RSQ) which is made up of two sections: 1) Sentinel Events; 2) Risk Factors. The authors used the RSQ to evaluate the RS-Risk among homogeneous groups employed in a twenty-four-hour hospital department. RESULTS: Results. The authors found a medium level of risk among all homogeneous groups. The analysis led to suggest organizational interventions for reducing the sources of RS-risk among healthcare workers. CONCLUSION: The proposed questionnaire revealed effective in approaching the assessment of RS-risk; the findings were also useful in prioritizing and implementing strategic interventions aimed to moderate the occupational risk related to RS.