Work ability assessment and related factors among health workers in Chaopraya Yomraj Hospital

Abstract

Work ability and health status among health workers are important for work performance and quality of life. This main study aimed to survey work ability and related factors among health workers (HWs) of Chao Phraya Yomraj Hospital, Suphan Buri province. The study design was a cross-sectional analytic study. A total of 429 health workers working at Chaopraya Yomraj Hospital were selected for the study samples using a simple random sampling based on department of health workers. Data collection was conducted during November to December, 2017. The research instruments consisted of Work Ability Index questionnaire of Division of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, Department of Disease Control (DDC), Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), of which contents were adjusted specifically for this study and health workers’ 2017 annual medical checkup results. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical logistic regression analysis. Findings indicated that 51.05% and 35.90% of health workers had work ability at a good and very good level, respectively. Factors significantly related to work ability included body mass index (BMI) (OR_adj = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.03-4.7, p<0.05). BMI contributing to poor work ability were found to be more than 30 kg/m².Results of the study indicate that the hospital should recognize the importance of enhancing and maintaining work ability among health workers, particularly by maintaining BMI within a healthy range, providing health promotion program among health workers to prevent non-communicable diseases, especially obesity. Eating and exercising properly are also recommended for reduction in duration of illness and poor performance in work ability.