Role Performance Factors of Occupational Health Nurses in Industrial Estates of Thailand

Abstract

There are both personal and the organizational factors important to occupational health
nursing performance. Ensuring performance involves keeping employees healthy, increasing
productivity and reducing healthcare costs. This study uses a cross-sectional survey to examine
the factors related to role performance of occupational health nurses. The sample consisted
of 134 occupational health nurses working in establishments having more than 200 workers
located in industrial estates in the eastern region of Thailand. A self-administered questionnaire
was mailed to the subjects for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics,
chi-square, Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis.
Survey results showed that subjects had performed their occupational health nursing
roles at a moderate level (44.8%). Personal factors included educational level, occupational
health nursing training, work pattern, and difficulty of nursing tasks. The work environment
often included being exposed to physical, chemical and psychosocial hazards. The role
perceptions of occupational health nurses were significantly related to the role performance
of occupational health nurses (p-value < 0.05).
Occupational health nursing training, physical, chemical, and psychosocial hazards of
the job, and the role perception of occupational health nurses predicted 34.1% of the
variance in the role performance of occupational health nurses (p-value < 0.05).
Administrators should support nurse training, salaries and job assignments based on
the role performance of occupational health nurses. Business organizations should clearly
identify the role of occupational health nurses so performance meets work role expectations.