Work-related stress predicted future sick leave in primary health care patients

Abstract Background Studying the relationship between work-related stress and sick leave is valuable in taking actions for workers’ health. This study aimed to analyse the association between work-related stress, measured with the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ), and registered sick leave among primary health care patients in Sweden. Methods The prospective longitudinal study included 232 patients who were non-sick-listed, employed, aged 18-64 years and sought care for mental and/or physical health complaints. Logistic regression analysis was performed with questionnaire data on work-related stress from baseline together with sick leave data from a national register for the following 12 months. Results High stress due to indistinct organization and conflicts was reported by 21% (n = 49), while 45% (n = 105) reported high stress due to individual demands and commitment. During 12 months 36% (n = 83) were on sick leave for 15 days or more. The odds of being on sick leave was twice as high for patients perceiving high stress due to indistinct organization and conflicts, high stress due to individual demands and commitment, low influence at work, or high interference between work and leisure time. Perceiving high stress due to both indistinct organization and conflicts as well as individual demands and commitment quadrupled the odds of sick leave, OR 4.15 (95% CI 1.84; 9.38). Conclusions Work-related stress and sick leave were prevalent among the patients. Primary health care can therefore be a suitable arena for addressing these issues. Perceiving work-related stressors and stress within one or multiple areas increased the odds of registered sick leave by two to four times. Hence, a wide spectrum of factors needs to be considered, to capture the dynamic interaction between the individual and the work environment. Key messages • Work-related stress is associated with future sick leave for primary health care patients. • Early identification of patients with work-related stress is important for the primary health care.


Background:
Studying the relationship between work-related stress and sick leave is valuable in taking actions for workers' health. This study aimed to analyse the association between work-related stress, measured with the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ), and registered sick leave among primary health care patients in Sweden.

Methods:
The prospective longitudinal study included 232 patients who were non-sick-listed, employed, aged 18-64 years and sought care for mental and/or physical health complaints. Logistic regression analysis was performed with questionnaire data on work-related stress from baseline together with sick leave data from a national register for the following 12 months. Results: High stress due to indistinct organization and conflicts was reported by 21% (n = 49), while 45% (n = 105) reported high stress due to individual demands and commitment. During 12 months 36% (n = 83) were on sick leave for 15 days or more. The odds of being on sick leave was twice as high for patients perceiving high stress due to indistinct organization and conflicts, high stress due to individual demands and commitment, low influence at work, or high interference between work and leisure time. Perceiving high stress due to both indistinct organization and conflicts as well as individual demands and commitment quadrupled the odds of sick leave, OR 4.15 (95% CI 1.84; 9.38).

Conclusions:
Work-related stress and sick leave were prevalent among the patients. Primary health care can therefore be a suitable arena for addressing these issues. Perceiving work-related stressors and stress within one or multiple areas increased the odds of registered sick leave by two to four times. Hence, a wide spectrum of factors needs to be considered, to capture the dynamic interaction between the individual and the work environment.

Key messages:
Work-related stress is associated with future sick leave for primary health care patients. Early identification of patients with work-related stress is important for the primary health care.

Abstract citation ID: ckac131.266 Violence against healthcare workers during COVID-19 vaccination campaign
Background: Violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) has gained increasing attention in recent years, both because it is on the rise and because there is growing concern about these incidents, which are classified as sentinel events by the Italian Ministry of Health. Since little is known about the actual burden of this phenomenon, especially during the stressful COVID-19 vaccination campaign, we decided to explore the problem in our region.

Methods:
Between January and March 2022, in the 1.2 millioninhabitant Friuli Venezia Giulia region (Italy), we conducted an anonymous online survey to collected data on episodes of violence and their consequences for HCWs. Data from validated tools assessing characteristics of violent episodes and post-trauma impact were analyzed in conjunction with socio-demographic data of respondents.

Results:
200 HCWs participated in the survey, most of whom were women (72%), worked as nurses (107) or doctors (71), and had a mean age of 47 years. More than half of them (59%) reported at least one episode of violence, mainly in the form of a verbal assault (64%); there were no differences between victims. In 72 cases, these incidents affected the HCW's private life, mainly disturbing sleep or concentration (68%). Most HCWs stated that inadequate communication was a trigger for the violence (97%). Although 80% of HCWs would readily report any violent incident, to improve the situation they called for certainty of action against the perpetrator (87%), more organizational support (85%), standard procedures (75%) and self-defense courses (75%).