Work ability and health of security guards at a public University: a cross-sectional study

Predicting the work ability of security guards at a university in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Thailand

Objectives. The number of security guards in universities has increased significantly. This study aimed to predict work ability of university security guards. Methods. A cross-sectional study of 97 university security guards in Thailand was performed. Data were collected through interviews using a questionnaire covering social demographics, behavioral health and work ability. The data were analyzed using χ2 tests and logistic regression models. Results. The average work ability index (WAI) score was 38.1 ± 3.8, with 65.0% of participants scoring 'good'. Social support significantly influenced the WAI (p = 0.004). Those with insufficient support were 4.3 times more likely to show poor work ability. Mental health also impacted the WAI (p = 0.006); those with poor mental health were 4.7 times at risk. Additionally, work experience affected the WAI (p = 0.039). Those with ≥5 years of experience showed reduced work ability compared to their less-experienced counterparts (adjusted odds ratio 0.4; 95% confidence interval [0.20, 0.96]). Conclusions. Supervisors should provide social support and offer rewards and commendations to enhance employees' abilities, health behaviors and management of underlying diseases. Additionally, organizations should prioritize health and safety in the workplace to ensure their employees are healthier and perform their tasks more effectively.

Association between health-related physical fitness indicators and working ability: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Work ability (WA) reflects a balance between work demands and an individual's ability to meet them. It is influenced by several occupational and health-related factors including the individual's physical fitness (PF). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide an overview of the possible relationship between PF measures and the individual's WA.

METHODS

A systematic review of studies published up to December 1, 2022 and available in PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases, was performed. Results have been summarized according to the specific PF parameter explored.

RESULTS

The 14 reviewed studies, enrolling 47 to 1005 workers, all showed a satisfactory methodological quality. Some positive evidence emerged for a possible association between changes in aerobic capacity, walking speed, balance, flexibility, muscle strength, and WA perception. However, the limited number of studies, their cross-sectional design, the different PF performance indicators, populations, and job tasks explored prevented definite conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

Future longitudinal studies should be planned to confirm such positive results and identify PF indicators better predictive for changes in the WA of employees engaged in specific job tasks, particularly in physically demanding activities. This may be helpful to include PF performance tests in occupational health practice as an integrated part of risk assessment and management strategies as well as in health and well-being promotion plans.

Longitudinal Study on the Effect of Onboard Service on Seafarers' Health Statuses

Seafaring is considered one of the most stressful professions. Stressors in seafaring lead to typical symptoms of stress, such as insomnia, loss of concentration, anxiety, lower tolerance of frustration, changes in eating habits, psychosomatic symptoms and diseases, and overall reduced productivity, with the possibility of burnout and chronic responsibility syndrome. It has been previously determined that seafarers belong to high-risk occupations in terms of developing metabolic syndrome, and according to their BMIs, almost 50% of all seafarers belong to the overweight and obesity categories. This is the first longitudinal study conducted with the aim of using the BIA method to determine the anthropometrical changes that occur during several weeks of continuous onboard service. This study included an observed group consisting of 63 professional seafarers with 8 to 12 weeks of continuous onboard service and a control group of 36 respondents from unrelated occupations. It was determined that Croatian seafarers fit into the current world trends regarding overweight and obesity among the seafaring population, with the following percentages in the BMI categories: underweight, 0%; normal weight, 42.86%; overweight, 39.68%; and obesity, 17.46%. It was established that the anthropometric statuses of the seafarers significantly changed during several weeks of continuous onboard service. Seafarers who served on board for 11 weeks lost 0.41 kg of muscle mass, whereas their total fat mass increased by 1.93 kg. Changes in anthropometric parameters could indicate deterioration of seafarers' health statuses.

The impact of manual patient handling on work ability: A cross-sectional study in a Brazilian hospital

Aim

To investigate the level of self‐reported work ability and its association with manual patient handling in healthcare workers.

Design

Cross‐sectional study adhering to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines.

Methods

A total of 320 healthcare workers answered a self‐administered questionnaire regarding manual patient handling, work ability, occupational factors, occurrence of low back pain and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors from November 2016 to March 2017. The association between manual patient handling and low back pain was analysed with Poisson regression models.

Results

The prevalence ratio of inadequate work ability was 43.42%. Manual patient handling (PR 1.375, 95% CI 1.038–1.821), bachelor education (PR 2.150, 95% CI 1.272–3.632), less than bachelor education (PR 2.166, 95% CI 1.218–3.855), seniority (PR 1.049, 95% CI 1.024–1.086), poor sleep quality (PR 1.425, 95% CI 1.13–1.796) and presence of low back pain (PR 2.003, 95% CI 1.314–3.052) were all positively associated with an inadequate work ability.

The influence of specific aspects of occupational stress on security guards' health and work ability: detailed extension of a previous study

In our earlier study of security guards, we showed that higher occupational stress was associated with health impairments (metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases) and work disability. The aim of this study was to further explore the association of specific occupational stressors with health impairments and work disability parameters in 399 Serbian male security guards (aged 25–65 years). Ridge linear regression analysis revealed that, after controlling for age, body mass index, and smoking status, professional stressors including high demands, strictness, conflict/uncertainty, threat avoidance and underload were significant positive predictors of fasting glucose, triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, Framingham cardiovascular risk score, and temporary work disability. The security profession is in expansion worldwide, and more studies are needed to establish precise health risk predictors, since such data are generally lacking.

The relationship between occupational stress, health status, and temporary and permanent work disability among security guards in Serbia

Purpose. This study aimed to examine the influence of occupational stress on health status and work disability among security guards in Serbia. Methods. Three hundred and ninty nine male security guards (aged 25-65 years) were examined during regular medical preventive check-ups at the Institute of Occupational Health. Data on their health status and permanent and temporary work disability were obtained, and correlations with the levels of occupational stress (measured by occupational stress index [OSI] questionnaire) were analysed. Results. A high prevalence of health impairments, including diabetes (38.8%), dyslipidaemia (82.7%), hypertension (69.9%) and metabolic syndrome (77.7%), was found. Highly significant correlations were shown between reported levels of total stress at work (total OSI score) and measured values of glucose, lipids, blood pressure, heart rate, Framingham cardiovascular risk scale, occurrence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular insults, degenerative eye-fundus changes, and temporary and permanent work disability. All of these correlations remained significant even after adjustments for age, body mass index and smoking status. Regression analysis confirmed the independent effect of occupational stress on the analysed parameters. Conclusions. There is a significant independent impact of occupational stress on development of health impairments and work disability among security guards.