Affiliations: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public
Health, São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil | Epidemiology Nucleus, Hospital Samaritano, São
Paulo, Brazil
Note: [] Corresponding author: Frida Marina Fischer, Department of
Environmental Health, School of Public Health, São Paulo University, Av.
Dr. Arnaldo, 715, Cerqueira Cesar, 01246-904, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Tel.: +55 11 3061 7755; Fax: +55 11 3061 7755; E-mail: fmfische@usp.br
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with work ability among
nursing professionals. PARTICIPANTS: They comprised 514 nursing professionals (83.8% of the
total number of workers) from a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: In 2009, we conducted a cross-sectional study that was a
part of a 5-year planned cohort study initiated in 2008. We administered a
comprehensive questionnaire to the participants in order to obtain data on
their sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyles, and working conditions. The
questionnaire also contained the Brazilian versions of the following: the Job
Stress Scale (JSS), Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire, Work-Related
Activities That May Contribute To Job-Related Pain and/or Injury (WRAPI), and
Work Ability Index (WAI). The results were analyzed using descriptive,
bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses. RESULTS: On the WAI, 74.9% of the workers obtained a score of over
40 points (score range 7–49); the mean score was 42.3 points (SD=4.5).
The final multivariate model showed that lower WAI scores were related to the
work-related outcome, which was work injury, and the following individual
characteristics and working conditions: body mass index (p=0.001), sex (female;
p=0.002), sedentariness (p < 0.001), time in the profession (p=0.005),
social support at work (p=0.003), effort-reward ratio (p=0.001), violence at
work (p=0.005), WRAPI score (p < 0.001), and work injuries (yes; p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Various factors were associated with work ability. The
results showed that a number of variables should be considered when planning
and implementing actions to maintain or improve work ability among nursing
professionals.
Keywords: Work stressors, psychosocial factors at work, worker's health, work ability
