PT Journal AU Virtanen­, M Vahtera, J Batty, GD Tuisku, K Oksanen, T Elovainio, M Ahola, K Pentti, J Salo, P Vartti, A Kivimäki, M TI Health risk behaviors and morbidity among hospital staff − comparison across hospital ward medical specialties in a study of 21 Finnish hospitals SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 5VL PY 2012 BP 228 EP 237 IS 3 DI 10.5271/sjweh.3264 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3264 DE Finland; health risk; health risk behavior; healthcare personnel; hospital; hospital staff; hospital ward; medical speciality; medication; mental health; prospective study; risk behavior; sickness absence SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVE ': 'This study examined whether indicators of poor health and health risk behaviors among hospital staff differ between the ward specialties.

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METHODS ': 'Across 21 hospitals in Finland, 8003 employees (mean age 42 years, 87% women, 86% nurses) working in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, intensive care, and psychiatry responded to a baseline survey on health and health risk behaviors (response rate 70%). Responses were linked to records of sickness absence and medication over the following 12 months.

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RESULTS ': 'Psychiatric staff had higher odds of smoking [odds ratio (OR) 2.58, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.14–3.12], high alcohol use (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.21–1.99), physical inactivity (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11–1.53), chronic physical disease (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04–1.36), current or past mental disorders (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.50–2.17), and co-occurring poor health indicators (OR 2.65, 95% CI 2.08–3.37) as compared to those working in other specialties. They also had higher odds of sickness absence due to mental disorders (OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.02–1.92) and depression (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.02–2.55) at follow-up after adjustment for baseline health and covariates. Personnel in surgery had the lowest probability of morbidity. No major differences between specialties were found in the use of psychotropic medication.

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CONCLUSION ': 'The prevalence of hospital employees with an adverse health risk profile is higher in psychiatric wards than other specialties.

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