You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.

The effect of work-related risk factors on workability of judicial summoners

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.17, No 1, 2021

The effect of work-related risk factors on workability of judicial summoners

K. Vangelova, I. Dimitrova, V. Stanchev

https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2021.01.028

National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Sofia 1413, Bulgaria

Full article (PDF)

Introduction. The increase of work load in the courts of the bigger towns in the country in the last decades may affect the health and workability of judicial staff.

The aim of the study was to identify the work-related factors influencing the health and workability of judicial summoners.

Methods. The study comprises 52 judiciary summoners, 37 females and 15 males of mean age 47.9±10.9 yrs. Job analysis and questionnaire survey on work conditions and organization, sources of stress at work and health complaints were carried out. Work ability was assessed using work ability index (WAI).

Results. The main risk factors were high pace and strain at work, emotional load due to contact with many people, work under time pressure, need of permanent concentration and overtime. Work led to physical exhaustion after work in 61.5% of the summoners and to emotional exhaustion in 50% of the respondents. The rate of health complaints was high, and the most common were the complaints of pains in the bones, joints and muscles, frequent fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, etc. A large proportion of the respondents reported diagnosed chronic diseases, the most common were musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory and digestive diseases. Work ability was estimated as good or excellent by half of the respondents and was determined by health status and mental resources.

Conclusion: The main determinants of health complaints were high strain, need of permanent concentration and overtime, while of work ability health status and mental resources. To strengthen health and work ability of occupational groups with similar job characteristics it is necessary to take adequate measures to improve work conditions and organization.

Key words: work organization, health complaints, work ability, judicial summoners.

References

  1. Vangelova K, Dimitrova Ir, Stanchev V. Risk factors for health and work ability of judicial clerks. Bulg J Publ Health 2014;6 (5):10-20.
  2. Kivimäki M, Vahtera J, Elovainio M, Virtanen M, Siegrist J. Effort-reward imbalance, procedural injustice and relational injustice as psychosocial predictors of health: Complementary or redundant models? Occup Environ Med 2007;64: 659-665. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2006.031310
  3. Reineholm C. Psychosocial Work Conditions and Aspects of Health, Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1366, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden, ISBN 978-91-7519-599-5, Linköping 2013.
  4. Nieuwenhuijsen K, Bruinvels D, Frings-Dresen M. Psychosocial work environment and stress-related disorders, a systematic review. Occup Med 2010; 60:277-286. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqq081
  5. Schell E, Theorell T, Nilsson B, Saraste H. Work health determinants in employees without sickness absence. Occup Med 2013;63:17-22. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqs164
  6. Ilmarinen J. Aging workers. Occup Environ Med 2001; 58: 546-552. https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.58.8.546
  7. Ilmarinen J. The aging workforce - challenges for occupational health. Occup Med. 2006; 56 (6): 362-4. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kql046
  8. Roelen CAM, Schrender KJ, Koopmans PC, Croothoff JW. Perceived job demands relate to perceived health complaints. Occup Med 2008; V. 58, 1. 58-63. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqm134
  9. SHORT COPSOQ II questionnaire. National Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark https://nfa.dk/da/Vaerktoejer/Sporgeskemaer/Copenhagen-Psychosocial-Questionnaire-COPSOQ-II/Engelsk-udgave
  10. Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Jahkola A, Katajarinne L, Tulkki A. Work ability index. Finnish Institute of Occupational Health Publication Office. Helzinki, 1998.
  11. Mincheva L, Vangelova K. Workability: Assessment using workability index. Translation and adaptation. Dunav press, Ruse 2008.
  12. Fein EC, Skinner N, Machin AM. Work Intensification, Work-Life Interference, Stress, and Well-Being in Australian Workers, International Studies of Management & Organization 2017; 47(4): 360-371 https://doi.org/10.1080/00208825.2017.1382271
  13. Tzenova B. Stress and psychosocial risk factors. Bulg J Publ Health 2010; 2 (2):23-29.
  14. Eurofound (2017), Sixth European Working Conditions Survey - Overview report (2017 update), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
  15. Kikuchi H, Odagiri Y, Ohya Y, Nakanishi Y, Shimomitsu T, Theorell T, et al. Association of overtime work hours with various stress responses in 59,021 Japanese workers: Retrospective cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 2020;15(3): e0229506. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229506
  16. Vangelova K, Dimitrova I, Cekova I, Stoyanova R. The effect of work-related risk factors on health symptoms of hospital nurses. Acta Medica Bulgarica 2021; 58 (1): in print (ISSN 2223-6757)
  17. Rose DM, Seidler A, Nübling M et al. Associations of fatigue to work-related stress, mental and physical health in an employed community sample. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1237-y
  18. Vangelova K, Dimitrova Ir, Tzenova B. Assessment of workability of teachers. Bulg J Publ Health 2014;6 (1):19-21.
  19. Vangelova K, Cekova Ir, Dimitrova Ir. Workability of hospital physicians. Bulg J Publ Health 2020, 12(3):3-14.
  20. Lanfranchi J-B, Duveau A. Explicative models of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD): From biomechanical and psychosocial factors to clinical analysis of ergonomics. European Reviews of Applied Psychology 2008; 58; 4: 201-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2008.09.004
  21. Leroux I, Brisson B, Montreuil S. Job strain and neck-shoulder symptoms: a prevalence study of women and men white-collar workers. Occup Med 2006; 56; 2: 102-109. https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqj005
  22. Roos E, Laaksonen M, Rahkonen O, Lahelma E, Lallukka T. Relative weight and disability retirement: a prospective cohort study. J Work Environ Health 2013;39(3):259-267. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3328
  23. Szubert Z, Sobala W. Health reasons for work disability among persons going into early retirement. Med Pr 2004; 55 (3): 249.
  24. Leinonen T, Pietiläinen O, Laaksonen M, Rahkonen O, Lahelma E, Martikainen P. Occupational social class and disability retirement among municipal employees - the contribution of health behaviors and working conditions. J Work Environ Health 2011;37(6):464-472. https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3182