[Work strain and well being among different groups of female personnel in geriatric care.].
OBJECTIVE
To study possible inequalities in work strain and well-being among women working in geriatric care and to find out if some groups might need special public health measures.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional questionnaire reaching throughout Iceland, the participants were employees in 62 geriatric nursing homes and geriatric hospital wards with 10 or more employees. A total of 1886 questionnaires were distributed. The 84-item questionnaire included questions on demographic and work-related factors, health and life style. Age-adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated and confidence intervals were set at 95% (95% CI). Registered nurses were taken as a reference category.


RESULTS
The response rate was 80%. Registered nurses accounted for 16%, practical nurses 21%, unskilled attendants 44%, cleaning personnel 8% and others 12% of the total group. Men were 4.5% of the group. The practical nurses, unskilled attendants and cleaning personnel assessed work as more physically difficult, and more monotonous both physically and mentally, than did the registered nurses, who enjoyed somewhat more physical and mental well-being than the others. Little difference was found as to visits to doctors.


CONCLUSIONS
Various personnel groups of women in geriatric care have different physical and psychosocial workload that is reflected in their well being. The results provide opportunities to guide public health measures for people employed in geriatric care.
Gunnarsdóttir
Hólmfríður K
HK
Department of research and occupational health, Administration of Occupational Safety and Health in Iceland, Bíldshœfða 16, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland. hkg@ver.is.
Tómasson
Kristinn
K
Rafnsdóttir
Guðbjœrg Linda
GL