title: Predictors of lower work ability among emergency medicine employees: the Croatian experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Worldwide research has indicated that emergency medicine employees and particularly ambulance personnel have symptoms related to traumatic events, and experience more chronic stressors in their work than workers in other health service settings. Unlike other countries which conducted similar studies, no specialty branch in emergency medicine exists in Croatia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify possible predictors of low work ability, including occupational stress and quality of life, among emergency medicine employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2010 till July 2010 in the Institute of Emergency Medicine in the City of Zagreb. Questionnaires were distributed to all employees with gathered total sample of 125 subjects (39 physicians, 38 medical nurses /technicians and 48 drivers). Data were collected using the socio-demographic questions, occupational stress assessment, work ability index (WAI) and WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Emergency physicians were significantly more exposed to public criticism (p=0.008) but drivers had more exposure to hazards at workplace (p=0.001) regarding other employee groups. Binary logistic regression model showed two significant predictors of lower work ability (WAI score <37): lower physical WHO-BREF domain (OR=0.78; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.89; p<0.001) and the professional and intellectual demands (OR=1.09; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.19; p=0.043).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strenuous physical activity should be reduced in order to increase the overall work ability of the emergency medicine employees and better structural organisation and introduction of a residency in emergency medicine should significantly improve total work ability among emergency physicians.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Orthopedics and Traumatology, Klinikum Fichtelgebirge gGmbH, Marktredwitz, Germany. klasan.antonio@gmail.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klasan
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Madzarac
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosevic
authors.forename: Jadranka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustajbegovic
authors.forename: Slobodanka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keleuva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation