title: Staff working in ancillary departments at a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India: How healthy are they?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ancillary health services are those supplemental services other than room, board, and medical/nursing services provided to hospital patients in the course of care. Ancillary department staff forms an integral part in the smooth functioning of a hospital. There is a need to focus on the health of these individuals to ensure their well-being and in turn, productivity at the workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the morbidity profile of the staff working at ancillary departments of a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted our study in a 1,200-bedded tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Annual medical checkup (AMC) for all the staff working at the ancillary departments has been started in recent years and is provided free of cost and during working hours. A total of 150 employees from ancillary departments underwent AMC in the year 2013. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Spearman's correlation and Chi-square test were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 150 employees, the majority was male (72%); the mean age was 38 ± 11 years. The most common morbidities were diabetes mellitus (11%), hypertension (10.6%), musculoskeletal disorders (9.3%), surgical problems (8.6%, hemorrhoids, varicose veins), and dental caries (6.6%). On stool microscopy, 12% of the dietary workers showed ova/cyst. There was a significant positive correlation between age and the number of chronic morbidities (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lifestyle disorders such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension were the major morbidities among the staff in the ancillary departments of the hospital. We ensured regular follow-up, adherence to medication, and lifestyle modifications in terms of diet and exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Occupational Health Services, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Bhavya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Balasubramanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Occupational Health Services, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Catherin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nisha
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Occupational Health Services, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Division of Occupational Health Services, St. John's Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Bobby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joseph
keywords: Ancillary departments; morbidity profile; tertiary care hospital