Addressing future work ability of employees in GP consultations: results of a cross-sectional study

Anna T Ehmann,Peter Martus,Monika A Rieger,Achim Siegel

doi:10.1186/s12995-021-00299-y

Anna T Ehmann, Peter Martus + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00299-y

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Abstract

ObjectivesIn this study we examined to what extent members of a best-practice integrated healthcare model in Germany discussed their subjective future work ability with their general practitioner (GP); furthermore, we examined independent variables which explain whether future work ability is discussed.MethodsIn a cross-sectional survey, 1168 (out of 3218 invited) integrated healthcare members responded to a standardized questionnaire. This study includes n = 475 employed respondents who were at most 65 years old. We determined the (relative) frequency of employed members up to 65 years who had already discussed their subjective future work ability with their GP. By means of logistic regression analysis, explanatory variables were identified which statistically explained the discussion of future work ability with their GP.ResultsN = 80 (16.8%) respondents stated they had discussed their future work ability with their GP. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed the following results: The odds ratio for discussing future work ability is increased the more satisfied respondents are with their general practitioner, the worse they assess their current work ability in relation to the physical demands of the job, and when respondents suffer from one or more chronic diseases (Nagelkerke’s pseudo-R2 = 0.13).ConclusionsEven in this healthcare setting, employees up to the age of 65 rarely discussed their subjective future work ability with their GP. This suggests that the issue ‘future work ability’ is even less commonly discussed in other community-based care settings in Germany. It seems that health care providers involved in acute care only sporadically take this issue into consideration - despite the great importance of maintaining work ability.

Highlights

Work is an essential aspect of life and can strongly influence the health and well-being of the individual [1,2,3]
Missing a „Are the demands of your work mainly ... - mental work; physical work; an equal amount of mental and physical work?” (WAI, introductory question) b „How would you evaluate your current work ability in terms of the physical demands of your work?” (WAI-2, item 1) c „How would you evaluate your current work ability in terms of the psychological demands of your work?” (WAI-2, item 2) d „In terms of your health, do you feel that you will be able to work in your current profession two years ?” (WAI-6)
Translations of items 1–4 given according to Work Ability IndexTM [42] e „Have you ever discussed your assessment of future work ability with your general practitioner?“

Summary

Introduction

Work is an essential aspect of life and can strongly influence the health and well-being of the individual [1,2,3]. Work ability describes the ability to perform in relation to specific work requirements, in particular in relation to the work tasks to be performed on site [7]; work ability is always characterized by the person and the situation [7, 8]. Both the individual prerequisites of employees and the external demands of work change over time, which requires a distinction between current and future work ability [9]. Efforts to maintain work ability throughout working life are deemed the key to a good life in retirement [13]

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