Abstract
Aims and objectives: This study investigates possible causes of physical disability among European nurses, and deals with personal, physical and (social) work environment factors. Design: 39,898 (51.7%) nurses responded to our survey (6335 head nurses; 4933 specialized nurses; 24,142 state-registered nurses; and 4488 nursing aids). Methodology: First, the prevalence of physical disability among nurses in Europe was investigated. Second, multivariate analyses were performed to better understand the influence of possible risk factors for physical disability. A Strobe statement has been added. Results: In general, the risk of physical disability is positively associated with the amount of physical load and the nurses’ dissatisfaction with this, with a lack of teamwork quality, harassment by supervisors, colleagues not (quite) ready to help, not having lifting aids, a high quantitative work demand, and having to work in split shifts. The main moderating or buffering factors addressed in this study are having a part-time job, practice of sport and/or hobbies, and the nurses’ social work environment. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Today, there is a substantial shortage of nurses in Europe, and management in healthcare organizations that fails to improve physical working conditions and to provide adequate (career) support might suffer from, will experience growing levels of disability and dissatisfaction among nursing staff that might result in premature leave, reduced productivity or higher absenteeism.
Highlights
Relevance to Clinical Practice: Today, there is a substantial shortage of nurses in Europe, and management in healthcare organizations that fails to improve physical working conditions and to provide adequate support might suffer from, will experience growing levels of disability and dissatisfaction among nursing staff that might result in premature leave, reduced productivity or higher absenteeism
There is a substantial shortage of nurses in Europe
Previous research has already indicated that physical disability is a common problem among nurses [6] [7] [8], comprising a professional category of employees who have to perform their tasks in an environment that is characterized by both high physical and psychosocial risk factors [9] that contribute to physical disability [8] [10]
Summary
There is a substantial shortage of nurses in Europe. Demographic changes in the coming years might worsen this situation if no action is taken (cf. [1]). Nurses’ physical ability to work is one of the key factors in order to enable them to stay active at the labour market, and to help prevent premature leave [1]. Previous research has already indicated that physical disability is a common problem among nurses [6] [7] [8], comprising a professional category of employees who have to perform their tasks in an environment that is characterized by both high physical (e.g. lifting and bending) and psychosocial risk factors (e.g. stress at work) [9] that contribute to physical disability [8] [10]. Research sampling nurses working in nursing homes and home care is rare (cf. [10] [12])
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