Prevalence and Factors Affecting Job Strain Among The Managers in Primary Health Care Services in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose: Stress at work is one of the risk factors of occupational health and safety in industrialized and developing countries. Working in thehealth care services has been accepted as one of the most stressful jobs. The aim of this study is to define stress and contributing factors of jobstrain in managers in the primary health care services.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine prevalence and factors affecting job strain in primary health care managers. Astandardized self-administered questionnaire was used for stress assessment with a second questionnaire for socio-demographic factors andworking life features. Turkish version of the Swedish Demand Control Questionnaire was used. A total of 55 managers were recruited fromHealth District in Izmir. A second questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic and working life features.Results: Among the total of 55 managers, 54 (98%) responded the questionnaire. The mean age was 40±8 years; 21 (39%) were insecure orpartly secure managers. The job strain was found in 71% of the insecure group compared to 36% more secure managers (p=0.026). The jobinsecurity was a significant risk factor for job strain (OR=4.8, CI=1.4–16.5).Conclusion: The job insecurity was strongly associated with job strain. The study provides an insight on the prevalence and important factorsaffecting the job strain among the primary health care managers in Turkey