Edinburgh Napier University

  Aims: To describe the health behaviours and health of those described as health workers; explore the possible effect of work on their health and early exit from the workforce; and make comparisons to other occupational groups.
Study design and methods: The aims were addressed through 5 studies incorporating both a literature review and secondary analyses of existing data sets using both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches.
Data was collected on demographic data, health, health behaviours, impact of health on work, and workforce exit. Descriptive analysis was used to summarise the comparisons and binary logistic regression and Cox proportional Hazard models were applied to give more in depth analysis.
Results: A disability was reported by 11.1% of nursing and midwifery professionals compared to 7.1% of health professionals and 16.8% of caring personal service workers. One in four nursing and midwifery professionals reported a health problem that affected the amount and type of work they could undertake compared to one in two workers categorised in other occupations. Predictors of poor health included demographics, occupation and health behaviours. Age appeared to be the only significant predictor of workforce exit in the study. Compared to nursing and midwifery professionals, those identifying themselves as nursing auxiliaries, care assistants, and home carers were significantly more likely to leave the workforce before retirement age (p ˂ 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses’ health is poorer than some other health professionals and that they engage in a number of health behaviours known to lead to health problems. Occupation plays a direct or indirect role on health and early exit from the labour market; however, the inter-relationship appears complex. Further research is needed to understand, address and improve the health of nurses and care workers. Factors that explain auxiliaries’, care assistants’ and carers’ workforce exit also require further examination.