ภาวะสุขภาพตามความเสี่ยงจากการทำงานของพยาบาลวิชาชีพโรงพยาบาลสังกัดกองทัพภาคที่3

Abstract

Registered nurses have potential exposure to workplace hazards resulting in work related illnesses and injuries. This descriptive study aimed to examine health status related to risk at work among 124 registered nurses working at the third army area hospitals. Data collection was carried out from April to June, 2014. The study instrument was a questionnaire of health status related to risk at work among registered nurses, which was confirmed through content validity by a panel of experts and yielded an index of 1. Reliability was tested and its value was at an acceptable level (0.82-0.90). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. The main results showed that health status related to risk at work regarding illnesses, possibly related to exposure to workplace hazards perceived by the study sample during the past one month, included; musculoskeletal pain such as neck pain and shoulder pain, showed in equal proportions (80.65%), followed by hand, wrist and elbow joint pain (70.59%). The study sample indicated work-related stress from heavy workload (77.42%), stress from rushing work (75.81%) and from complex work (74.19%), and eye strain (50.81%). Work-related injury during the past three months was 34.68 percent. The injury causation was stumbling over objects (58.00%), and cuts from sharp instruments (22.00%). The injury was bruises of 89.00%. The most commonly injured body parts were lower part of legs (45.93%) followed by hand and finger (18.52%), which were non-fatal injuries, and without taking a day off (99.00%). The results of this study indicate that occupational health nurses and related health professionals should recognize the importance of systematic care management among registered nurses through workplace health and environmental surveillance. Health information dissemination is needed to raise their awareness to create health promotion and reduce risk of exposure to hazards in the workplace.