An assessment of the work ability, disability and quality of life of working people of pre-retirement and retirement age in Poland – a cross-sectional pilot study

• Authors: Agnieszka Ćwirlej-Sozańska , Maria Widelak , Marlena Wiernasz , Iwona Wawrzykowska , Natalia Turkosz

Abstracts

EN

ObjectivesThe aim of this work was to assess the work ability, health status, disability and quality of life of working people of pre-retirement and retirement age, as well as to analyze factors affecting the ability to perform work in older age.Material and MethodsA cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in the Podkarpackie and Świętokrzyskie voivodeships, Poland, in randomly selected workplaces of intellectual nature. It was carried out by means of direct interviews in the workplace of the surveyed people, using the Work Ability Index, a questionnaire based on the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0, the WHO Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The criteria for inclusion were: age 55–75 years and informed consent to participate in the study. Overall, 201 complete questionnaires were included in the analysis. Demographic data is presented using descriptive statistics measurements. The logistic regression model was used to identify factors related to work ability.ResultsThe vast majority (69.66%) of employees performing intellectual work had moderate or poor work ability. The average level of general disability in the studied group was mild (20.65), and the quality of life was quite good (64.73). A significant problem among the surveyed people was a quite high average level of pain (VAS = 3.99), the occurrence of depression (73.63%), as well as musculoskeletal (64.18%) and cardiovascular diseases (52.24%). The most important factor contributing to a better work ability was the adaptation of the workplace to functional and healthrelated needs (OR = 7.79). Psychological well-being (OR = 1.12), cognitive performance (OR = 0.97) and a smaller number of chronic diseases (OR = 0.58) were also important factors.ConclusionsPreparation of elderly people for professional activity should be conducted in 2 different ways, i.e., by means of education and implementation of an active, healthy lifestyle, and increasing control over one’s own health and factors determining it, as well as by the proper organization of working space, and quick access to treatment and rehabilitation, especially in the case of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords

EN

quality of life; disability; Work Ability Index; work ability; older workers; pre-retirement and retirement age

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 69-85

Dates

published

2021

Contributors

author

Agnieszka Ćwirlej-Sozańska

• Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszów, Poland (Institute of Health Sciences)

author

Maria Widelak

• Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszów, Poland (Institute of Health Sciences)

author

Marlena Wiernasz

• Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszów, Poland (Institute of Health Sciences)

author

Iwona Wawrzykowska

• Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszów, Poland (Institute of Health Sciences)

author

Natalia Turkosz

• Medical College of Rzeszow University, Rzeszów, Poland (Institute of Health Sciences)

Identifiers

DOI

10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01591

Biblioteka Nauki

2086121