Diagnosis of Psychosocial Risk Determinants and the Prioritization of Organizational Intervention Objects Among Medical Occupational Groups in a Public Healthcare
Institution

Background and Objectives: As the work environment is one of the most significant sources of stress, employers in the European Union are obliged to identify psychosocial risk determinants and take preventive measures to improve workers' health and well-being while at work. The aim of this study was to determine which medical occupational group is the most exposed to stress and where any differences lie between medical occupational groups regarding the perception of psychosocial risk determinants and organizational intervention objects in the Lithuanian public healthcare institution.

Material and Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, paper questionnaires were delivered to all health workers (n = 690) of the Lithuanian public healthcare institution; the response rate 68% (n = 467). The questionnaire consisting of three parts was completed for the survey. It covers 14 psychosocial risk determinants, 10 organizational intervention objects, sociodemographic data of health workers.

Results: The results showed that perceived stress had mean rank scores differing statistically significant (p-value <0.05) across occupational groups. The highest stress rating was given by a doctors’ group. Regarding psychosocial risk determinants, there were statistically significant differences (p-value <0.05) in work overload scores among doctors, heads of units, other health workers; in overtime scores and in tight deadlines scores between doctors and other health workers; in unclear role scores among all medical occupational groups; in being under-skilled for a job scores between nurses and doctors; in responsibility for decision making scores among heads of units, doctors, other health workers. Concerning organizational intervention objects, there were statistically significant differences (p-value <0.05) in work-life balance scores, ensuring skills/abilities matching to the job demands scores, social support scores, organizational support scores, participation in decision-making scores, justice of reward scores, manager feedback scores, variety of tasks scores among heads of units, doctors, nurses, other health workers.

Conclusions: The results of the study confirmed that different occupational groups emphasized different psychosocial risk determinants and organizational intervention objects. The findings suggest that focusing on the average worker do not have practical value, and that it is important to understand the differential effects of different job characteristics on work outcomes considering occupational status while developing coping strategies in the institution. The risk group with the most exposed to stress were doctors in the healthcare institution.