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by Pamela A. Ratner and Richard Sawatzky
Abstract
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This study compares the health status, preventive behaviour and risk factors of female nurses with those of other employed postsecondary-educated women.
Cross-sectional data from the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to adjust for potential confounding by demographic and socio-economic characteristics.
When confounding by demographic and socio-economic characteristics was taken into account, nurses were more likely than other employed postsecondary-educated women to report back problems, that most work days were “quite a bit” or “extremely” stressful, and having had flu immunizations and cervical cancer screening. They were less likely to report insufficient consumption of vegetables and fruit or heavy alcohol use.
Canadian nurses’ occupation may account for their higher prevalence of back problems and work stress. At the same time, their occupation may motivate flu immunization, cervical cancer screening, and vegetable and fruit consumption. Some problematic aspects of nurses’ health profile are similar to those of other educated women.
health behaviour, health surveys, occupational health, preventive practices, risk factors
Research on the health of Canadian nurses has revealed a number of areas of concern. Nurses face occupational health hazards that include exposure to infectious diseases, biological hazards and carcinogens; psychological demands; and shift work. A study commissioned by Health Canada’s Office of Nursing Policy found that registered nurses who were employed full-time had an illness- and injury-related absenteeism rate 83% higher than that of other occupational groups. This level of absenteeism raises questions about nurses’ health, the environments in which they work, the work they do and how it is organized, and the cost to the system in lost time—an estimated 19.6 million hours (about 11,000 full-time equivalents) in 2002. [Full text]
Pamela A. Ratner (604-822-7427; pam.ratner@ubc.ca) is with NEXUS and the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3. Richard Sawatzky (604-513-2121 ext. 3274; rick.sawatzky@twu.ca) is with the School of Nursing, Trinity Western University, Langley, British Columbia, V2Y 1Y1.