A study into psychosocial work stressors and health care productivity

Abstract

Background: World Health Organization's Healthy Workplace Framework and Model has emphasized addressing psychosocial work stressors as one of the important avenues toward creating a conducive workplace. Management and interventions of these adverse stressors have been unremarkable; impairing work productivity. Objective: To explore the effect of psychosocial work stressors on health service productivity. Methods: Using Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II and Healthcare Productivity Survey, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 225 health and allied health professionals in the largest referral hospital in Brunei. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the relationship of each domain of work productivity to indicators of psychosocial work stressors. Results: Psychosocial work stressors explained more than 50% of the variance for health care productivity. Influence at work, role clarity, rewards and job satisfaction were among the factors with the highest contributions to this relationship. Conclusion: Crucial factors were identified and discussed, however, due to complexity of this relationship, international collaborations and efforts are required to ameliorate adverse effects of psychosocial stressors and improve health service productivity.