Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, P.O. Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 May 12;17(10):3379. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17103379.
The Swedish public sector is facing great challenges in recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, due to increasing sick leave numbers. The aim of this study was to describe Swedish occupational therapists' occupational health in terms of risk factors in the social and organizational work environment, occupational balance, and work-related mental health problems. A web survey was emailed to all working members of the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists ( = 7600) and 3658 answered the survey. The web survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, social and organizational environment, occupational balance, and work-related health. The occupational therapists in general rated their workload as high, which was described as leading to increased stress, difficulties doing a good job, and increased job turnover. They also reported having difficulties maintaining occupational balance. Almost a fifth reported having symptoms related to mild incipient exhaustion or a pronounced exhaustion disorder. Almost 60 percent reported having, during the last year, seriously considered seeking new employment as an occupational therapist and 35 percent had seriously intended to leave their profession. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to improve the work situation of occupational therapists. If not, increases in mental health problems, sick leave and job turnover rates may seriously jeopardize the welfare system by eroding healthcare.
瑞典公共部门在招聘和留住医疗保健专业人员方面面临巨大挑战，这主要是由于请病假的人数不断增加。本研究旨在描述瑞典职业治疗师在社会和组织工作环境、职业平衡和与工作相关的心理健康问题方面的职业健康状况。我们向瑞典职业治疗师协会的所有在职成员发送了一封电子邮件调查，共 7600 人，其中 3658 人回答了调查。网络调查包括社会人口特征、社会和组织环境、职业平衡以及与工作相关的健康问题。总的来说，职业治疗师们认为自己的工作量很大，这导致了压力增加、工作质量下降以及人员流动增加。他们还报告说，很难保持职业平衡。近五分之一的人报告说出现了与轻度初现疲惫或明显疲惫障碍相关的症状。近 60%的人报告说在过去一年中曾认真考虑过寻找新的职业治疗师工作，35%的人曾认真打算离开他们的行业。总之，迫切需要改善职业治疗师的工作状况。否则，心理健康问题、病假和人员流动率的增加可能会严重危及福利系统，因为这会削弱医疗保健。
