Chela-Alvarez Xènia, Bulilete Oana, Garcia-Illan Encarna, Vidal-Thomàs MClara, Llobera Joan
Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain.
GrAPP-caIB - Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Palma, Spain.
Ann Occup Environ Med. 2022 Oct 25;34:e29. doi: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e29. eCollection 2022.
Hotel housekeepers are one of the most important occupational group within tourism hotel sector; various health problems related to their job have been described, above all musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study is to understand the experiences and perceptions of hotel housekeepers and key informants from the Balearic Islands (Spain) regarding occupational health conditions and the strategies employed to mitigate them.
A qualitative study was carried out. Six focus groups with hotel housekeepers and 10 semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted. Next, we carried out a content analysis.
Hotel housekeepers reported musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety and stress as main occupational health problems; health professionals underscored the physical problems. Hotel housekeepers perceived that their work (physically demanding and with repetitive movements) caused their health conditions. To solve health issues, they used medication (anti-inflammatory agents, painkillers, sedatives and anxiolytics), which allowed them to continue working; health public services, generally rated as satisfactory; individual protective equipment; ergonomics (with difficulties due to high work pace and hotel facilities) and physical activity. Two contrasting attitudes were identified regarding sick leave: HHs who refused to accept a doctor-prescribed sick leave (due to fear of being fired, sense of responsibility, ...), and those who accepted it (because they could not continue working, they prioritised health before work).
Our results might contribute to plan improvement strategies and programs to address health problems among hotel housekeepers. These programs should include interventions, such as coping strategies for the work-related risk factors (i.e., stress) and strategies to reduce medicine consumption. Additionally, hotel facilities should adopt policies focused on making workplaces more ergonomic (i.e., furniture) and to diminish the work pace.
酒店客房服务员是旅游酒店行业中最重要的职业群体之一；已描述了与他们工作相关的各种健康问题，尤其是肌肉骨骼疾病。本研究的目的是了解西班牙巴利阿里群岛酒店客房服务员和关键信息提供者对职业健康状况以及为减轻这些状况所采用策略的经历和看法。
进行了一项定性研究。对酒店客房服务员进行了6个焦点小组访谈，并对关键信息提供者进行了10次半结构化访谈。接下来，我们进行了内容分析。
酒店客房服务员报告肌肉骨骼疾病、焦虑和压力是主要的职业健康问题；卫生专业人员强调了身体问题。酒店客房服务员认为他们的工作（体力要求高且动作重复）导致了他们的健康状况。为了解决健康问题，他们使用药物（抗炎药、止痛药、镇静剂和抗焦虑药），这使他们能够继续工作；卫生公共服务总体评价为令人满意；个人防护设备；人体工程学（由于工作节奏快和酒店设施而存在困难）和体育活动。在病假方面发现了两种截然不同的态度：拒绝接受医生开具病假的客房服务员（由于担心被解雇、责任感等），以及接受病假的客房服务员（因为他们无法继续工作，他们将健康置于工作之前）。
我们的结果可能有助于制定改善策略和计划，以解决酒店客房服务员的健康问题。这些计划应包括干预措施，如针对与工作相关风险因素（即压力）的应对策略以及减少药物消费的策略。此外，酒店设施应采取政策，侧重于使工作场所更符合人体工程学（即家具）并降低工作节奏。
