Psychosocial factors at hospital work: experienced conditions related to job strain and effort-reward imbalance

Abstract Introduction: inadequate hospital work conditions and organization constitute psychosocial factors at work (PSFW) that trigger stress and may have negative outcomes for workers, patients and institutions. Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of PSFW and associated personal and occupational conditions among hospital workers. Methods: cross-sectional study with 1,795 workers from a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. A self-administered form was used to evaluate demographic and occupational features and PSFW (questionnaires based on the Demand-Control and Effort-Reward models). Descriptive analysis and ordinal logistic regression of partial proportional odds were performed. Results: prevalence rates of conditions related to job strain were: 13.6% low risk, 73.0% intermediate risk and 13.4% high risk. Effort-reward imbalance prevalence rates were: 33.1% low imbalance, 31.3% moderate imbalance, 30.8% high imbalance and 4.8% non-answer. Individual and occupational features were associated with the occurrence of PSFW. Conclusion: the two models evaluate different aspects of the work activities and social insertion of individuals at work, and individual and occupational conditions were associated with PSFW. The results show that different issues should be considered when planning intervention to improve the psychosocial environment at work.