Work ability and sociodemographic and work organization factors in professional drivers

Abstract

Introduction: The study of work ability (WA) in professional drivers is a worldwide concern where work characteristics, lack of physical activity, and ergonomic problems have been associated with worker health problems. Objective: This thesis investigated WA and its associated sociodemographic and work organization factors in professional drivers. Methods: Initially, a systematic review was carried out on work capacity in professional drivers. Then, a cross-sectional study was carried out, through the application of questionnaires for sociodemographic assessment and work organization, work ability (Work Ability Index - WAI), work-related stress (Stress at Work Scale), and level of physical activity (Baecke questionnaire) of the professional drivers in Curitiba/PR. The third study, longitudinal, followed the participants of the cross-sectional research after 6 and 12 months in order to, through a questionnaire, collect data on workers' leave due to accident or occupational disease. The data were presented by descriptive statistics and also, and the cross-sectional study data was analyzed by ordinal logistic regression and the longitudinal study by linear regression. Results: The scoping review pointed to 18 studies in different transport categories around the world. The characteristics of work organization, lack of physical activity, comorbidities, psychosocial and ergonomic factors were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms and stress in professional drivers. The cross-sectional survey (n=449) identified that lifestyle factors better explained WAI variability (R2 = 0.029, P < 0.001). WAI was inversely associated with stress Work ability was inversely associated with stress (b = -0.020, 95%CI -0.028 to -0.011, <0.001) and occupational physical activity (b = -0.425, 95%CI -0.772 to -0.079, p = 0.016) but directly associated with leisure activities and locomotion (b = 0.441, 95%CI 0.176 to 0.708, p < 0.001) and physical exercises in leisure (b = 0.279, 95%CI 0.047 to 0.513, p = 0.019). Finally, the longitudinal survey at 6 months (n = 352) and at 12 months (n = 270) showed that WAI was inversely associated with occupational health absenteeism at 6 months (b=-0.096 95%CI -0.187 to -0.006, P=0.037), as well as it was inversely associated with absenteeism due to work accidents at 12 months (b=-0.189 95%CI -0.331 to -0.047, P=0.009). Discussion: This is the first longitudinal study on professional drivers in Brazil that included a wide range of personal and professional characteristics. The observed data support the hypothesis that lifestyle factors better explain WA, compared to sociodemographic and ergonomic factors. Our findings corroborate the literature on the inverse relationship between WA and stress in professional drivers in Brazil. Conclusion: Despite the scarcity of longitudinal research on WA in professional drivers, there is a consensus that the topic requires attention, as it may be related to physical, mental, and social factors. The level of occupational physical activity and stress were negatively associated with WAI while leisure-time physical activity and locomotion positively. In this research, the WAI can be observed as a predictor of occupational health, however, there remains a vast field of research to be explored in, specific studies for each mode of transport.