ORIGINAL PAPER
Fatigue based on the subjective feeling of people representing selected medical professions
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1
University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland
(Medical College, Institute of Health Sciences)
2
“SPINETIC” Motor Organ Rehabilitation Clinic, Warsaw, Poland
(Physiotherapy Unit)
3
Early Intervention Center, Rzeszów, Poland
(Physiotherapy Unit)
Online publication date: 2024-01-17
Corresponding author
Ewa Puszczalowska-Lizis
University of Rzeszów, Medical College, Institute of Health Sciences, Warzywna 1A, 35-310 Rzeszów, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):72-83
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Fatigue can be the result of overexertion and overload. It occurs when the burdened body does not have enough time for regeneration
and biological renewal. The aim of this study was analysis of fatigue based on the subjective feeling in physiotherapists, nurses, and paramedics. Material and Methods: The research covered 193 women and 107 men aged 30–60 years, including 100 physiotherapists, 100 nurses and
100 paramedics with higher education, employed in clinics and hospitals in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland. The research tool of choice
was 30-item Research Committee on Industrial Fatigue Fatigue Scale, adapted into the Polish language by Paluch. The data were analyzed based on
ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank correlation. Results: Values determining frequency of decrease in activity
were higher in nurses than in physiotherapists (p < 0.001) and paramedics (p = 0.005). Physiotherapists and nurses showed statistically significant
positive associations of all fatigue indices with age and seniority. Sex-related differences in the frequency of physical fatigue symptoms have been
noted (p = 0.044). Among people working in outpatient clinics and hospitals there were statistically significant differences in the frequency of
decrease in activity (p = 0.001) and general level of fatigue (p = 0.031). Conclusions: In nurses and physiotherapists, the frequency of experiencing
ailments increases with age and work experience. This suggests that in the case of these professions it is important to quick identification of signs
of fatigue and taking actions to prevent its worsening. Women experience fatigue more often, so they especially need to take steps to prevent and,
if necessary, treat this condition. Hospitals should be an area of special involvement in the process of implementing programs to counteract fatigue
of employees in the medical services sector. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):72–83