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A new typology of work schedules: Evidence from a cross-sectional study among nurses working in residential elder care
Peters, V. ; Rijk, A de ; Engels, J.A. ; Heerkens, Y.F. ; Nijhuis, F
2016, Article / Letter to editor (Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation, vol. 54, iss. 1, (2016), pp. 21-33)BACKGROUND: Work schedules contribute substantially to the health and well-being of nurses. Too broad typologies are used in research that do not meet the current variety in work schedules. OBJECTIVE: To develop a newtypology for nurses' work schedules based on five requirements and to validate the typology. METHODS: This study is based on a questionnaire returned by 498 nurses (response 51%) including questions regarding nurses' work schedule, socio-demographic, and family characteristics and their appraisal of the work schedule. Frequencies of the different schedules were computed to determine the typology. To validate the typology, differences between the types were tested with ANOVAs, Chi(2) and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Five main types can be distinguished based on predetermined requirements and frequencies, namely: (1) fixed early shift, (2) rotating two shift pattern without night shift, (3) rotating three shift pattern, (4) fixed and rotating two shift pattern including night shift, and (5) fixed normal day or afternoon shifts. Nurses in these types of work schedule differed significantly with respect to hours worked, days off between shifts, age, education, years in the job, commuting time, contribution to household income, satisfaction with work schedule and work schedule control. Especially nurses with type 3 schedules differed from other types. CONCLUSIONS: A typology of five main types of work schedules is proposed. Content validity of the typology is sufficient and the new typology seems useful for research on work-related aspects of nursing.
PHYSIOTHERAPY WORKS: RCT ON THE (COST-)EFFECTIVENESS OF A PHYSICAL THERAPIST-LED, WORK-ORIENTED INTERVENTION IN PEOPLE WITH AXIAL SPONDYLOARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Bakker, NF ; Knoop, J. ; Hutting, N. ; Heerkens, Y.F. ; Engels, J.A. ; Staal, J.B. ; Leeden, M van der ; Boonen, A ; Vlieland, TPMV ; Weely, SFE van
2021, Article / Letter to editor (Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, vol. 39, iss. 5, (2021), pp. 1240)
Development of a Vitality Scan related to workers' sustainable employability: a study assessing its internal consistency and construct validity.
Brouwers, L.A.M. ; Engels, J.A. ; Heerkens, Y.F. ; Beek, A.J. van der
2015, Article / Letter to editor (BMC Public Health, vol. 15, (2015), pp. 551)BACKGROUND: Most validated sustainable employability questionnaires are extensive and difficult to obtain. Our objective was to develop a usable and valid tool, a Vitality Scan, to determine possible signs of stagnation in one's functioning related to sustainable employability and to establish the instrument's internal consistency and construct validity. METHODS: A literature review was performed and expert input was obtained to develop an online survey of 31 items. A sample of 1722 Dutch employees was recruited. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. The underlying theoretical concepts were extracted by factor analysis using a principal component method. For construct validity, a priori hypotheses were defined for expected differences between known subgroups: 1) older workers would report more stagnation than younger workers, and 2) less educated workers would report more problems than the highly educated ones. Both hypotheses were statistically tested using ANOVA. RESULTS: Internal consistency measures and factor analysis resulted in five subscales with acceptable to good reliability (Cronbach's alpha 0.72-0.87). These subscales included: balance and competence, motivation and involvement, resilience, mental and physical health, and social support at work. Three items were removed following these analyses. In accordance with our a priori hypothesis 1, the ANOVA showed that older workers reported the most problems, while younger workers reported the least problems. However, hypothesis 2 was not confirmed: no significant differences were found for education level. CONCLUSIONS: The developed Vitality Scan - with the 28 remaining items - showed good measurement properties. It is applicable as a user-friendly, evaluative instrument for worker's sustainable employability. The scan's value for determining whether or not the employee is at risk for a decrease in functioning during present and future work, should be further tested.
Physical work load and its assessment among the nursing staff in nursing homes.
Engels, J.A. ; Gulden, J.W. van der ; Senden, T.F. ; Hertog, C.A. ; Kolk, J.J. ; Binkhorst, R.A.
1994, Article / Letter to editor (Jom. Journal of Occupational Medicine, vol. 36, iss. 3, (1994), pp. 338-345)A study was conducted to investigate the physical work load and the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints of nurses in nursing homes. Thirty-six female subjects selected from three nursing homes in the Netherlands participated in an observational study. In addition, the total nursing staff (n = 668) was invited to take part in a questionnaire survey (response was 94%). It was noticed that almost 60% of the observed time was spent on nonpatient-related activities. Moreover, activities alternated rapidly and seldom lasted longer than 4 minutes on average. Twenty percent of the observed time was spent in "poor" work postures as defined by the Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (Action Category 2 to 4). Activities contributing most to these poor work postures were patient care and household and preliminary tasks. Perceived exertion as scored on the Borg-CR10 scale was highest during patient-related activities. This holds also for a relative increase of heart rate. Questionnaire results showed prevalences of 41%, 35%, and 20% respectively, for back, arm/neck, and leg complaints. From this study it can be concluded that not only patient-related activities should be taken into consideration for the improvement of work postures and other potential strenuous aspects of nursing work. Household and preliminary tasks, ergonomic layout of the ward, and work pressure also deserve attention.
Sickness Absence of Nurses Working in Residential Elder Care: The Essential Role of Psychosocial Job Resources and Home Demands.
Peters, V. ; Rijk, A.E. de ; Engels, J.A. ; Houkes, I. ; Joosten, J. ; Kant, I.
2018, Article / Letter to editor (Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 60, iss. 9, (2018), pp. e445-e454)OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the role and pathways of psychosocial home demands, psychosocial home resources, and psychosocial job resources in relation to sickness absence among nurses working in residential elder care. METHODS: Longitudinal (SEM) analyses with bootstrapping with a 1 year follow-up among 365 nurses were performed. Survey data and registered sickness absence data were used. RESULTS: A complete mediation model showed the best fit. More psychosocial job resources (β = -1.50) like "work schedule fit with private life" predicted less and more psychosocial home demands (β = 0.62) predicted more psychosomatic health complaints. The job resources and home demands predicted sickness absence duration and episodes 1-year later mediated through nurses' health. CONCLUSIONS: More attention is needed for nurses' work schedule fit with private life and their home demands to potentially reduce health-related sickness absence among nurses working in residential elder care.

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