Work Ability in Healthcare: Vulnerable Groups and Organizational Factors

The recent pandemic, along with heavy workloads and staff shortages, has placed significant pressure on healthcare workers. Maintaining adequate work ability is vital for ensuring favorable working conditions, mitigating stress, preventing related illnesses, and safeguarding worker performance and patient safety. This article assesses the work ability and working conditions of healthcare professionals at the University Hospital of Modena through a questionnaire administered between August 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022, to identify vulnerable groups and organizational factors influencing work ability. Among workers with reduced work ability, the majority are over 45 years old and female, 52% are obese, 64% have 3 or more illnesses, 47% report a poor work-life balance, and 50% have at least one dependent adult. Work characteristics are also highlighted as relevant: supervisor support and cooperation with colleagues, autonomy in decision-making processes, participation in the improvement of work processes, possession of skills appropriate to the tasks required, are associated with high levels of work ability. Finally, nurses and nurses aides are associated with lower work ability. Emergency and medical wards are particularly critical in terms of work ability when gender and age differences are taken into account.