The Working Environment in Primary Healthcare Outpatient Facilities: Assessment of Physical Factors and Health Professionals’ Perceptions of Working Environment Conditions

Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz (), Clarice Alves Bonow, Joana Cezar Vaz, Carlos Henrique Cardona Nery, Mara Regina Santos da Silva, Daniela Menezes Galvão, Aline Soares Alves, Flávia Santana Freitas Sousa, Joice Simionato Vettorello, Jociel Lima de Souza and Joaquim Vaz
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Marta Regina Cezar-Vaz: School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Clarice Alves Bonow: Faculty of Nursing, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, Brazil
Joana Cezar Vaz: Financial Planning Department, Vibra Energia Company, Rio de Janeiro 20211-140, Brazil
Carlos Henrique Cardona Nery: Institute of Human and Information Sciences—ICHI, Federal University of Rio Grande, Santa Vitória do 11 Palmar Campus, Santa Vitória do Palmar 96230-000, Brazil
Mara Regina Santos da Silva: School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Daniela Menezes Galvão: School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Aline Soares Alves: School of Nursing, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil
Flávia Santana Freitas Sousa: University Hospital Professor Edgar Santos, Federal University of Bahia (Hupes-UFBA), Salvador 40110-060, Brazil
Joice Simionato Vettorello: University Hospital Doctor Miguel Riet Corrêa Junior, Federal University of Rio Grande (HU-FURG), Rio Grande 96200-190, Brazil
Jociel Lima de Souza: Municipal Department of Administrative Management and Bids (SMGAL), Municipal Government, Rio Grande 96200-015, Brazil
Joaquim Vaz: School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande-Carreiros Campus, Rio Grande 96203-900, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-28

Abstract: The objectives of this study were to assess the adequacy of physical parameters/factors (temperature, relative humidity, noise, and illuminance levels) of the work environment in PHC facilities, to evaluate the association between the adequacy of these measured physical parameters and the physical characteristics of the PHC facilities and their surroundings and to assess the association between health professionals’ perceptions about exposure to physical risks in the PHC work environment and the adequacy of physical parameters measured in the same facilities. The study monitored 23 PHC facilities in southern Brazil and interviewed 210 health professionals. Data analysis involved Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, Spearman’s correlation, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to control for confounding factors. The significance level was set at 5% ( p ≤ 0.05). The combination of temperature and relative humidity presented thermal comfort levels outside the adopted criteria for adequacy in consultation (outdoor relative humidity, p = 0.013) and procedure rooms (front door open, p = 0.034). Inadequate sound comfort (noise) levels in the morning shift were found in the vaccination (front door open, p = 0.021) and consultation rooms (movement of people, p = 0.016). In PHC facilities where reception rooms had insufficient lighting, internal curtains were opened less frequently ( p = 0.047). The analysis of health professionals’ perceptions of physical factors demonstrated that physicians more frequently perceive the physical risk of temperature and humidity ( p = 0.044). The higher the number of nurses ( p = 0.004) and oral health technicians in the PHC facilities ( p = 0.031), the greater the general percentage of adequacy of monitored physical parameters. It was also confirmed that the higher the perception of moderate or severe physical risk among health professionals, the lower the general percentage of the adequacy of the physical parameters of the work environment of the PHC facilities evaluated (r s = −0.450, p = 0.031). This study’s evidence contributes to a better understanding of physical conditions and future occupational interventions to ensure the comfort, safety, and well-being of PHC workers.

Keywords: physical factors; temperature; air humidity; noise; illuminance; occupational health; risk perception; security and healthy environmental; primary healthcare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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