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Working Conditions of Occupational Physicians—A Scoping Review

Author

Listed:
  • Eva Eisch

    (German Economic Institute, Research Unit Vocational Participation and Inclusion, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 21, 50668 Cologne, Germany)

  • Paulina Kuper

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Fehrbelliner Str. 38, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany)

  • Lara Lindert

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Fehrbelliner Str. 38, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany)

  • Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi

    (Center for Health Services Research, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Fehrbelliner Str. 38, 16816 Neuruppin, Germany
    Health Services Research, MIAAI Group, Faculty of Medicine/Dentistry, Danube Private University, Steiner Landstr. 124, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria)

Abstract

Occupational physicians (OPs) offer a wide range of health support for employees and are confronted with varying job characteristics and demands. They monitor occupational health and safety and promote work(place)-related health measures and assessments. While helping employees to (re)gain a healthy status, their own job satisfaction as well as the investigation of their working conditions have earned limited research attention. Thus, this scoping review aims to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning OPs’ working conditions, i.e., work-related resources and stressors. PubMed, Web of Science and LIVIVO as well as grey literature were screened for relevant English or German articles until 10/2021. From a total of 1683 identified publications, we analyzed 24 full text articles that fulfilled all inclusion criteria. The overall study sample included 3486 male (54.6%), 2892 female (45.3%) and 5 diverse OPs, from which 1049 OPs worked in full-time (85.6%) and 177 in part-time (14.4%). The majority (72.4%) worked for the Occupational Health Service (OHS), 13% were self-employed, and 14.6% worked for a company/in-house service. The classification of stressors and resources was based on an inductively generated categorization scheme. We categorized 8 personal, relational and environmental resources and 10 stress factors. The main resources were support for personnel development and promotion, positive organizational policy, promoting work-life balance and other aspects of health. Key stressors were information deficits, organizational deficiency and uncertainty as well as socioeconomic influences and high professional obligations. The working conditions of OPs are still a topic with too little research attention. This scoping review reveals several starting points to maintain a healthy OP workforce and gives recommendations for action for the near future.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Eisch & Paulina Kuper & Lara Lindert & Kyung-Eun (Anna) Choi, 2022. "Working Conditions of Occupational Physicians—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-30, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6222-:d:820055
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert L. Clark & Beth M. Ritter, 2020. "How Are Employers Responding to an Aging Workforce?," NBER Working Papers 26633, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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