Shift Work, Quality of Life and Work Ability among Croatian Hospital Nurses

Abstract

This paper is a report of a study of the associations of shift work with work ability and quality of life (QoL) among clinical nurses. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007-2008 on 1124 nurses using the Work Ability Index Questionnaire and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Lower education was a predictor for low level of work ability and low physical health domain of QoL. Older age and having no partner were statistically significantly related to lower social interaction. Predictors significantly related to low environment domain of QoL were low education and shift work. Shift workers had higher level of level of work ability, but clinically insignificant. The study provides no evidence of a significant association between shift work and work ability or quality of life. Education has a positive association with nurses’ work ability and quality of life.