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Working conditions of nurses: evaluation based on the demand-control model

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between indicators of psychological demands and job control among nursing workers, according to the Demand-Control Model. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study, with 491 nurses of a public university hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, in the period of March to December 2006. It was used the Brazilian version of the Job Content Questionnaire, to assess the psychosocial dimensions of work (psychological demands and control). RESULTS: It was found that 30% of nursing workers were classified in the passive work group (low demand and low control), 29% in the active work (high demand and high control), 21% in the high demand ( high demand and low control) and 20% in the low demand (low demand and high control). The high demand was higher among technicians and nursing assistants. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to implement measures that aim to reduce the psychological demands from work and allow greater flexibility and autonomy to the worker.

Working conditions; Occupational health; Nursing staff


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