Factors associated with health-related quality of life of military policemen in Salvador, Brazil: cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is a violent society and police officers play a fundamental role in this scenario. Police work is a stressful occupation. Dealing with routine violence, police officers must have high standards of physical and mental health. Patrolling the streets involves several risks and stressful situations that may hamper military policemen's quality of life. The identification of factors associated with health-related quality of life may help in planning and providing adequate care to military policemen. This study aimed to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life of military policemen in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional design study investigated a random sample of 329 male military police officers, engaged in patrolling the streets of Salvador, Brazil. A structured questionnaire applied to the policemen collected information about age, education, marital status, income, house ownership, car ownership, police rank, working day, alcohol consumption, smoking, frequency of vigorous physical activity, obesity (body mass index ≥ 30.0), and work ability. Health-related quality of life was evaluated through the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). Work ability was assessed through the Work Ability Index questionnaire. Poor work ability was defined by a 7-27 points score. Multiple linear regression models were used to measure the impact of police officers characteristics on the variation in the Physical Component and Mental Component Summary scores. RESULTS: Normalised scores were below 50.0% for seven out of the eight SF-36 domains and for the two component summaries. The SF-36 Physical Component Summary was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with poor work ability, while the Mental Component Summary was associated with poor work ability, excessive alcohol consumption, and younger age (24-34 years). Multivariate analysis estimated that the Physical Component Summary was 7.386 units (%) lower among policemen with poor work ability compared to those with moderate/good/excellent work ability. The Mental Component Summary was 12.755 units lower among those with poor work ability, 5.354 units lower among those with excessive alcohol consumption, and 5.532 units higher among those with younger age. CONCLUSIONS: The military police officers investigated presented low health-related quality of life, associated with younger age, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor work ability.

Work ability of military police officers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of work ability (WA) and describe characteristics of the subgroup with poor WA among military police officers. METHODS: A descriptive and cross-sectional study with 329 male military police officers engaged in street patrolling in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, selected by proportionate stratified sampling. The Work Ability Index and a structured form were used to collect information about age, education, marital status, housing, salary, car ownership, work hours, rank (official or enlisted), drinking, smoking, frequency of vigorous physical activity, and obesity. Data were analyzed by uni and bivariate statistical techniques. RESULTS: The work ability of the 329 military police officers was classified as poor (10.3%), moderate (28.9%), good (34.7%), and excellent (26.1%), with mean score of 37.8 and standard deviation of 7.3 points. Policemen with poor work ability, compared with those with moderate, good or excellent WA, presented higher proportions of individuals who did not own their residences (p < 0.001), with work hours above eight hours/day (p < 0.026), and obesity (p < 0.001). In the subgroup of the 26 policemen who concomitantly did not own their residences, worked more than eight 8 hours/day and were obese, the prevalence of poor work ability was 31.0%. The prevalence of poor WA was 31.0% among the 29 policemen who were simultaneously obese and did not own their residences and of 27.9% among the 43 policemen who were obese and work hours above eight hours/day. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of military police officers from Salvador presented poor or moderate work ability, which may hamper or compromise their policing activities. The prevalence of poor work ability was higher among the policemen who did not own their residences, worked more than 8 hours/day and were obese.

Work ability of military police officers / Capacidade para o trabalho de policiais militares

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of work ability (WA) and describe characteristics of the subgroup with poor WA among military police officers. METHODS A descriptive and cross-sectional study with 329 male military police officers engaged in street patrolling in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, selected by proportionate stratified sampling. The Work Ability Index and a structured form were used to collect information about age, education, marital status, housing, salary, car ownership, work hours, rank (official or enlisted), drinking, smoking, frequency of vigorous physical activity, and obesity. Data were analyzed by uni and bivariate statistical techniques. RESULTS The work ability of the 329 military police officers was classified as poor (10.3%), moderate (28.9%), good (34.7%), and excellent (26.1%), with mean score of 37.8 and standard deviation of 7.3 points. Policemen with poor work ability, compared with those with moderate, good or excellent WA, presented higher proportions of individuals who did not own their residences (p < 0.001), with work hours above eight hours/day (p < 0.026), and obesity (p < 0.001). In the subgroup of the 26 policemen who concomitantly did not own their residences, worked more than eight 8 hours/day and were obese, the prevalence of poor work ability was 31.0%. The prevalence of poor WA was 31.0% among the 29 policemen who were simultaneously obese and did not own their residences and of 27.9% among the 43 policemen who were obese and work hours above eight hours/day. CONCLUSIONS A high percentage of military police officers from Salvador presented poor or moderate work ability, which may hamper or compromise their policing activities. The prevalence of poor work ability was higher among the policemen who did not own their residences, worked more than 8 hours/day and were obese.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Determinar a prevalência da capacidade para o trabalho (CT) e descrever características do subgrupo com baixa CT em policiais militares. MÉTODOS Estudo descritivo, de corte transversal, investigando 329 policiais militares do sexo masculino que faziam policiamento ostensivo em Salvador, BA, Brasil, selecionados por amostragem estratificada com partilha proporcional. Utilizaram-se o índice de capacidade para o trabalho e um questionário estruturado para coletar informações sobre idade, escolaridade, estado civil, moradia, salário, posse de carro, jornada de trabalho, classe (oficial ou praça), consumo frequente de álcool e tabaco, frequência de atividade física vigorosa e obesidade. Os dados foram analisados com o uso de técnicas estatísticas uni e bivariadas. RESULTADOS A capacidade para o trabalho dos 329 policiais foi classificada como baixa (10,3%), moderada (28,9%), boa (34,7%) ou ótima (26,1%), com escore médio de 37,8 e desvio-padrão de 7,3 pontos. Policiais com baixa capacidade para o trabalho, comparados àqueles com CT moderada, boa ou ótima, apresentaram maiores proporções de indivíduos com moradia não própria (p < 0,001), com jornada de trabalho maior que oito horas por dia (p < 0,026) e obesos (p < 0,001). No subgrupo dos 26 policiais que concomitantemente residiam em moradia não própria, tinham jornada de trabalho maior que oito horas por dia e eram obesos, a prevalência de baixa CT foi de 31,0%. A prevalência de baixa CT foi de 31,0% nos 29 policiais que, simultaneamente, eram obesos e residiam em moradia não própria e de 27,9% nos 43 policiais obesos com jornada de trabalho maior que oito horas por dia. CONCLUSÕES Elevada proporção dos policiais militares de Salvador apresentou baixa ou moderada capacidade para o trabalho, o que pode dificultar ou comprometer o desempenho de sua ocupação. A prevalência de baixa capacidade para o trabalho foi maior em policiais que residiam em moradia não própria, trabalhavam mais que oito horas por dia e, principalmente, eram obesos.