Safety and Health at Work

  • 제12권3호
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  • Pages.384-389
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  • 2021
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  • 2093-7911(pISSN)
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  • 2093-7997(eISSN)
산업안전보건연구원 (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
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Occupational Health Problems and Lifestyle Changes Among Novice Working-From-Home Workers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Ekpanyaskul, Chatchai (Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University) ;
  • Padungtod, Chantana (Division of Occupational and Environmental Diseases, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health)
  • 투고 : 2020.10.13
  • 심사 : 2021.01.25
  • 발행 : 2021.09.30
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초록

Background: Social distancing by working-from-home is an effective measure to decrease the spread of COVID-19. However, this new work pattern could also affect the well-being of workers. Therefore, the aim of the study was to study the magnitude of occupational health problems and lifestyle changes among workers who have only recently started working from home. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using online self-administered questionnaires during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in the Bangkok metropolitan area, Thailand. The participants were from any organization that allowed working from home. The demographic data including the analysis of the characteristics of working from home, the occurrence of occupational health problems, and the lifestyle changes caused by working from home were analyzed. Results: A total of 869 workers were included as study participants. The highest prevalence of physical health problems among all workers was identified to be weight gain at a rate of 40.97% (95% confidence interval = 37.69-44.24), and the highest prevalence of psychosocial problems was identified to be cabin fever at a rate of 31.28% (95% confidence interval = 26.66-35.90%) among full-time working-from-home workers. The health effects that were significantly related to the intensity of working from home (p for trends <0.05), either positively or negatively, included body weight changes, ergonomic problems, indoor environmental problems, and psychosocial problems. Meanwhile, the lifestyle changes related to work intensity included eating pattern, sleep habits, and exercise. Conclusions: Working from home can affect workers' well-being in various aspects. Hence, occupational health providers must prepare for risk prevention and health promotion in this "new normal" working life pattern and for future pandemics.

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과제정보

The researchers would like to thank all workers who participated in this study and all of the experts who validated the questionnaire.

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피인용 문헌

  1. COVID-19, the Built Environment, and Health vol.129, pp.7, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp8888
  2. Assessing the Risk in Urban Public Transport for Epidemiologic Factors vol.14, pp.15, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154513
  3. Telecommuting during COVID 19: A Moderated-Mediation Approach Linking Job Resources to Job Satisfaction vol.13, pp.20, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011449
  4. Impact of Working from Home on Cardiovascular Health: An Emerging Issue with the COVID-19 Pandemic vol.18, pp.22, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182211882