ORIGINAL PAPER
Determinants of self-rated health of a working population
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1
Medical University of Lodz / Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi, Łódź, Poland
(Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine, Social Medicine Department / Katedra Medycyny Społecznej i Zapobiegawczej,
Zakład Medycyny Społecznej)
2
Regional Occupational Medicine Centre in Kielce / Wojewódzki Ośrodek Medycyny Pracy w Kielcach, Kielce, Poland
3
Medical University of Lodz / Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łodzi, Łódź, Poland
(Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics / Katedra Medycyny Społecznej i Zapobiegawczej,
Zakład Epidemiologii i Biostatystyki)
Corresponding author
Marek Bryła
Medical University of Lodz,
Chair of Social and Preventive Medicine, Social Medicine Department, Żeligowskiego 7/9, 90-752 Łódź, Poland
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2015;66(1):17-28
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Background: Self-rated health relates to the use of medical help and, as a consequence, determines sick leave in the population
of employees. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between socioeconomic variables, selected forms of positive
health behaviour and subjective evaluation of health in employees. Material and Methods: Five hundred and 99 subjects
were included in the study – 331 females and 268 males, aged 18–67, working in the area of the Świętokrzyskie province. The
authors’ survey questionnaire on the selected elements of the state of health and positive health behavior in life style has been
used in the study. Anthropometric measures were carried out. A Chi2 test for independence was used in the statistical analysis.
In order to evaluate the effect of the selected factors on the self-rated health of the studied subjects the researchers have applied
single- and multiple-factor logistic regression. Results: In the multiple-factor logistic regression the features contributing to good
or excellent self-rated health were the following: age up to 39 (odds ratio – OR = 4.17; 95% confidence interval – CI: 1.72–10.10;
p < 0.002), higher education (OR = 3.01; 95% CI: 1.04–8.70; p < 0.05) and care for health (OR = 4.77; 95% CI: 2.81–8.09; p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Working people with higher education are characterized by a better control over their own health and, consequently,
by a better perception of it. Monitoring self-rated health in a working population is an invaluable indicator in the evaluation
of health in employees and the need for medical care. Med Pr 2015;66(1):17–28