Comparison of Older Primary Healthcare Workers with Non-Older Workers in Terms of Working Life, Quality of Life and Health Problems in Turkey

Abstract

With the rapid growth of aging all over the world, it was reported that the proportion of older workers in employment would increase. It was aimed to comparison of older primary healthcare workers with non-older workers in terms of working life, quality of life and health problems in Mugla, Turkey. This cross-sectional was conducted in primary healthcare workers in Mugla. In the study population of 176 workers, 171 were responded, 73 of them were older and 98 of them were non-older workers. Older and non-older healthcare workers were compared in terms of working life, quality of life and health problems. In terms of working life characteristics; the thought of difficulty in finding a new work, exposure to physical violence and to chemical solids or liquids were found to be more favorable in non-older healthcare workers, other characteristics were found to be more favorable in older healthcare workers. In terms of quality of life characteristics; older healthcare workers were generally better. In terms of health problems characteristics; the presence of chronic disease, the frequency of going to a health institution and the difficulty of urination were found to be more favorable in non-older healthcare workers, other characteristics were found to be more favorable in older healthcare workers. It was concluded that older healthcare workers were in a better condition than non-older healthcare workers in terms of many characteristics. With this study which was a pioneer in the field, researches on older workers should be supported with funding.