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Does job satisfaction predict early return to work after coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery?

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Abstract

Purpose

Few studies have analyzed the relationship between job satisfaction and return to work (RTW) in cardiac patients. The aim of this paper was to investigate whether job satisfaction predicted early RTW in patients sick listed after cardiac invasive procedures.

Methods

A 6-month prospective study was carried out in a sample of 83 patients in working age who had recently been treated with angioplasty or cardiac surgery. Job satisfaction was measured using the scale from the Occupational Stress Indicator during cardiac rehabilitation. Time to RTW was assessed at the 6-month occupational physician examination. Logistic regression analyses were used to study the association between job satisfaction at baseline and early RTW at follow-up, adjusted for socio-demographic, medical (type of cardiac intervention, ejection fraction) and psychological (depression, locus of control, illness perception) factors.

Results

Participants with high job satisfaction were more likely to return early to work, with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.92 (95 % CI, 1.69–20.73) in the most-adjusted model, compared to participants with low job satisfaction. Satisfaction with organizational processes was the job satisfaction component most strongly associated with early RTW (OR, 4.30; 95 % CI, 1.21–15.03).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective study that investigated whether job satisfaction predicts time to RTW after cardiac interventions. The results suggested that when patients are satisfied with their job and positively perceived their work environment, they will be more likely to early RTW, independently of socio-demographic, medical and psychological factors.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ida E. H. Madsen and Maj Britt D. Nielsen for their helpful comments on the draft of this article.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Elena Fiabane & Piergiorgio Argentero

  2. Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Via Maugeri 10, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Giuseppe Calsamiglia

  3. Occupational Medicine Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, University of Pavia, Via Maugeri 10, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Stefano M. Candura & Fabrizio Scafa

  4. Psychological Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Work and Rehabilitation, IRCCS, Scientific Institute of Pavia, Via Maugeri 10, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Ines Giorgi

  5. National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkalle 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Reiner Rugulies

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  1. Elena Fiabane
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  2. Piergiorgio Argentero
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  3. Giuseppe Calsamiglia
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Correspondence to Elena Fiabane.

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Fiabane, E., Argentero, P., Calsamiglia, G. et al. Does job satisfaction predict early return to work after coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery?. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 86, 561–569 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0787-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-012-0787-z

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