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. 2024 Feb 1;66(2):161-165.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003013. Epub 2023 Nov 10.

Home Care Workers' Objective and Subjective Recovery From Work

Pihla Säynäjäkangas  1 , Satu Mänttäri, Kirsikka Selander, Jaana Laitinen
Affiliations

Home Care Workers' Objective and Subjective Recovery From Work

Pihla Säynäjäkangas et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the recovery from work in Finnish home care nurses with objective and subjective recovery measures.

Methods: Heart rate and heart rate variability recordings were performed in home care nurses over a period of one work shift and the following night. Following the measurements, the participants ( N = 91) answered a questionnaire including questions about their self-rated recovery from work and sleep disturbances.

Results: The objectively measured recovery was within the recommended heart rate variability range, yet the self-rated recovery from work was only mediocre. Subjective recovery was not associated with objectively measured recovery.

Conclusions: There is a discrepancy between objectively and subjectively measured recovery from work. Therefore, an additional objective method in occupational field studies, along with questionnaires, is recommended to measure physiological recovery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

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Graphical abstract
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