Regresar

Multitemporal Analysis of Psychosocial Risk Assessment in a Private Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Abstract:

In recent years, the healthcare sector in Ecuador has experienced an increase in workload and challenging working conditions, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has highlighted the importance of assessing and managing psychosocial risks that impact the mental and physical health of healthcare workers. The study aims to conduct a multitemporal analysis of psychosocial risks in a private hospital in Guayaquil between 2020 and 2024 to identify trends and establish preventive measures to reduce adverse effects on healthcare workers in the short and long term. This is a quantitative, observational, retrospective, and longitudinal study that uses a psychosocial risk assessment questionnaire from Ecuador’s Ministry of Labor, administered to 1,500 workers in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA to identify significant differences between the evaluated years. The results show a decrease in the level of psychosocial risk over the last two years compared to the initial years of the study, particularly in dimensions such as workload, skill development, and workplace harassment. This change is attributed to the preventive measures implemented after the pandemic, which have contributed to better adaptation of workers to workplace conditions. The study highlights the importance of maintaining and strengthening preventive measures for psychosocial risks, as risk levels have decreased in recent years due to improved workplace practices. Future research is suggested to include additional variables and qualitative approaches to better understand the factors influencing workers’ perceptions and working conditions.