Page 10 - Petelin, Ana. 2020. Ed. Zdravje delovno aktivne populacije / Health of the Working-Age Population. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
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avje delovno aktivne populacije | health of the working-age population 8 ity, regardless of age, gender, chronic diseases and limitations present, reduces
the incidence of cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity
and osteoporosis (Warburton and Brendin, 2016).
Kindergarten brings together different groups of employees, who face dif-
ferent types of workload in their work: (i) kindergarten teachers, (ii) teacher
assistants, (iii) administration and management of the kindergarten and (iv)
employees in support services (cooks, cleaners, janitors). The most frequent-
ly studied groups of employees in kindergarten are teachers and teacher assis-
tants. Kindergarten teachers/assistants perform a variety of work tasks that in-
clude teaching, supervision, hygiene maintenance tasks, as well as nutrition
assistance. The workload is described from a metabolic point of view as low-in-
tensity activity (Grant et al., 1995). Frequent incorrect postures and positions,
fast work pace, insufficient amount of rest and lifting heavy loads increase the
risk of musculoskeletal problems (Punnett and Wegman, 2004). In addition to
physical exertion, teachers/assistants are also exposed to high levels of psycho-
logical stress. Teachers/assistants report overwork, time pressure and high re-
sponsibility; nevertheless, they find their work interesting (Čecho, Švihrová,
Čecho, Novák and Hudečková, 2019). The purpose of our study was to deter-
mine the relationship between the level of physical activity and the work effi-
ciency of kindergarten employees.
Methods
The study was conducted in September 2019 in cooperation with the Centre for
Health Enhancement Piran and two kindergartens in the Municipality of Pi-
ran. It involved 73 kindergarten employees (teachers n = 24; assistants n = 27;
administration n = 5; support services n = 17). To assess the intensity and quan-
tity of PA and an individual’s work efficiency, we used the Global Physical Ac-
tivity Questionnaire (WHO, n. d.) and the Work Ability Index Questionnaire
(European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, n. d.). The analysis of the re-
sults was performed in Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
Washington, USA) and in SPSS (SPSS statistics 26, IBM, New York, USA), using
methods of descriptive statistics and the analysis of correlations and differenc-
es. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Recommendations on the amount of daily physical activity (WHO, 2011) are
met by 95.2% of kindergarten teachers, 83.4% of assistants, 33.3% of employ-
ees in administration and 94.2% of employees in support services (Figure 1).
The comparison between the groups shows that the highest physical activity at
work is assessed by the employees in support services (Kruskal-Wallis H (3) =
16.667, p = 0.001).
the incidence of cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity
and osteoporosis (Warburton and Brendin, 2016).
Kindergarten brings together different groups of employees, who face dif-
ferent types of workload in their work: (i) kindergarten teachers, (ii) teacher
assistants, (iii) administration and management of the kindergarten and (iv)
employees in support services (cooks, cleaners, janitors). The most frequent-
ly studied groups of employees in kindergarten are teachers and teacher assis-
tants. Kindergarten teachers/assistants perform a variety of work tasks that in-
clude teaching, supervision, hygiene maintenance tasks, as well as nutrition
assistance. The workload is described from a metabolic point of view as low-in-
tensity activity (Grant et al., 1995). Frequent incorrect postures and positions,
fast work pace, insufficient amount of rest and lifting heavy loads increase the
risk of musculoskeletal problems (Punnett and Wegman, 2004). In addition to
physical exertion, teachers/assistants are also exposed to high levels of psycho-
logical stress. Teachers/assistants report overwork, time pressure and high re-
sponsibility; nevertheless, they find their work interesting (Čecho, Švihrová,
Čecho, Novák and Hudečková, 2019). The purpose of our study was to deter-
mine the relationship between the level of physical activity and the work effi-
ciency of kindergarten employees.
Methods
The study was conducted in September 2019 in cooperation with the Centre for
Health Enhancement Piran and two kindergartens in the Municipality of Pi-
ran. It involved 73 kindergarten employees (teachers n = 24; assistants n = 27;
administration n = 5; support services n = 17). To assess the intensity and quan-
tity of PA and an individual’s work efficiency, we used the Global Physical Ac-
tivity Questionnaire (WHO, n. d.) and the Work Ability Index Questionnaire
(European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, n. d.). The analysis of the re-
sults was performed in Microsoft Excel 2016 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
Washington, USA) and in SPSS (SPSS statistics 26, IBM, New York, USA), using
methods of descriptive statistics and the analysis of correlations and differenc-
es. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Recommendations on the amount of daily physical activity (WHO, 2011) are
met by 95.2% of kindergarten teachers, 83.4% of assistants, 33.3% of employ-
ees in administration and 94.2% of employees in support services (Figure 1).
The comparison between the groups shows that the highest physical activity at
work is assessed by the employees in support services (Kruskal-Wallis H (3) =
16.667, p = 0.001).
