Measurement of Stress Symptoms and Investigation of Occupational Health and Work Performance Between Office Workers and Pharmaceutical Representatives in A Pharmaceutical Company from Turkey

Background and Objectives: Their employees' work stress and stress symptoms can cause physical and mental health problems by influence from work-related risk factors. The aim of the present study was to assess work performance, general mental health and stress symptoms of office workers and pharmaceutical representatives in a pharmaceutical company from Istanbul, Turkey. Methods: A total of 1,198 people in charge between 2009-2010 in the company were included into the study. Demographic, occupational factors and health behaviors questionnaire, 12-item general health questionnaire (GHQ-12), Endicott Work Productivity Scale (EWPS) and Stress Symptoms Sub-Scale (SSSS) were used in the present study. Results: A total of 632 (82.4%) were male and 135 (17.6%) women of 767 field employees, 229 (53.1%) were male and 202 (46.9%) were female of 431 office workers. Mean GHQ-12, SSSS and EWPS scores of women were significantly higher than men in both representatives and office workers (p<0.001). The average GHQ-12, SSSS and EWPS scores of representatives were found to be higher than the office workers statistically significant (respectively p<0.05, p<0.001, p<0.05). Conclusions: This is the first study report to demonstrate the results of GHQ-12, EWPS, SSSS scales together in work environment. The study results revealed that scores of the three scale were more high in women compared with men. Finally, we found that representatives were more affected from psychological stress comparing to office workers. Pharma companies should assess overall employee needs and have a policy for the management of worker health. Key Words: Work stress, office workers, pharmaceutical representatives.