P-154 Reasons for unfitness for work among teachers: a descriptive cross-sectional study. (14th March 2023) - Afia, latifa Ben
Abstract : Introduction: Teachers have essential duties concerning qualification and education. They also contribute to the stability of society and the further development of future generations. Besides high qualification level, teachers should be physically and mentally fit to achieve these duties. Objective: To assess the most common medical problems among teachers and to determine their ability to work. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among teachers referred to the occupational medicine department of Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis for a medical opinion of fitness to work, during the period from October 31st, 2022 to November 11th, 2022. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected during the consultation. Results: Of the 78 teachers studied, 69.2% (n=54) were women and 30.8% (n=24) were men. The mean age was 48.17 years (SD: 8.72 years). Fifty-three percent (n=42) of the teachers were assessed to be unfit for teaching. The main reasons for office work position reclassification were neurological diseases at 21.4%, neoplasm at 14.3%, psychiatric disorders and kidney failure disease which represented equally at 11.9%, and ophthalmological disorders at 9.5%. Among the neurological diagnoses, strokes and multiple sclerosis dominated. Thirty-nine percent of the patients were fit to continue teaching and five patients were offered early retirement on grounds of disability. Conclusion: The teaching professions require qualified occupational medical care tailored to the particular nature of teaching. This should be provided within a network of experts including psychologists, psychiatrists, and psychosomatic specialists in addition to treating physicians.