SPA124 | WORK AND MENOPAUSE: SYMPTOMS, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND WORK ABILITY IN WOMEN IN HEALTHCARE

INTRODUCTION: Menopause represents a physiological phase of a woman’s life that frequently occurs during working life and may be associated with vasomotor, psychological and cognitive symptoms (1). During the peri- and post-menopausal transition, various disturbances may indeed occur that, in addition to affecting general well-being, may lead to a reduction in work ability, representing an indicator of possible negative outcomes such as increased absences and employment difficulties (2, 3). Symptom burden appears to be more relevant than menopausal status itself; however, the interactions between symptoms, psychological factors and job characteristics, particularly in healthcare, remain poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between menopausal status, related symptoms, physical and psychological well-being and work ability in women working in healthcare (OS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering an anonymous questionnaire to female healthcare personnel. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic, occupational and clinical data, including an assessment of menopausal status. Menopausal symptoms were assessed using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), work ability using the Work Ability Index (WAI), and psychological and cognitive well-being using the Women’s Health Questionnaire (WHQ) and Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30). The sample was compared with a control group of non-menopausal female OS. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 45 (100%) OS were recruited, with a mean age of 49.6±2.5 years and job tenure of 18.7±8.3 years. Of these, 60% (n=27) were menopausal and 18 (40%) were not menopausal. The most represented professions were nurses and physicians. Preliminary analyses showed an inverse relationship between the severity of menopausal symptoms and perceived work ability. In particular, psychological and somato-vegetative symptoms, especially sleep disturbances, fatigue, irritability and difficulty concentrating, appeared to be associated with lower WAI scores than vasomotor symptoms alone. Workers with greater symptom severity also reported higher scores on the WHQ subscales relating to tiredness, cognitive disturbances and reduced psychological well-being. Over 50% of participants reported frequent fatigue, while approximately one third reported difficulty concentrating and memory disturbances. Analysis of the MCQ-30 also revealed a possible association between negative metacognitions, worry and reduced perceived work ability. The results suggest that it is not menopausal status itself, but rather the severity of the symptom profile, that most influences work ability in female healthcare professionals.