A five year study comparing early retirements on medical grounds in ambulance personnel with those in other groups of health service staff - Part II: Causes of retirements

The objective of this study was to compare morbidity between ambulance staff and other groups of health service workers, to facilitate planning of occupational health (OH) services. A retrospective study of employees of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Northern Ireland was conducted. Subjects were 181 men and 353 women assessed at OH between 1988-92 and found eligible (on the basis of permanent incapacity) to apply for early retirement on medical grounds (EROMG). When causes of retirement were looked at it was found that musculoskeletal, circulatory and mental disorders were most common in all groups (overall making up three-quarters of retirements). Differences in causes of retirements between different groups of workers were not found to be statistically significant, but when male staff were compared ambulance staff showed the highest proportion of retirements due to circulatory disorders. Retirements due to musculoskeletal disorders occurred after shorter service than those due to mental disorders and those due to mental disorders occurred after shorter service than those due to circulatory disorders; these findings achieved statistical significance. In comparison with previous studies this study showed the highest proportion of ambulance retirements due to mental disorders, with an unexpectedly high proportion being related to alcohol problems. Occupational health services for ambulance staff would be best targeted towards facilitating the development of physical fitness and rehabilitation programmes, and health promotional activities such as training in stress management.