Understanding Professional Risks and Quality of Life Among Medical Workers: A Pilot Study in Ukraine

The problem of professional risks in the medical fieldhas a low priority among medical workers themselves, which can affect the quality of help to the population in the field of health care. This study aimed to identificaty the peculiarities of professional risk manifestation among medical workers and clarify the level of awareness among specialists and future professionals in the field regarding these risks. The subjects of the study were medical workers from local hospitals in Kriviy Rih, Dnepropetrovsk region, and undergraduate students from the Kriviy Rih Medical College. The study was conducted on 200 people using an accessible, spontaneous, quota sampling with elements of probability (quota’s indication — work experience), and two specially designed anonymous questionnaires were used. The majority of respondents are female (85%), only a small percentage of men (15%) are paramedics and doctors working at ambulance stations. The majority of undergraduate students are also women – 95%. By age characteristics: among the surveyed healthcare workers, the majority of the sample was made up of people over 35 years old, and among the senior students of the Kryvyi Rih Medical College, prevails the group over 25 years old. More than half of the surveyed respondents-practitioners (64%) have secondary special education and 36% have higher education. Among the surveyed healthcare professionals, the vast majority (55%) are people who have been working in the healthcare sector in medical specialties for more than 10 years. It was revealed that most respondents are familiar with traditional medical risks. The study reveals a decline in the prestige of the medical profession in modern Ukraine. The study argues that both future medical workers and practitioners often underestimate or accept professional risks. This attitude hinders their ability to perceive risks objectively, potentially leading to professional abnormality and a decline in the quality of medical services. Comprehensive strategic decisions and systemic measures are needed to protect medical workers from occupational risks.