COMPARATIVE STUDY ON BIOLOGICAL AGE AND SELF-RATED HEALTH AMONG HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL AT A CANCER CENTER

Objective: To examine self-care practices among healthcare personnel at a Cancer Center, determine their biological age, and develop health protection measures. Methods: A total of 50 participants took part in the cross-sectional study, which included 41 women and nine men. The average age of the participants was 43.9 years, and they had an average of 15.4 years of service in their profession. Participants' self-assessment of health (SAH) and self-care practices scores were evaluated using a questionnaire. Furthermore, anthropometric and physiological parameters were assessed, and key indicators such as body mass index (BMI) and biological age (BA) were calculated to determine overall health status using the “Determination of biological age according to V.P. Voitenko” methodology. For further analysis, the participants were divided into three groups: Groups 1 and 2 consisted of women, while Group 3 included nine men. Results: The following data were revealed from the respondents: self-care health practices (such as adherence to sleep and rest regimens, and annual medical check-ups); factors related to self-care; causes of stress (including family problems, financial difficulties, and organizational factors); excess weight and cardiovascular disease; and the BA of female respondents, which was found to be lower than their chronological age. Female subjects showed negative values for the biological aging index (BAI), while male subjects exhibited positive values. Conclusion: The management of the Cancer Center should continuously monitor the health status of employees through comprehensive medical examinations. These checks include assessing and preventing professional burnout, as well as evaluating the BA of male oncologists. It is advisable to implement health-protective measures that encompass managerial, hygienic, medical, and psychological approaches within the organization's culture. Keywords: Oncologists, health, behavioral risk factors, biological age.