FATIGUE, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN OFFICE WORKERS IN PARAGUAY, 2024

Abstract

Background: Fatigue, defined as an overwhelming feeling of tiredness, weakness and lack of energy, has become a public health problem of increasing concern, especially in the work context. The increase in sedentary jobs contributes to the deterioration of workers' physical and mental health. Objective: To assess the severity of fatigue and its relationship with quality of life in office workers in Paraguay. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in June 2024. Participants were selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire for quality of life and sociodemographic and occupational variables were used. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, assessing the relationship between fatigue and quality of life. Results: The results revealed that 60.3% of the participants had more than two years of work experience, and 47.9% received a salary higher than the minimum wage. The mean fatigue score was 17.59, mainly affecting the physical and psychological health of the workers. The relationship between fatigue and quality of life components was significant. Conclusion: Fatigue impacts on the physical and psychological health of office workers in Paraguay. It is essential to implement workplace strategies that mitigate this effect, thereby improving the quality of life and overall well-being of employees. This study highlights the need to address fatigue as a relevant occupational health problem.

Key words: Fatigue, quality of life, occupational health.