Publication: Occupational safety and health knowledge and its predictors among medical officers in government primary healthcare facilities in Kedah
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Date
2025-06
Authors
Saad, Ahmad Shahril Hafifi
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Abstract
Background : Occupational safety and health (OSH) knowledge is essential in promoting a safe healthcare work environment, especially in primary healthcare settings where medical officers face multifaceted occupational hazards. Despite Malaysia's commitment to OSH through legislative reforms, knowledge gaps remain evident, particularly in primary care.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the level of OSH knowledge among medical officers in Kedah’s primary healthcare and to identify the predictors associated with higher knowledge scores.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving 173 randomly selected medical officers from government primary healthcare facilities across Kedah was conducted between January and March 2025. A validated self-administered questionnaire was used to measure sociodemographic data, occupational characteristics, and OSH knowledge. Descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA, simple linear regression (SLR), and multiple linear regression (MLR) were employed to determine predictors.
Results: The mean OSH knowledge score was 71.66 (SD=14.16), with only 36.4% of respondents achieving satisfactory knowledge (≥75%). Age, gender, ethnicity, job grade, unit of service, duration of service, and prior OSH training were significantly associated with knowledge levels in univariate analysis. MLR revealed two significant predictors: prior OSH training (Adj. β = -19.37; p < 0.001) and 10–20 years of service (Adj. β = 7.09; p < 0.001). The final model explained 52.5% of the variance in knowledge scores (R² = 0.525). Respondents who had received OSH training scored significantly higher, In contrast, younger officers and those without training showed notable knowledge gaps.
Conclusion: This study highlights critical gaps in OSH knowledge among primary healthcare medical officers in Kedah. Structured OSH training and accumulated service experience are associated with adequacy of OSH knowledge. The findings underscore the need for mandatory training, mentoring programs, and curriculum integration to ensure uniform OSH competency among all healthcare personnel.
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Keywords
Occupational Safety and Health , Knowledge