Assessment of the quality of life of respondents working on a rotational basis in the Far North (on the example of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Ugra)

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, one of the directions in medicine is the study of the issue of the quality of life of patients. This indicator is a complex characteristic in terms of the physical and psychological component of health. The state of health is influenced by many factors and one of them is the peculiarities of the climatogeographic region where a person lives. The conditions of the Far North are characterized by extreme climatic and industrial conditions. In such areas, a rotational method is used, which assumes distance from the permanent place of residence. Thus, the influence of the climatic conditions of the Far North on the quality of life of respondents working on a rotational basis determines the relevance of this study, which was carried out in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug — UGRA (KhMAO — Ugra).The aim of the research was to study the quality of life of respondents working on a rotational basis in the Far North.Materials and methods. Only men took part in this study — 207 people working in the conditions of the Far North (KhMAO — Ugra) on a rotational basis. All respondents were divided into four age groups: group 1 — 24–28 years old (n=36); group 2 — 29–34 years old (n=63); group 3 — 35–38 years old (n=78); group 4 — 39–45 years old (n=30). The duration of follow-up ranged from 1 to 3 months. A simple survey of all respondents was used to obtain information. In order to study the quality of life (QL) of those working in the Far North on a rotational basis, the MOS SF-36 questionnaire was used. Statistical analysis was performed using the STATGRAPHICS 12 Plus for Windows software in accordance with the general principles of QOL research in medicine.Results. With a long stay in the Far North, a restructuring of the adaptive mechanisms is noted, which goesthrough several stages: initially, minor physiological changes are noted that do not lead to serious changes in the body systems. The second stage is characterized by stable working capacity, but already there is a decrease in health indicators on all scales of the SF-36 questionnaire. The third stage or period of uncompensated fatigue is characterized by a significant decrease in psychological and physical indicators. Conclusion. Unfavorable from the point of view of the medico-biological aspect in the work on a rotational basis in the Far North is the coincidence of the period of work with the phase of the greatest adaptation falling on the first month of stay in the North.