Home Care Workers' Objective and Subjective Recovery From Work.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the recovery from work in Finnish home care nurses with objective and subjective recovery measures.

Methods: Heart rate and heart rate variability recordings were performed in home care nurses over a period of one work shift and the following night. Following the measurements, the participants ( N = 91) answered a questionnaire including questions about their self-rated recovery from work and sleep disturbances.

Results: The objectively measured recovery was within the recommended heart rate variability range, yet the self-rated recovery from work was only mediocre. Subjective recovery was not associated with objectively measured recovery.

Conclusions: There is a discrepancy between objectively and subjectively measured recovery from work. Therefore, an additional objective method in occupational field studies, along with questionnaires, is recommended to measure physiological recovery.