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Healthcare
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Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions
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Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2027 | Viewed by 4652

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Santiago Gascón Santos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: work stress; intervention; burnout
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ricardo Fueyo-Díaz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: mental health; work stress; intervention; burnout
Dr. Agustín Albesa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: mental health; work stress; intervention; burnout
Dr. Carmen Picazo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Interests: organizational psychology; mental health; work stress; intervention; burnout

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue of Healthcare entitled “Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions”.

The growing integration of individuals with disabilities or chronic health issues into the labour market presents critical challenges for health systems, employers, and public policy. Scientific advances now allow us to assess both the risk and protective factors influencing the quality of life, employability, and productivity of these groups.

This Special Issue aims to explore health-related outcomes, workplace interventions, and systemic supports relevant to workers with physical, cognitive, sensory, or psychosocial limitations. Its topics may include, but are not limited to, occupational health services, psychosocial risk assessments, accommodations, stigma, work-related stress, return-to-work programs, and policy evaluations.

We welcome original research articles and reviews to this Special Issue. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Santiago Gascón Santos
Dr. Ricardo Fueyo-Díaz
Dr. Agustín Albesa
Dr. Carmen Picazo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • disability
  • chronic illness
  • occupational health
  • workplace inclusion
  • work-related stress
  • healthcare access
  • well-being
  • assistive technologies
  • preventive interventions
  • interdisciplinary care

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1000 KB  
Article
Effect of Multi-Antioxidant Supplement on Lipid Profile, Occupational Fatigue, Work Stress, and Hair Cortisol in Administrative Workers with and Without Obesity: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study
by María del Carmen López-García, Gabriel Lara-Hernández, Hamlet Avilés-Arnaut, Virginia Sánchez-Monroy, Eduardo Nateras-Molina, Ernesto Fragoso-Paniagua, Ericka Flores-Berrios and Elvia Pérez-Soto
Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1166; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091166 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 437
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Work stress (WS), occupational fatigue (OF), and Burnout syndrome (BS) among administrative workers are associated with negative psychosocial and metabolic effects. Although antioxidant-rich nutritional strategies have been proposed to help manage stress, evidence from real-world occupational settings is still limited. This [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Work stress (WS), occupational fatigue (OF), and Burnout syndrome (BS) among administrative workers are associated with negative psychosocial and metabolic effects. Although antioxidant-rich nutritional strategies have been proposed to help manage stress, evidence from real-world occupational settings is still limited. This study evaluated the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of a multi-antioxidant dietary supplement 2.0 (DS2.0; apple polyphenols, [APP], astaxanthin [AXT], and fucoxanthin [FXT]; 387:12:1 ratio) and explored its association with metabolic parameters, OF, psychosocial outcomes, and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in administrative workers with and without obesity. Methods: A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted among 22 workers, who received DS2.0 (52.13 mg/day, n = 17) or a placebo (n = 5) for 30 days. TAC was analytically assessed using standardized assays. Metabolic outcomes (lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose), psychosocial variables (SOFI-SM, CESQT/SBI, and IMSS tests), and HCC (competitive immunoassay) were evaluated before and after supplementation. Statistical analyses included within-group pre–post comparisons, independent-sample tests, and effect size estimation. Results: DS2.0 demonstrated high TAC. Supplementation was associated with reductions in total lipids, total cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol, as well as decreases in OF, BS, and WS scores. HCC decreased in the overall sample (217.19 vs. 31.64 pg/mg; p = 0.000) and among workers with obesity (276.80 vs. 34.13 pg/mg; p = 0.002). Stress-related symptoms, including sleep deprivation, exhaustion, appetite changes, difficulty waking, and palpitations, also improved (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: An antioxidant-rich DS2.0 supplement may be associated with psychosocial and stress-related biomarkers; however, these exploratory findings require confirmation in larger randomized controlled trials. Trial registration: ISRCTN 12762846. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions)
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13 pages, 253 KB  
Article
Occupational Heat Exposure and Chronic Venous Disease: Barriers, Adaptations, and Implications for Sustainable Workplaces
by Davide Costa, Michele Andreucci, Nicola Ielapi, Umberto Marcello Bracale and Raffaele Serra
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3145; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233145 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 683
Abstract
Background: Chronic venous disease (CVD) substantially influences workers’ comfort, productivity, and capacity to remain employed, yet many occupational settings complicate the implementation of effective symptom management strategies. Temperature fluctuations, in particular, influence daily functioning: heat often worsens swelling, heaviness, pain, and fatigue, while [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic venous disease (CVD) substantially influences workers’ comfort, productivity, and capacity to remain employed, yet many occupational settings complicate the implementation of effective symptom management strategies. Temperature fluctuations, in particular, influence daily functioning: heat often worsens swelling, heaviness, pain, and fatigue, while cold may offer partial relief. This study examines how workplace thermal and organizational conditions affect adults with CVD, paying attention to the challenges they face in applying clinical recommendations. Methods: Fifty adults with CEAP C1–C6 disease were interviewed and observed in clinical settings. A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted to capture workers’ accounts rather than generate a new theory. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis within a qualitative descriptive framework. Results: Heat exposure consistently aggravated swelling, pain, and fatigue, whereas moderate cold often improved comfort and functional capacity. Participants highlighted numerous workplace barriers, including rigid schedules, restrictive uniforms, and difficulties maintaining compression in hot environments. Supportive supervisors, micro-breaks, access to hydration, and flexibility in posture facilitated better symptom control. Workers frequently described tensions between clinical advice and job demands, noting that instructions such as leg elevation or frequent breaks were often unrealistic in their occupational context. Conclusions: Aligning clinical guidance with workplace realities is essential for the well-being and long-term employability of individuals with CVD. Climate-sensitive and ergonomic job design represents an important strategy for supporting employees’ ability to manage symptoms and sustain productivity amid increasing thermal variability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions)
15 pages, 225 KB  
Article
Supporting and Retaining NHS England Staff with Long-Term Health Conditions—A Qualitative Study
by Jen Remnant, Moira Kelly, Laura Cowley and Sara Booth
Healthcare 2025, 13(20), 2573; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13202573 - 14 Oct 2025
Viewed by 2973
Abstract
Background: NHS England has an ageing workforce. Approximately 30 percent of the NHS England workforce are aged 50 years and over, and the British Medical Association has argued that it is important that employers meet the needs of their ageing workforce and [...] Read more.
Background: NHS England has an ageing workforce. Approximately 30 percent of the NHS England workforce are aged 50 years and over, and the British Medical Association has argued that it is important that employers meet the needs of their ageing workforce and retain their skills and expertise. Objective: This sought to explore how NHS England Trusts support employees with fluctuating long-term health conditions, investigating systemic workforce challenges to providing adequate support and identifying opportunities for more inclusive and sustainable employment practices. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with staff working in human resources, occupational health staff and clinical line managers involved in the support and management of staff with fluctuating long-term health conditions (n = 17). Results: The research found a misalignment between clinical managerial practices, human resource procedures, and the overarching NHS human resource policy framework, which was often seen as rigid and poorly suited to the fluctuating nature of some long-term conditions. These tensions were exacerbated by high staff turnover and limited organisational capacity. Nonetheless, instances of effective, person-centred support were also reported, typically occurring where cross-departmental collaboration and flexible, locally adapted approaches were in place. Conclusions: Findings suggest that targeted, flexible interventions for NHS employees with fluctuating long-term health conditions could enhance staff retention, reduce absenteeism, and promote more resilient workforce strategies. Identifying and scaling examples of good practice may be key to fostering a more inclusive and adaptive NHS employment model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Well-Being of Workers with Disabilities and/or Chronic Conditions)
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