The aim of the study was evaluation of the physiological effects of changes in work organization due to outsourcing of bus lines.
Twentyone bus drivers served as the study group. They were voluntarily transferred to work for another bus company after this company had won a tender from their former employer. Twentyone age and sex matched drivers from the former employer served as the control group. At baseline, at the month for change of employer, all were monitored for two days regarding measurements of blood pressure every 2 hours while awake as well as cortisol in saliva three times a day. In the first day urine samples detecting adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol and blood samples for lipids, glycated hemoglobine (HbA₁C), fibrinogen, testosteron, dehydroepiandrosteronsulfat ( DHEA-S) and prolactin were collected . In addition, all participants filled out a questionnaire on health and work related items. Eight and 12 months later, a similar data collection took place in the study group.
During the follow-up period, 8 drivers in the study group left their job due to dissatisfaction with the working conditions and the remaining 13 drivers changed their attitude to the work place. In accordance with this, the drivers scored worse on questions regarding job satisfaction . After 12 months the following changes in physiological measures were detected: Increase in HbA₁C (4.4-4.8 % (p<0.001)), urine cortisol ( 19.0-30.7 nmol/l/mmol creatinine (p=0.04)) and systolic blood pressure at work ( non-significant). In addition a decrease in DHEA (9,5-7,7 nmol/l (p=0.05)) and non-significant decrease in prolactin were observed.
The physiological changes were, as expected, in agreement with the assumption that metabolism turnes into a catabolic direction during a period of perceived stress.