WORK-CAPACITY OF PROFESSORS IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS OF EDUCATION

Abstract

Due to changes imposed by Brazil´s economic situation, teaching activities have transformed the teachers´ working milieu into a risk of one´s health, with the consequent impairment of teaching quality and the future of education. Current analysis verifies the work capacity index of higher education professors in an institution in the northwestern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. Data were collected by the questionnaires Work Capacity Index (WCI) comprising self-perception and self-evaluation of all factors involved. Seventy-one professors (46 females and 25 males), aged between 26 and 58 years old (mean 40 years old), participated. Most (51.35%) considered good the classification for work occupation with regard to physical requirements. Similarly, most (64.86%) considered good the mental requirements for occupational activities. Results revealed that 56.43% of total population are within the satisfactory WCI category and 2.84% within the moderate WCI category. Professors´ mean WCI score was 42.39±3.44, with good work capacity, even though most have revealed some type of lesion. Results should be analyzed with restrictions since the professors work in a private institution and results may have been affected by their fear of exposing their difficulties.