Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and job performance among Iranian healthcare workers

BMC Prim Care. 2026 Jun 25. doi: 10.1186/s12875-026-03349-8. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the psychiatric disorders which characterized by unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Mental health problems can affect job performance of healthcare workers. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating OCD and job performance of healthcare workers in the Primary Health Care (PHC) setting of Hamadan, Iran.

METHODS: This study was descriptive-correlational research. Of 403 eligible healthcare workers were selected using convenience sampling method in 50 Urban Community Health Centers (UCHC) and Health Posts (HP) in the city of Hamadan in Iran. The study instruments included the demographic information form, Patterson’s Job Performance Questionnaire, and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). Data were analyzed using SPSSv.26 software and the descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation test, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, and Multiple linear regression.

RESULTS: Mean scores of OCD and job performance of the healthcare workers were 0.87 ± 0.63 and 2.63 ± 0.35, respectively. Up to 51.2% and 97% employees experienced sub-threshold OCD and better job performance, respectively. The results showed that the total score of OCD had not a significant relationship with job performance (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between gender and educational levels with OCD (P < 0.05). The significant predictors of job performance were gender (ʙ= -2.402, p = 0.006) and employment status (ʙ =2.264, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that OCD is more common in women with lower education. It is recommended to implement incentive policies, provide psychological services to alleviate mental health issues, and offer training courses for employees.

PMID:42351002 | DOI:10.1186/s12875-026-03349-8