Association between long working hours and engagement in preventive healthcare services in Korean workers: Findings from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Engagement in preventive healthcare services is crucial for preventing diseases. We explored how working hours are associated with engagement in preventive healthcare services, with a focus on gender differences. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2007–2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The dependent variable was engagement in each of the five preventive healthcare services (health check-ups, influenza vaccination, and stomach, breast, and cervical cancer screenings). We estimated the prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using robust Poisson regression. The study analyzed 19,819 workers (9119 women). The adjusted PRs (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h per week and engagement in preventive healthcare services among men were 0.95 (0.90–1.00) for health check-ups, 0.86 (0.77–0.96) for influenza vaccination, and 0.95 (0.87–1.03) for stomach cancer screening compared to working 35–40 h per week. Among women, the adjusted PRs (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h per week and engagement in preventive healthcare services were 0.84 (0.78–0.91) for health check-ups, 0.82 (0.73–0.92) for influenza vaccination, and 0.88 (0.80–0.97) for stomach, 0.85 (0.78–0.94) for breast, and 0.82 (0.74–0.91) for cervical cancer screenings. Long working hours were negatively associated with engagement in preventive healthcare services, and the association was pronounced among female workers. Efforts to promote preventive healthcare participation among individuals with long working hours are necessary, and it is essential to consider the unique vulnerabilities of women when developing such policies. •We examined how long working hours are associated with preventive healthcare services utilization in Korean workers.•Working ≥55 h/week was associated with reduced participation in health check-ups compared to working 35–40 h/week.•Working ≥55 h/week was associated with reduced participation in influenza vaccination compared to working 35–40 h/week.•Working ≥55 h/week was associated with reduced participation in cancer screenings compared to working 35–40 h/week.•The association between long working hours and engagement in preventive healthcare services was pronounced among women.