International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

Objectives: Stereotype threat arises when an individual worries about the possibility of confirming or being perceived through the lens of a negative stereotype about one's group. Previous research has shown that stereotype threat at work is related to higher stress appraisal and an increased intention to quit among older employees. The present study extends these investigations by examining the links between stereotype threat and post-retirement work intention, as well as indirect effects through stress.

Material and methods: The level of age-related stereotype threat, stress, and intention to continue working beyond the retirement age were assessed using self-reported measures in a cross-sectional study among working adults aged ≥50 years (N = 1007). The average age of participants was 56.3 years (standard deviation 4.2 years). The sample included both men and women, with diverse education levels and job types (mental, physical, and mixed work), and was drawn from various sectors, including public and private organizations.

Results: The authors' findings indicated that a higher level of stereotype threat was linked to higher level of stress and willingness to resign from work after reaching retirement age in aging workers. Stress level partly transmitted the relationship between stereotype threat and intention to resign from work after reaching the retirement age.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that stress is a significant variable constituting the indirect effect of age-based stereotype threat at work on post-retirement work intention, when physical health is statistically controlled. These results are discussed in the context of recent studies on age-related stereotype threat in occupational settings. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):629-40.

Objectives: This study presents a comprehensive analysis of cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with diabetes mellitus compared to a non‑diabetic control group, utilizing data from a risk program - the Ryzyko Program of the Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.

Material and methods: The research encompasses a sample of 2959 diabetic and 33 865 non-diabetic internet users. Variables such as gender, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol (TC), smoking status, and the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) were analyzed. Significant gender differences in smoking habits and cholesterol levels were observed in the diabetic group compared to the control group.

Results: Diabetic individuals exhibited a higher prevalence of hypertension (SBP ≥140 mm Hg), with 58.7% of diabetic participants having poorly controlled hypertension. The study also reveals a higher incidence of CAD in the diabetic group, with a prevalence of 31.0%, compared to 8.3% in the control group. Notably, the diabetic group showed higher rates of cigarette smoking and elevated levels of arterial pressure, both in the entire group and across gender subgroups. The diabetic group demonstrated significantly increased SBP and TC levels compared to the non-diabetic control group as well as higher rates of CAD, and smoking in individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions: These findings underscore the necessity for targeted cardiovascular risk management in the diabetic population. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):621-8.

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has considerably changed the game in the field of hygiene. The aim of the study was to compare microbiological colonization present on the emergency physicians' stethoscopes and smartphones before and after the outbreak of COVID-19.

Material and methods: This was a prospective cohort study in 1 academic hospitals' emergency department. A microbiological analysis was conducted on the emergency doctors' stethoscopes and smartphones for a month in 2018 and 2021. Analysis concerned stethoscopes diaphragms and the most used surface of the cellphones screen around to the main button. The authors used a solid growth medium irradiated Count-Tact® 3P agar (CT3P) (BioMerieux, Lyon, France) for collecting samples. Results were obtained after 5 days of growth at 30°C to collect all the saprophytes environmental flora.

Results: A total of 27 doctors were included in 2018 and 30 doctors in 2021. Stethoscope diaphragm contamination was very high in both period with a geometric mean (GM) without difference before and after COVID respectively, GM = 68 colony-forming unit (cfu) per 25 cm² (95% CI: 50-94 cfu/25 cm²) vs. 68 cfu/25 cm² (95% CI: 44-105 cfu/25 cm²), p > 0.05. Smartphones were cleaner than stethoscopes with a GM <50 cfu/25 cm² without significant difference between 2 periods, respectively GM = 45 cfu/25 cm² (95% CI: 34-59 cfu/25 cm²) vs. 31 cfu/25 cm² (95% CI: 20-48 cfu/25 cm²), p > 0.05.

Conclusions: The study shows an urgent need to regularly inform of the hygiene of the medical tools and COVID-19 does not really bring improvements in the matter. Particularly in emergency department, where physicians examine several patients per day and can possibly transmit pathogens. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):611-20.

Objectives: The current employment market faces many challenges, both from the employers' perspective and that of employees. One of the key health challenges is employees' mental health. Poland has over 17.6 million of active workforce, but each year the number of sick leaves due to mental disorders and occupational burnout is rising, and so are the costs. This leads to lower incomes, higher utilization of medical services, higher spending on medications, and higher social transfers, impacting the country's economy and individuals' quality of living. This research aims to present the current market practice, gaps, and limitations in the coverage of mental health services available through employee medical plans, as well as to provide epidemiological characteristics of sick leave due to mental health issues in Poland.

Material and methods: This analysis included general terms and conditions of insurance companies providing employee medical plans (group health insurance) available on their websites. Mental health cover and exclusions of liability were analyzed using 6 different criteria. Epidemiological data on sick leaves (absenteeism) were derived from the annual reports published by the Polish Social Insurance Institution.

Results: All insurance companies introduce strong limitations on mental health cover. The gaps apply to the number of packages that cover consultations with psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as the number and type of visits. Most insurers cover no more than 4 visits with a psychologist and psychiatrist per year, excluding psychotherapy (with 1 exception). The main exclusions of liability include treatment of mental illnesses or behavioral disorders and treatment of addiction. There is no coverage for the costs of medications.

Conclusions: The offer for mental health treatment through employee medical plans is strongly limited and does not cover the actual needs. Employees must seek treatment through the public sector or pay out of pocket for services with limited income during sick leave. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):654-63.

Objectives: The purpose of the following paper is to elaborate on the connections between motivation and professional burnout. The analytical study will concern nurses employed in Germany. In particular, the study focuses on explaining how different types of motivation influence burnout indicators.

Material and methods: The study employed a quantitative research approach using the Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout and motivation among 301 nurses.

Results: The results revealed that nurses with higher intrinsic motivation experienced lower burnout levels, while those relying on external regulation and amotivation exhibited greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Moreover, older and more experienced nurses reported higher burnout levels and declining intrinsic motivation, while younger nurses demonstrated stronger engagement but faced significant workplace stress. Workplace factors such as fairness, workload, and rewards were found to significantly influence motivation and burnout.

Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for healthcare institutions to implement strategies that would support development of intrinsic motivation and improve working conditions to reduce burnout and support long-term professional engagement of nurses. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):586-95.

Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognized as major public health challenges, particularly among older adults. This review aims to identify and map the key risk and protective factors associated with loneliness and social isolation, with particular emphasis on the role of employment and work activity in later life. In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, peer-reviewed studies published in 2019-2025 in the PubMed and Scopus databases were analyzed. The results showed that health-related, psychological, sociocultural, and socio-environmental factors are closely associated with the experience of loneliness in old age. The most numerous were health-related and sociocultural factors. Employment and social engagement played a particularly important role in mitigating loneliness by providing structure, purpose, and social contact. The transition from work to retirement was identified as a critical life stage that can either intensify or alleviate loneliness, depending on individual circumstances and the cultural context. Future research should adopt a longitudinal and cross-cultural approach to better understand how the moment of retirement affects loneliness in the long term. There is also a need to explore gender and socioeconomic differences in how older adults experience and cope with social isolation. Moreover, evaluating the effectiveness of workplace and community-based interventions aimed at fostering social connectedness after retirement could provide valuable evidence for developing public health strategies that support healthy and active ageing. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):572-85.

Objectives: Most hospital emergency department (ED) medical staff experience violence from patients and visitors every day, but the level of reporting and documenting acts of violence is very low. The aim of the study was to analyze the reporting of violence from patients and visitors by hospital ED medical staff.

Material and methods: The study was conducted retrospectively in the ED of a university hospital in Poland. The department admits 48 000 patients/year. The records kept by nurses and paramedics from 7 years (2017-2023) were analyzed for reports of acts of aggression from patients and visitors. The Python programming language was used for statistical analyses.

Results: During the 7-year period, 445 cases of violence from patients and visitors were reported, with the number of reports decreasing significantly over the years. The average age of the aggressors was 47 years. Most of them were male (N = 318, 71.5%). Half of the aggressors were under the influence of alcohol (N = 218, 49%).

Conclusions: The results suggest that not all incidents of violence are reported by staff and that their documentation may be influenced by various factors, both institutional and external. The descriptions of incidents of aggression are short and not very detailed, which makes it difficult to analyze their circumstances and nature. Effective prevention of aggression requires a thorough assessment of the scale and characteristics of this phenomenon. By reporting all incidents of aggression, staff can contribute to a reliable analysis of the problem and thus lead to increased safety in the workplace. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):596-610.

Objectives: Acute ischemic stroke stands as a significant contributor to high disability and mortality rates. Patient after stroke require vigilant supervision from general practitioners. Cardiovascular prevention emerges as a critical aspect. Physicians play a vital role in managing post-acute care and preventing secondary complications in patients with stroke after discharge. The aim of the study was to characterize and evaluate the cerebrovascular risk factors for stroke in patients under the care of general practitioners.

Material and methods: Data were collected from 277 patients after ischemic brain stroke under general practitioner care. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were gathered for all study participants.

Results: Data were collected from 277 patients after ischemic brain stroke under general practitioner care. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were gathered for all study participants. Results: Gender distribution among the study cohort was 143 females (51.6%) aged mean (M) ± standard deviation (SD) 76.4±11.8 years and 134 males (48.4%), aged 78.5±11.9 years. Hypertension emerged as the most prevalent risk factor, affecting 75.8% of participants. Ischemic heart disease, lipid disorders, and atrial fibrillation, observed in 30.32%, 30.7%, and 29.6% of patients respectively. Diabetes mellitus was present in 23.1% of the cohort. The body weight was M±SD 76.9±16 kg, with BMI 27.6±6.6 kg/m². The presence of atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease showed statistically significant differences between survival and death groups. Statistically significant differences were observed in diastolic blood pressure in women vs. men (p = 0.0383). Regarding stroke severity, women presented with more severe symptoms (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score M = 10.5 vs. 8.3, p = 0.0163) and poorer functional outcomes in modified Rankin Scale (M = 3.3 vs. 2.8, p = 0.0062), a higher prevalence of hypertension and atrial fibrillation among women compared to men (35.0% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.0045).

Conclusions: The authors' findings highlight the necessity for sex-specific approaches in stroke management, particularly considering the impact of comorbid conditions such as hypertension and atrial fibrillation on stroke outcomes. Despite the availability of general guidelines, it would be valuable to develop specific guidelines for general practitioners on ischemic stroke risk factors. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(6):641-53.

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning remains a significant public health concern, often leading to both acute and delayed neurological and cardiac complications.This article presents the official position statement of the Section of Clinical Toxicology of the Polish Medical Society regarding the management of acute CO poisoning, with particular emphasis on oxygen therapy. The cornerstone of CO poisoning treatment is the immediate initiation of normobaric oxygen therapy using 100% oxygen at the highest possible flow rate, preferably via a non-rebreather mask. Oxygen administration should continue until the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level drops to approx. 3%, but for no less than 6 h. In pregnant patients, extended oxygen therapy is recommended due to slower fetal CO elimination. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is not mandatory in all cases but should be considered in selected patients-primarily those with persistent neurological or cardiac symptoms or metabolic acidosis despite normobaric oxygen, regardless of COHb levels. In pregnant women, HBOT is always indicated, irrespective of COHb concentration or clinical presentation. When indicated, the first HBOT session should be performed as soon as possible - ideally within 6 h of exposure-taking into account the availability of hyperbaric facilities and transport logistics. This article provides detailed, practical recommendations for the management of CO poisoning, highlighting the essential role of normobaric oxygen therapy and the complementary use of HBOT in appropriately selected cases. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(5):457-73.

Objectives: Adolescent e‑cigarette use is a growing public health concern, yet the influence of family context and risk perceptions on usage patterns remains poorly understood.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study investigated relationships between family context, risk perceptions, and e‑cigarette use patterns among a nationally representative sample of 4797 Polish adolescents aged 15-18 years who were current e‑cigarette users (defined as use in the past 30 days). Using computer-assisted web interviews, the authors assessed family factors (parental awareness, attitudes, and nicotine use), risk perceptions, and e‑cigarette use behaviors.

Results: Among adolescent e‑cigarette users, 92.6% engaged in poly-nicotine use (i.e., used ≥1 other nicotine product) with only 7.4% reporting exclusive e‑cigarette use. Notably, 46.7% of participants reported extensive multiple product use (concurrent use of ≥5 products). Structural equation modeling demonstrated that family context significantly influenced e‑cigarette use patterns, both directly (β = 0.31, p < 0.001) and indirectly through risk perceptions (β = 0.12). Risk perception emerged as the strongest direct predictor of e‑cigarette use patterns (β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Parental e‑cigarette use was associated with a 70% increase in adolescents' likelihood of intensive e‑cigarette use (≥10 times daily) (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.39-2.07, p < 0.001). Traditional cigarette initiation (compared to e‑cigarette initiation) was associated with almost twice the likelihood of multiple nicotine product use (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.67-2.13, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: These findings highlight the significant influence of family context and risk perceptions on adolescent nicotine use behaviors, suggesting that family-based interventions addressing these factors could be effective prevention strategies. IInt J Occup Med Environ Health. 2025;38(5):512-27.