International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

Objectives: The specific job demands of the Prison Service (PS) may affect the health of officers. The job demands-resources model (JD-R) model was used to design a survey of the consequences of working subject to particular job demands. The aim was to gain an insight into the relationship between job demands, personal resources, occupational stress and burnout and selected health consequence indicators (such as behaviors associated with the consumption of alcohol, stress symptoms).

Material and methods: A total of 1732 PS officers in Poland were surveyed. The following tools were used as part of the survey: the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ II), the Multidimensional Inventory for Assessing Coping Responses (COPE), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a form with a respondent's particulars. Path analysis using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed.

Results: The assumed hypotheses were partially confirmed by the results. Out of 4 job demands categories only work pace turned out not to be a significant predictor of burnout and stress. For alcohol related behaviors, stress level was the only significant predictor, both as a direct and indirect effect taking into account job demands. It transpired that support from superiors rather than support from colleagues or self-efficacy was a significant moderator in the emotional demands - stress relationship. Limitations of the study and perspectives for its continuation are also presented herein.

Conclusions: Based on the obtained results it may be concluded that job demands and support from superiors do have an impact on stress in the PS group. This is also consistent with available reports in literature. At the same time stress is a significant predictor of alcohol related behaviors. Coping through the use of psychoactive substances was not a significant factor in statistical analyses and it has still not been subject to sufficient scientific analysis. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):744-60.

Objectives: To assess dietary supplements, functional foods and nutraceuticals use among the patients after myocardial infarction (MI).

Material and methods: The authors prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients hospitalized due to MI and remaining under coordinated outpatient care after MI in the authors' cardiology department.

Results: The authors showed that patients within median (interquartile range) 12.30 (10.18-14.57) months after MI use dietary supplements, nutraceuticals and functional foods in their everyday diet. Vitamins (53% patients), especially vitamin D (35%), were the most frequently used dietary supplements. In contrary to common usage of dietary supplements (59%), smaller proportion of patients use functional foods (21%) and nutraceuticals (5%), especially phytosterols. The authors found that the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and dietary supplements is associated with age (participants <60 years old vs. participants ≥60 years old: OTC drugs: N = 8 [20.0%] vs. N = 32 [53.3%], p < 0.001; herbals: N = 3 [7.5%] vs. N = 16 [26.7%], p = 0.019), sex of the patients following MI (females vs. males: vitamins: N = 17 [70.8%] vs. N = 36 [47,4%], p = 0.045; vitamin D: N = 13 [54.2%] vs. N = 22 [28.9%], p = 0.024; omega-3 fatty acids: N = 3 [12.5%] vs. N = 1 [1.3%], p = 0.042; herbals: N = 8 [33.3%] vs. N = 11[14.5%], p = 0.040), as well as the BMI of the participants (BMI < 24.9 vs. BMI ≥ 25.0: multivitamin/ multimineral dietary supplements: N = 3 [15.0%] vs. N = 31 [42.5%], p = 0.035; vitamin B₆: N = 1 [5.0%] vs. N = 21 [28.8%], p = 0.035). In the study group all participants with the age above retirement age have already withdrawn from professional activity and they more often used OTC drugs (N = 14 [25.9%] before retirement age vs. N = 26 [56.5%] above retirement age, p = 0.002).

Conclusions: The patients following MI use supplements, functional foods and nutraceuticals. Their use depends on sex, age, BMI and professional activity. The authors believe that their potential beneficial effects require further evaluation in clinical longitudinal studies. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):732-43.

In environmental epidemiology, time series analyses represent a widely used statistical tool. However, though being commonly used, there is soften confusion regarding the specific requirements, such as which link function might be most appropriate, when or how to control for seasonality or how to account for lags. The present overview draws from experiences in other disciplines and discusses the proper execution of time series analyses based on considerations that are relevant in environmental epidemiology. Time series analysis in environmental epidemiology focuses on acute events caused by short-term changes in exposure. These exposures should be fairly wide-spread affecting a large number of persons, usually all inhabitants of a political entity. Pollutants in air or drinking water as well as meteorological factors serve as typical examples. Despite the many time series analyses performed world-wide, some health effects that would lend themselves to that approach are still under-explored. This would include also some neurological and psychiatric endpoints. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):704-16.

Objectives: The authors used the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and general health questionnaire to analyze the factors influencing the mental health status and the workload of support nurses during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Material and methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey of 349 support nurses in April-October 2022. Using QuestionStar, a powerful online survey tool, the authors administered surveys to the participants, collected data on the mental health status and workload of support nurses, and analyzed the influencing factors based on the collected data.

Results: A total of 316 questionnaires were successfully collected, with an effective rate of 98.75%. The proportion of support nurses with mental health problems was 25% and the value of the NASA-TLX questionnaire was: M±SD 68.91±7.28 pts. Multi-factor analysis revealed that the number of children, family support, and nursing support location were the influencing factors of mental health status, while the multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of symptoms, nursing support location, support work type, and total 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) score were the influencing factors of the workload of support nurses.

Conclusions: Compared to their counterparts in the plains, nurses working in isolated plateau regions who were caring for children and lacked family support, were more likely to have mental health issues. There was a positive correlation between the changes in GHQ-12 and NASA-TLX scores of the study participants. Compared to their counterparts in the plains and the tropical regions, nurses working in plateau regions had a heavier workload. As part of the follow-up measures to prevent and treat patients impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic, it is important to improve the mental health evaluation, consultation, and treatment of the support nurses to guarantee the high quality of the first-line support work. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6)761-72.

Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and the military conflicts in Ukraine suggest that workrelated stressors increased during these crises increases work-related stress reactions. Burnout as a long-term consequence of insufficiently compensated for workloads. The regional prevalence of burnout is particularly high among oncologists. The aim of this study was to assess the current risk of burnout within this group of physicians and to examine gender differences through gender-based analysis.

Material and methods: Thirtyseven oncologists (17 men and 20 women aged 46.5±13.6 years [range 26-74 years]) in Kharkiv, Ukraine, participated. The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS) questionnaire was used to determine the extent of occupational.

Results: Gender, age, and work experience had no effect on the following results. Women demonstrated higher scores in emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment of the MBI than men. In contrast, men offered higher cynicism scores. The MBI total score was also higher for the male oncologists. Only 1 person of the total sample had risk of burnout.

Conclusions: The results showed a high prevalence of burnout symptoms among Ukrainian oncologists without gender differences. From occupational health perspective behavioral and behavior-preventive measures are needed for clinics and oncologists to counteract the burnout symptoms, e.g. exhaustion or cyniscism. Further studies are needed here to examine the effectiveness of these measures. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):717-3.

Objectives: Academic burnout poses a challenge to the educational process. Higher education institutions have responsibilities similar to the ones of management in business settings. These institutions are responsible for creating conditions conducive to development and, as such, may be interested in verifying the presence of student burnout and pinpointing its causes. The purpose of this study was to answer these needs and develop a scale to measure the effect of organizational factors that may predict student burnout.

Material and methods: This paper reports the results of a study conducted on a sample of Polish students (N = 659) to construct and validate a multidimensional measure of organizational factors impacting academic burnout, focusing on students. For background purposes and as a starting point, the authors used the concept of the areas of worklife by Ch. Maslach and M. Leiter, who identified 6 areas of the work environment that affect the relationships people develop with their work, i.e., workload, control, reward, community, fairness, and values.

Results: The authors assessed the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity and performed confirmatory factor analysis of the new scale to measure 6 areas of academic life. Given the results of this study, the scale can be recommended as an adequate tool to measure organizational (academic) factors of burnout in students.

Conclusions: The authors have validated the final scale, which can be used to advance the understanding of the academic burnout phenomenon. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):798-811.

Objectives: The nitrogen-containing xenobiotics, such as nitrates and acrylamide may potentially influence systemic redox status and contribute to the generation of oxidative stress (OS) in the human body, but there is still a lack of studies that would evaluate the various parameters assessing the oxidative-antioxidant balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure to nitrates and acrylamide derived from daily diet and to analyze the impact of these nitrate-containing xenobiotics on the parameters of systemic redox status in healthy young adults.

Material and methods: To assess nitrate and acrylamide intake in the study population, a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used. Systemic redox status was evaluated by measurement of a panel of biochemical parameters: enzymatic (glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase [GPx]) and non-enzymatic (uric acid, bilirubin and albumin), thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters (total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide) and oxidative/ antioxidant balance indicators (total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, OS index).

Results: The average consumption of nitrates and acrylamide in the study population was 1.24 mg/kg b.w./day and 0.23 μg/kg b.w./day, respectively, which is within the normal value range. Of 12 measured parameters, significant differences were revealed for disulfide and total thiol levels, which were increased in the subgroup with the highest daily intake of nitrates compared to the subgroup with the lowest intake; for GPx, which was highest in the subgroup of the lowest daily intake of acrylamide; and for native thiols in the subgroup with the highest daily intake.

Conclusions: The intake of nitrogen-containing xenobiotics within the range considered as normal does not markedly influence redox state parameters in healthy young adults. Some significant changes were revealed only for thiol/disulphide homeostasis parameters, which may be the first line of antioxidant defense, as well as for GPx activity. Compensative mechanisms in healthy young people are efficient enough to neutralize OS induced by slightly increased exposure to nitrogen-containing xenobiotics delivered with food. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):773-87.

Objectives: The effect of the combination of working hours and working time mismatch on depression is unknown. This study was undertaken to confirm the relationship between working time mismatch and depression with respect to hours worked.

Material and methods: The data of 45 514 adult workers that participated in the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS-VI 2020) were reviewed. Depression was defined using the World Health Organization 5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) cut-off score of 50. Working time mismatch was defined as a difference between actual and desired working hours. To identify associations between working hour mismatch and depression according to weekly hours worked, stratification analysis was conducted by dividing the study subjects into 3 groups based on actual hours worked weekly (<40 h, 40-<52 h, or ≥52 h). Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders was performed to calculate odds ratios of depression.

Results: In the <40 h, 40-<52 h, and ≥52 h groups, the odds ratios (OR) of working more hours than desired were 1.51, 95% CI: 1.20-1.92 (<40 h), 1.70, 95% CI: 1.58-1.84 (40-<52 h), and 1.55, 95% CI: 1.41-1.69 (≥52 h), respectively, compared to a matched actual versus desired working hours group (the matched group). On the other hand, the odds ratios of working fewer hours than desired were 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07-1.27 (<40 h), 1.38, 95% CI: 1.20-1.60 (40-<52 h), and 1.98, 95% CI: 1.24-3.17 (≥52 h), respectively. The risk of depression was found to increase significantly with working time mismatch within all 3 working hour groups.

Conclusions: Working time mismatch increases the risk of worker depression regardless of hours worked. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):788-97.