International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

Objectives: Medical providers working with trauma survivors are exposed to the negative and positive effects of secondary trauma, both of which are affected by social support and job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of job satisfaction in the relationship between social support and the negative and positive effects of secondary exposure to trauma among medical personnel. The negative indicator of such exposure was secondary traumatic stress (STS), while the positive indicator was secondary posttraumatic growth (SPTG).

Material and methods: The analyses included 419 medical providers working with trauma victims (201 paramedics and 218 nurses). Data was collected with the Secondary Traumatic Stress Inventory, Secondary Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, Social Support Scale, Work Satisfaction Scale, and survey. Mediation analyses were applied to assess relationships between variables.

Results: The mediation analyses indicated that job satisfaction mediates (mainly partly) the relationship between social support and STS and SPTG. This may indicate that both social support and job satisfaction act as significant predictors of the negative and positive effects of secondary exposure to trauma.

Conclusions: As a friendly and mutually-supportive environment can increase job satisfaction, reducing the risk of secondary traumatic stress and promoting positive posttraumatic changes, it is important to increase social support and job satisfaction among medical providers exposed to secondary trauma. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):505-16.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate, through the lens of conservation of resources theory, the predictive role of 2 positive personality traits in the form of core self-evaluations (CSE) and ego-resiliency (ER) in resource losses and gains triggered by the COVID-19 crisis.

Material and methods: The 2 personality traits, constituting positive person-related resources, were examined in relation to resource losses and gains in both general and distinct life domains: hedonistic and vital, spiritual, family, economic and political, and finally power and prestige.

Results: The findings from a nationwide sample of 1000 working adults (65% women; age M±SD 38.93±10.9 years) indicated that CSE negatively predicted resource losses, whereas ER served as a positive predictor of resource gains. The predictive role of personality traits was demonstrated both for resource losses and gains in general and in different life domains.

Conclusions: The results of this study highlight in particular the role of CSE as a protective factor of resource losses, and the role of ER as a promotive factor of resource gains, suggesting that both traits might evoke divergent resilience responses when facing prolonged stressful life events. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):551-62.

Objectives: The aim of the research was to explore the potential of the concept of work in the activity-based working (ABW) environment, including its impact on stress, back pain and psychomedical parameters of employees subjected to and not subject to relocation.

Material and methods: The data of 396 employees of both sexes were analyzed. The study used standardized psychological questionnaires to measure the level of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), the level of readiness for change (Readiness for Change Questionnaire), the severity of health behaviors (Health Behavior Inventory) and the level of general self-efficacy (General Self-Efficacy Scale). The set included questionnaires measuring the level of knowledge of occupational health and safety rules and the frequency of back pain.

Results: In the group of people whose workplace was moved to another building (in accordance with the concept), the relationship between the level of stress and selected variables: age, sense of generalized self-efficacy was checked. A significant negative correlation between the level of stress and age was confirmed (ρ = -0.16, p = 0.023), meaning a decrease in the level of stress with age. The level of stress correlated positively with the sense of efficacy (ρ = 0.21, p = 0.003), which means, the higher the sense of effectiveness, the higher the level of stress. In addition, it was confirmed that the level of stress in the group of people changing their location differed significantly from the general population.

Conclusions: Work in the ABW concept can contribute to the improvement of interpersonal communication and facilitate the social integration of employees and better evaluation of work in this model. Work in concept has not been shown to be a protective factor against back pain in people with obesity. It was confirmed that in people relocated from traditional office to office in the concept, relocation was associated with stress, but also with a greater sense of self-efficacy. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):526-40.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between depressive symptoms, fatigue and psychological flexibility, as well as their interactions on depression in Chinese nurses.

Material and methods: Using convenience sampling, a cross-sectional survey of 796 nurses in municipal hospitals of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, was conducted. The questionnaires of Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and Fatigue Assessment Instrument were used. Hierarchical regression and bootstrap methods were used to examine the mediating effect of psychological flexibility between fatigue and depression.

Results: More than 51.8% of the nurses were at risk of depression and 62.3% were at risk of fatigue. There was a significantly positive and moderate correlation between depression and fatigue severity, situation specificity, and consequences (r = 0.43, r = 0.24 and r = 0.31, respectively, p < 0.01). Depression was negatively correlated with psychological flexibility (r = -0.28, p < 0.01). Psychological flexibility had a negative impact on depression with the explained variance increased by 4.2% (β = -0.211, p < 0.001). The bootstrap method showed that the mediating effect of psychological flexibility accounting for 8.5% and 12.3% on fatigue and depressive symptoms, respectively.

Conclusions: Psychological flexibility plays a partial mediating role between the fatigue severity, consequences of fatigue and depressive symptoms of nurses. Hospital managers should improve medical staff work acceptance to alleviate their depressive symptoms. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(4):563-74.

Objectives: Universities played a significant role in meeting the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with both students and staff having to identify and use available coping resources. The main aim of the study was to describe the academic community's experiences of the pandemic and their impact on health and wellbeing. Related variables were also explored, such as sense of coherence (SOC), gratitude, and subjective health assessment (SHA).

Material and methods: During the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire was sent to the community of the Medical University of Lodz. It included 4 open-ended questions on ways to remain healthy during the pandemic. The responses (N = 144) were analyzed using a general inductive approach. For the purpose of this study, the resource utilization rate (RUR) was defined and calculated based on the number of categories with responses indicating resource usage. Additionally, a Polish adaptation of the 29-item Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-29), the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), and subjective health assessment were measured. Correlations between variables were calculated.

Results: The main areas of resource identification and utilization were interpersonal relationships, views of reality, physical activity, pleasure activities, social contacts, and healthy diet. Physical activity has been found to be the most commonly-reported strategy of taking care of both health and emotional state more frequently among students than employees (p < 0.01). The RUR was strongly associated with SOC in male employees (ρ = 0.7, p < 0.05) and with GQ-6 in both male and female student groups (ρ = 0.56, p < 0.05 and ρ = 0.28, p < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusions: Relationships between RUR and SOC seem to be gender- and age-related. The relationships between health and resource utilization are worth exploring in the university setting. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):365-78.

Objectives: The authors aimed to evaluate whether blood cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) in children differ regionally in 9 countries, and to identify factors correlating with exposure.

Material and methods: The authors performed a cross-sectional study of children aged 7-14 years, living in 2007-2008 in urban, rural, or potentially polluted ("hot spot") areas (ca. 50 children from each area, in total 1363 children) in 6 European and 3 non-European countries. The authors analyzed Cd, Pb, and total Hg in blood and collected information on potential determinants of exposure through questionnaires. Regional differences in exposure levels were assessed within each country.

Results: Children living near industrial "hot-spots" had B-Cd 1.6 (95% CI: 1.4-1.9) times higher in the Czech Republic and 2.1 (95% CI:1.6-2.8) times higher in Poland, as compared to urban children in the same countries (geometric means [GM]: 0.13 μg/l and 0.15 μg/l, respectively). Correspondingly, B-Pb in the "hot spot" areas was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.6-2.1) times higher than in urban areas in Slovakia and 2.3 (95% CI: 1.9-2.7) times higher in Poland (urban GM: 19.4 μg/l and 16.3 μg/l, respectively). In China and Morocco, rural children had significantly lower B-Pb than urban ones (urban GM: 64 μg/l and 71 μg/l, respectively), suggesting urban exposure from leaded petrol, water pipes and/or coal-burning. Hg "hot spot" areas in China had B-Hg 3.1 (95% CI: 2.7-3.5) times higher, and Ecuador 1.5 (95% CI: 1.2-1.9) times higher, as compared to urban areas (urban GM: 2.45 μg/l and 3.23 μg/l, respectively). Besides industrial exposure, traffic correlated with B-Cd; male sex, environmental tobacco smoke, and offal consumption with B-Pb; and fish consumption and amalgam fillings with B-Hg. However, these correlations could only marginally explain regional differences.

Conclusions: These mainly European results indicate that some children experience about doubled exposures to toxic elements just because of where they live. These exposures are unsafe, identifiable, and preventable and therefore call for preventive actions. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):349-64.

Objectives: Social distancing and remote learning as one of the ways to fight against COVID-19 pandemic have affected universities and changed the lifestyle of many students. Psychoactive substances use was one of the way to deal with the anxiety caused by these new settings. Studies published so far have not provided a clear answer on whether COVID-19 leads to changes in the structure of alcohol consumption among medical students. The presented study attempted to answer this question based on the data available from the POLLEK study.

Material and methods: The study group included 3 separate groups of medical students (recruited in the following academic years: 2019/2020, 2020/2021, and 2021/2022) with a total number of 899 students. To assess the characteristics of alcohol consumption the authors used a Polish version of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).

Results: Students surveyed during the lockdown lived in the family home much more often, reported good health, and declared consumption of a smaller number of alcoholic beverages. Their AUDIT scores were statistically significantly (p = 0.04) lower compared to the group surveyed before the pandemic (5 vs. 6, respectively). There were no significant differences in the AUDIT results between other study periods.

Conclusions: Lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic might be associated with a decrease in alcohol intake among medical students. This may be due to a different place of residence of students, a family home rather than a dormitory. However, the debate on this topic seems to be still open. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):406-16.

Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a 2-year follow-up of mental disorders in healthcare workers (HCWs) in a region of China outside the epidemic's core zone who happened to be directly or possibly exposed to persons with COVID-19.

Material and methods: A cognitive analysis scale was utilized in the evaluation the mental or emotional state of HCWs at Xuzhou Medical University's affiliated hospital in the city of Xuzhou, China (a non-core epidemic area) 2 years after the first assessment during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 165 HCWs were selected as the study subjects. In accordance to the exposure risk of COVID-19 patients, the subjects were separated into 2 categories: a group with a high risk HCW (HHCW) (HCWs working in COVID-19-positive wards; N = 91) and a group with a minimal risk HCW (LHCW) (HCWs who worked in wards without COVID-19 patients at the same hospital; N = 75). The clinical as well as demographic information of every HCWs were collected.

Results: The demographic data revealed significant differences in terms of occupation, remuneration, and selfless concerns amidst both categories (p < 0.05). There lacked a statistically notable difference in the occurrence of PTSD between the 2 groups. Data was analyzed for factors associated with PTSD, and the results showed that psychological resilience, job risk, and stress in the workplace were risk factors for PTSD. Additionally, the results of the logistic regression analysis showed that psychological resilience was a significant shared risk factor for PTSD in HCWs after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions: The 2-year follow-up showed no statistical difference in the incidence of PTSD between the HHCW group and the LHCW group. Workplace stress, occupational hazards, and psychological resilience were the major contributing risk factors for PTSD in HCWs. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):324-32.

Most women continue to work during pregnancy. However, some of them have to stop working before giving birth. Absence from work poses several challenges for employers and employees, as well as for society. The literature on absence from work during pregnancy and its determinants remains inconsistent and rather scarce. To conduct a narrative literature review on the factors associated with work interruption and on existing interventions aimed at reducing the absence prevalence during pregnancy. The review refers to published peer-reviewed articles dealing with all types of work interruption among pregnant women. Keyword searches were performed in the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar, covering the period 2000-2022. The review, which includes 42 papers, presents a broad and comprehensive picture of factors and interventions associated with absence from work among pregnant workers. The factors appear at different levels and include factors related to the pregnant women, such as individual health and socio-demographic factors; employer and workplace-related factors, such as risk exposures and working conditions; factors related to the role of the healthcare provider; and factors related to the national context (social benefits/insurance). The determinants of absence from work during pregnancy are complex and multifactorial and involve multiple stakeholders. The discussion addresses gaps and needs in the literature on pregnancy at work and in the field of occupational health. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):303-23.

Objectives: The aim of this research is to present the search for psychosocial predictors explaining the strength of perceived stress in psychiatrists and the search for associations between stress and occupational burnout in psychiatrists. The authors also searched for associations between organizational, workload, family and non-professional - social factors and the intensity of occupational stress.

Material and methods: The group of 131 doctors - specialists in psychiatry, aged 27-86 years - took part in the study. The participants completed 3 questionnaires, i.e., the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Link Burnout Questionnaire (LBQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10).

Results: The results indicated that significant predictors of the development of occupational stress for psychiatrists were psychophysical exhaustion and lack of a sense of professional efficacy. Taking holidays (several times a year, pursuing the passions and interests), and having a stable family relationship (marriage or civil partnership) were also prominent among the predictors of stress.

Conclusions: Occupational stress and burnout in the work of the surveyed psychiatrists appeared to be a high intensity phenomenon. These results indicate the need to spread preventive health care also in the work of psychiatrists. Mainly in terms of maintaining the right balance between work and rest, which can help to reduce stress levels and protect against further development of burnout syndrome. Family resources such as a stable marriage or partnership may also be a protective factor against the build-up of stress and burnout in psychiatrists (mainly female). In addition, professional resources (work experience measured by number of years of work) is also important in explaining stress levels in psychiatrists. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(3):379-95.