Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine最新文献

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the level and sources of job stress among key business professionals such as economists, financiers, and accountants as well as among genders.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Job Stress Survey to collect data on job stress among 702 Kazakhstani business professionals who worked in both public and private organizations.

Results: Analysis revealed that the degree of severity and frequency of stress was not high for all business professionals. Results showed that financiers experienced higher stress than economists due to limited opportunity for advancement and disagreeable duties. The study also found that men economists and financiers were stressed from conflicts with other departments more than women of these professions.

Conclusions: Our findings provide insights for organizations about the potential ways of preventing and mitigating job stress.

Objective: This study investigated whether workers who practiced unhealthy lifestyles but worked under organizations with insufficient control against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) would pose a synergistic risk of poor self-rated health (SRH).

Methods: A total of 22,637 workers (men, 48.5%) were extracted from an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan (December 2020). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate adjusted odds ratio (AOR) against poor (poor, fair) SRH.

Results: Accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (AOR, 1.49 to 4.40; P < 0.05) and insufficient infection control (AOR, 1.80; P < 0.05) were independently related to poor SRH; however, when these factors were combined, SRH was additively worsened (AOR, 2.14 to 7.72; P < 0.05).

Conclusions: This study highlights that not only unhealthy lifestyle practices but also poor organizational management against infection would worsen workers' SRH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The aim of the study is to explore possible associations according to quality of sleep and work from home (WFH) with physical inactivity (PI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study in two Brazilian cities (>18 years), by probability sampling. Leisure-time physical activity was self-reported and classified according to guidelines. Sleep was by applying the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Work from home was classified as: total WFH or no WFH.

Results: A total of 1750 adults were analyzed, 69.1% were physically inactive, 51.9% had poor sleep quality, and 79.8% were not in WFH. PI was associated with poor sleep quality and non-WFH. Compared with those who reported WFH and good sleep quality, those who reported non-WFH and poor sleep quality had 4 times the prevalence of PI.

Conclusions: Poor sleep quality, and not WFH, is associated with leisure PI. These factors combined increase the probability of PI.

Objective: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptive effect on employers and workers, an interdisciplinary team launched the Carolina Promoting Safe Practices for Employees' Return study to assess the feasibility of providing tailored technical assistance to small and medium North Carolina businesses using a Total Worker Health (TWH) ® approach.

Methods: Feasibility of the approach was assessed via surveys and interviews of business representatives from four participating businesses ranging in size from 3 to 110 employees.

Results: The TWH approach is feasible, that is, in demand, practical, and acceptable to protect and promote worker safety, health, and well-being. Potential challenges include implementation cost, difficulty engaging all employees, and difficulty accessing tailored health and safety materials in a timely manner.

Conclusions: Additional refinement and testing of the TWH approach postpandemic with more worksites is warranted.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the lost productivity cost of temporary work absenteeism due to COVID-19.

Methods: This study conducted on all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in northeastern Iran between February 2020 and March 2022 (10,406 cases). Data were collected from the Hospital Information System. Indirect costs were estimated using the human capital approach. Data were analyzed with the STATA version 17.

Results: The total indirect cost of work absenteeism due to COVID-19 was estimated at $513,688. There was a statistically significant relationship between the mean lost productivity cost and COVID-19 peak, sex, insurance type, age, and hospitalization.

Conclusions: Because the absenteeism costs of COVID-19 had increased in the second peak, which coincided with the summer holidays, the country's crisis management headquarters should pay more attention to formulating and implementing appropriate preventive programs in future epidemics.

Objective: This study presents a pilot evaluation of a new online training program created to improve supervisors' ability to protect worker safety by recognizing and responding to signs of impairment from diverse causes.

Methods: The study design relied on a mixed-methods approach with two waves of surveys and interviews immediately after training completion and after 3 months to gauge changes in participants' perceived knowledge and competencies.

Results: Participants had a positive reaction to training and found it relevant to their job responsibilities and aligned with existing organizational safety programs, practices, and policies. There was statistically significant improvement in perceived impairment knowledge and competencies. The study also provided early indications of training transfer.

Conclusions: The study offers encouraging results that may be used to improve the impairment recognition and response training for supervisors and support future investigations of its impact.

Objectives: This article compares the impact of COVID-19-related restrictions on the level of physical activity, performed by public servants, in April and November 2020.

Methods: The survey examined the amount (in minutes per week) and the energy expenditure (in metabolic equivalent of task in minutes per week [METmin/week]) of physical activity for both before and during contact restrictions in April and November 2020, respectively.

Results: Especially for sports activity difference was determined by the medians before (April/November: median [Mdn] = 180.0 min/wk) and during (April: Mdn = 130 minutes, November: Mdn = 60 min/wk) restrictions ( P < 0.05).Also for energy consumption (METmin/wk), the medians before and during the contact restrictions declined for both periods.

Conclusions: Measures against the coronavirus have led to a reduction in activity levels among public employees, regardless of their work environment. The decrease in participation in sport activities seemed to be even more noticeable within the second restriction period.

Objectives: The objectives are to compare lead blood concentrations in veterinary workers using lead shielding with concentrations in a control population, to measure hand surface lead before and after use of shielding, and to compare hand surface lead with and without the use of disposable gloves worn under hand shielding.

Methods: Blood and hand wipe samples were analyzed for lead using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results: There was no difference in blood lead between exposed and control groups. After lead glove use, 69% (18/26) of hand surface lead samples from workers not using disposable gloves were greater than 500 μg, 42% (11/26) were greater than 1000 μg, and 12% (3/26) were greater than 2000 μg.

Conclusions: If lead shielding use is unavoidable, disposable gloves should be worn, and skin should be decontaminated after use.

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the association between solid fuel use for cooking or heating and the risk of hypertension among individuals older than 45 years.

Methods: Baseline questionnaires were used to collect self-reported primary cooking and heating fuel usage. Outcomes were defined as the time of first diagnosis of hypertension. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: Solid fuel use for cooking was associated with a higher risk of hypertension. The association between solid fuel for cooking and hypertension remained significant among residents in north China, individuals aged 45 to 65 years, urban residents, and nonsmokers. Solid fuel for heating was associated with a higher risk of hypertension only in South China.

Conclusions: Solid fuel use may result in an increased risk of hypertension. Our findings further emphasize the health hazards of solid fuel for cooking and heating.