Sangyo eiseigaku zasshi = Journal of occupational health最新文献

Objectives: This study aimed to establish a healthy workplace culture, rather than simply enhancing the content of intervention programs, aimed toward reducing health risks and maintaining and increasing productivity. Previous studies have found that the higher the awareness of employees' subjective evaluation of support for their health, the smaller is the health risk and problem of presenteeism. In health and productivity management, it is necessary to make evaluations from the employees' perspective. This study created an index of healthy workplace culture from the employees' perspective and examined its usefulness as an evaluation index for health and productivity management.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted using 20 indicators derived from a literature review of the workplace culture of health. The survey was conducted among 50 organizations that were certified as excellent healthcare corporations in 2019. A questionnaire was distributed to 886 employees in 25 cooperating organizations, and responses were received from 435 employees.

Results: The analysis was performed among employees at 43 large and 263 small and medium-sized organizations, and 123 organizations with unknown certification status. Comparison by size showed that the following were significantly better in large organizations: policy on maintaining and promoting health, procedures for handling health issues, program and support for returning to work after a long absence, program and support for improving mental health, and places to consult with employees about health and safety issues. However, the following were significantly better in small and medium-sized organizations: feedback on health issues from supervisors to employees and provision of useful information about health promotion. Organizations with unknown certification status showed significantly worse results for all items. It was evident with all indicators that a strong workplace culture of health resulted in reduced health risks and diminished presenteeism.

Conclusions: The validity of the index developed in this study demands future verification. However, the index allows the degree of the workplace culture of health to be assessed and may be beneficial in health and productivity management for evaluation from the employees' perspective.

Objective: Theshortage of caregivers in care facilities has become a problem in Japan. Building a comfortable workplace and improving the quality of working life (QWL) of caregivers are essential. However, the factors of QWL that should be prioritized remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the major factors currently affecting the QWL of caregivers in care facilities for the elderly and recognize the priorities that should be addressed.

Methods: A questionnaire survey targeting administrators and caregivers working in care facilities for the elderly was conducted from October to December in 2018. In total, 1,000 care facilities located throughout Japan were selected via random sampling. Eight caregivers who differed by sex, age, and years of experience were selected from each facility (a total of 8,000 caregivers). A logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association between QWL and the factors affecting it.

Results: Ultimately, data from 504 facilities and 3,478 caregivers were included in the analysis. Human relationships (OR: 3.92, 95% CI: 3.09-4.97) had the highest odds ratio in terms of caregivers' QWL, followed by the number of workers (OR: 3.69, 95% CI: 2.56-5.32), communication (OR: 3.42, 95% CI: 2.66-4.40), support from the facility (OR: 3.37, 95% CI: 2.69-4.23), working hours or time off (OR: 3.20, 95% CI: 2.53-4.04), and discretion of responsibility level (OR: 3.09, 95% CI: 2.46-3.88). In contrast, salary (OR: 2.81, 95% CI: 2.19-3.61) was associated with QWL but the association was lower than that of human relationships and the other factors. Lower back pain among caregivers was also associated with QWL.

Conclusions: Findings of this study show that improvement in human relationships is the primary factor for improved QWL among caregivers in care facilities. Thus, it should be prioritized. Secondary factors that affect QWL are the number of workers, communication, support from the facility, working hours or time off, and discretion of responsibility level. Considering the reasons for caregivers' dissatisfaction, improving their QWL requires promoting the exchange of information with superiors and colleagues. It also involves consulting with persons in charge about working hours, time off, and mental health. Salary is related to QWL but is less important than the aforementioned factors. The prevention of lower back pain, however, contributes to improving QWL.

Objective: To clarify the characteristics of the experience leading to successful smoking cessation and to examine the nature of smoking cessation support to capture these characteristics.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30-60 minutes with 14 middle-aged male workers, who smoked an average of five or more cigarettes per day, and had currently quit smoking for more than six months without any treatment. Questionnaire items included the reasons for attempting to quit smoking, the methods used, changes in feelings and situations during the smoking cessation effort, past experience of failure, and current notions. To extract labels, subcategories, categories, and core categories, a verbatim record was made and analyzed qualitatively and inductively.

Results: Overall, 683 labels, 117 subcategories, 32 categories, and 9 core categories were extracted. The core categories were indicated by 【 】 and the categories by ≪ ≫. The participants expressed 【hesitation about the challenge of quitting smoking】 and 【skepticism about remaining a smoker】 owing to changes in the society surrounding smokers, and were 【preparing to face a difficult challenge】. After commencing the challenge, the smokers were 【able to achieve success in quitting smoking】 as they continued to 【try and find ways to quit smoking that suited them】 and go through the 【battle against the urge to smoke using "my energy as a shield"】 in the midst of 【pain associated with withdrawal from cigarettes】. They were able to 【establish a way of life as a successful nonsmoker】 by continuing to quit smoking, while simultaneously experiencing 【the confusion encountered after smoking cessation】. Categories indicating relationships with others, such as 【avoiding negative images due to smoking】, 【 protecting one's pride against others】, and 【experiencing pleasure at being recognized by others】 were extracted.

Conclusion: The results showed that 【skepticism about remaining a smoker】 was seen as a turning point in the challenge of quitting smoking. Taking an approach that leads to this feeling is important for smokers. After quitting smoking, continuous follow-up is believed to be necessary to reduce 【the confusion encountered after smoking cessation】 and continue to 【establish a way of life as a successful nonsmoker】. This study revealed that "public self-consciousness" leads to behavioral changes toward smoking cessation, suggesting the possibility of new findings.

Objectives: Gas sampling tubes are essential tools for the evaluation of air quality in work environments. It adsorbs toxic gaseous matters onto the surface of various granular adsorbents, such as silica gel or activated carbon packed in a thin glass tube, for quantitative analysis by gas chromatography. Currently, most of the semi-volatile matters are evaluated via aerosol filtration or solid-phase gas adsorption depending on the main phase of the substances; however, only a few substances have a sampling protocol regarding both solid and gaseous phases. Therefore, semi-volatile components evaluated by the solid-phase adsorption may result in the underestimation of the component concentrations due to particulate components passing through and remaining in the adsorbent. To highlight issues on sampling of semi-volatile matters by the solid-phase adsorption method, the collection efficiency of aerosol particles by 17 commercial gas sampling tubes were measured via pressure drop.

Methods: To measure the particle collection efficiency of the gas collection tubes, precise control and dilution of the aerosol particle monitors are essential. However, we cannot apply typical filter test methods at a lower filtration flow rate than that of the aerosol particles monitors. Therefore, we developed a new experimental method that considers flow adjustment between the aerosol monitors. By assuming two specific particle size distributions and five inlet conditions, the collection efficiencies of total mass particles are estimated. From the gas-particle partitioning ratio of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a coal tar pitch manufacturing industry, the underestimation of the concentration of semi-volatile matters using the gas collection tubes has been discussed.

Results: The aerosol particles were collected in all kinds of layers in the gas sampling tubes, such as in the glass wool cap, gas adsorbent granular bed, and polyurethane foam. Furthermore, the collection efficiency curve of all 17 gas sampling tubes tested showed similar trends; a valley around particle sizes ranging from 0.2-0.3 μm between high collection zones below 0.1 μm and above 1 μm was observed. The observations suggested granular bed filters collection mechanisms such as inertial impaction, Brownian diffusion, gravity, and interception as same as air filters.

Conclusions: Solid-phase collection can underestimate the concentrations of multi-phase matters. Thus, we wish to highlight the importance of solid-phase collection methods along with filtration collection methods to collect all phases of semi-volatile matters.

Objectives: Owing to the spread of COVID-19, many companies are likely to experience a significant impact on not only the safety and health of employees, but also on their businesses. The impact may be more severe for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than large enterprises, given their limited management resources. This study aims to clarify the good practices of institutional measures, the challenges in implementing these measures, and the required supports among SMEs.

Methods: The authors conducted an interview survey in August-October 2020 covering 27 SMEs in Japan regarding the infection control measures implemented and the desired supports in the future. Based on the content analysis, four researchers, comprising two occupational physicians and occupational health nurses each, extracted small categories by focusing on the commonality of codes, and gradually increased the degree of abstraction, subsequently extracting large categories.

Results: The study consolidated the implemented institutional measures into four categories: "making immediate decisions," "obtaining accurate information and sharing it with all employees," "strengthening infection control measures," and " launching efforts to continue business." In addition, challenges in implementing institutional measures were classified into five categories: "information gathering," "counter measures against unknown virus," "poor accessibility to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test," "consensus building," and "balancing business continuity and infection control." Furthermore, desired support in the future was classified into three categories: "information gathering," "accessibility to PCR test," and "compensation and subsidy."

Conclusions: With taking the advantage of the characteristics of SMEs, not a few companies implemented the four categories of institutional measures. Therefore, it is imperative for SMEs to provide accurate information to employers for appropriately recognizing the risks. Accordingly, it is desirable for occupational health professionals at SMEs to provide support to employers to help them identify appropriate information.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the present state of activities of occupational health physicians (OHPs) and companies' opinions about them.

Methods: Questionnaires, to be answered anonymously, were sent to 1,898 companies with ≥ 50 employees. We analyzed the data according to type of industry and the size of the company.

Results: We received 692 responses. First, we compared the data with the results of a previous study we had conducted in 2003. The percentage of companies that employed OHPs was found to have increased from 77% to 97%. The implementation rate of work place inspection conducted by OHPs had increased from 41% to 65%, and the attendance rate of health committees increased from 24% to 56%. Regarding overtime, we found that the percentage of workers who did more than 80 hours of overtime work per month had decreased from 29% to 7%, but in the transportation industry the high rate of 38% was maintained. Stress assessments were conducted by 98% of the companies with ≥ 50 employees.

Conclusions: This study determined the present situation in companies, with regard to recent law revisions. Stress assessments are carried out more frequently, the number of workers doing overtime has decreased, and measures against second-hand smoke are being promoted. In addition, we found an increase in the frequency of work place inspection and attendance of health committees, but in one-third of the companies these were not carried out.