Work-A Journal of Prevention Assessment & Rehabilitation最新文献

BackgroundAutomated driving offers enjoyable and comfortable trips, though not everyone will find the experience pleasant. Some special populations such as elderly people, individuals with physical or cognitive impairments, and pregnant women face different difficulties in mobility services to conduct their daily activities and, consequently, also in using new technologies like autonomous vehicles.ObjectiveThis study aims to review the specific needs, concerns, and difficulties of special populations when using autonomous vehicles and to highlight the primary issues affecting their acceptance of these technologies.MethodsA review of 48 papers was conducted to identify the special needs, concerns, and difficulties faced by various demographic groups, including elderly individuals, people with physical disabilities, and pregnant women, in using or approaching the use of autonomous vehicles.ResultsThe review revealed that aging individuals have received more attention by scientific community compared to other disabled populations. Acceptance of autonomous vehicles was identified as the primary issue across all surveyed groups. Safety, comfort, and dependability were also significant concerns, particularly among individuals with special needs.ConclusionsThis study outlines the unique concerns of various demographic groups using autonomous vehicles, with acceptance highlighted as a common issue. Designing user-friendly interfaces tailored to diverse demographics could enhance acceptance and improve the overall travel experience for those needing constant support.

Comfort is a pivotal construct in human-centered design, connecting technical functionality with well-being across products, services, and systems. The 2023 International Comfort Congress (ICC2023) brought together researchers and practitioners to explore how new contexts of use, predictive approaches, and user diversity are reshaping this field. Contributions in this special issue address comfort in automated driving and turboprop aviation, where physical, psychological, and environmental factors converge. Advances in predictive comfort science demonstrate how objective measures, physiological sensing, and modeling complement traditional self-reports. At the same time, inclusive design approaches-ranging from XR-based co-creation to analyses of posture and movement variability-highlight the importance of accounting for heterogeneous user needs and comfort trade-offs. Together, these studies illustrate a shift toward more adaptive, accessible, and sustainable systems, underscoring comfort as a multidimensional construct that evolves with technological innovation and societal change.

BackgroundIn an era of rapid technological advancements and globalization, start-ups face increased pressure to innovate continuously to maintain competitiveness and ensure long-term success. Cultural intelligence (CQ), which involves the ability to adapt to diverse cultural contexts, is increasingly recognized as a vital factor for driving innovation. However, there is limited research on how CQ influences innovation in start-ups, especially considering its various components.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the relationship between cultural intelligence and innovation in start-ups, with a particular focus on the components of CQ: metacognition, cognition, motivation, behavior, and interpersonal confidence. The research seeks to identify how these components contribute to fostering innovation within start-ups.MethodsThe study used a structured questionnaire with 35 items, distributed to 320 start-ups across India. Data were analyzed using Deep Belief Networks (DBN) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the relationships between cultural intelligence components and start-up innovation.ResultsThe findings reveal that motivation, behavior, work commitment, and interpersonal confidence significantly influence start-up innovation. Additionally, interpersonal confidence was found to enhance cultural intelligence, particularly in adapting to cultural differences. The study underscores the importance of CQ in fostering innovation in a culturally diverse business environment.ConclusionsThis research highlights that start-ups with higher cultural intelligence are better positioned to drive innovation and succeed in today's globalized market. Start-up managers and entrepreneurs should prioritize developing CQ, particularly in areas such as interpersonal confidence and work commitment, to enhance their innovation capabilities and long-term sustainability.

BackgroundCurrent jet airplanes are not sustainable, and turboprop aircraft can be a more sustainable alternative for regional travels. However, the noise levels in turboprops can range from 83 to 92 dB(A), which is higher than jets and is the largest contributor to discomfort in turboprops.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of utilizing noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs in mitigating (dis)comfort experienced by passengers aboard turboprop aircraft.MethodsAn experiment was designed in a grounded Boeing 737 cabin with the sound source inside. Twenty-four participants experienced four conditions: jet sound (Boeing 737), turboprop (ATR 72) sound, turboprop sound with active noise-cancelling (ANC) headphones, and turboprop sound with earplugs. The sound level used for all conditions in this test ranged between 84.2 and 86.3 dB(A). Passenger experiences were measured using questionnaires, including a newly developed Ear Local Discomfort questionnaire.ResultsThe comfort and discomfort scores for the conditions involving ANC headphones and earplugs are significantly improved compared to the conditions without hearing protection. The impact of noise on discomfort is mitigated in these two conditions, though it remains the most prominent factor. ANC headphones cause more discomfort around the ear, while earplugs cause discomfort inside the ear.ConclusionThe use of ANC headphones and earplugs in a turboprop airplane might increase the acceptance of these airplanes. ANC headphones are slightly preferred over earplugs, but both solutions have specific limitations.

BackgroundPoultry industry is vital to the Indian economy, significantly contributing to agriculture and providing low-cost animal protein. India ranks third globally in egg production, with southern states like Tamil Nadu, a major hub for egg and broiler production. Workers in poultry farms face serious health hazards because of their physically demanding jobs, which include handling heavy loads and performing repetitive motions. Individuals with mental stress often experience higher frequencies of musculoskeletal pain. The physically demanding nature of these jobs exacerbates musculoskeletal pain and fatigue that can affect one's QOL and mental well-being.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and fatigue and their associations with quality of life and mental health among poultry farm workers.MethodsAn observational study was conducted from May 2024 to July 2024, involving 369 poultry farm workers in southern Tamilnadu district. Data were collected using the Extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (Tamil version) to assess musculoskeletal pain, the Fatigue Assessment Scale to measure fatigue levels, the WHOQOL-BREF (Tamil version) to evaluate quality of life, and the GHQ-28 (Tamil version) to assess mental health status.ResultsChi-square analysis showed significant associations between pain and physical QoL (χ² = 203.08), psychological QoL (χ² = 125.25), and mental health (χ² = 196.59) (p < 0.05). Fatigue was also significantly associated with physical QoL (χ² = 22.80), psychological QoL (χ² = 8.03), and mental health (χ² = 26.71) (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study highlights the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and fatigue among poultry farm workers and their significant associations with QoL and mental health.

BackgroundWeaving is a key livelihood in Erode, Tamil Nadu. Long COVID-19 symptoms, especially kinesiophobia, hinder weavers' ability to work, necessitating better interventions.ObjectiveTo study the impact of Pain Apprehension Re-Activation of Movement (PARAM) VR intervention compared to conventional exercises in mitigating kinesiophobia among the target population.MethodsA quasi-experimental design involved 84 silk weavers from southern India divided into Ex-Groups (n = 42) that received conventional exercises and VR-Group (n = 42) that received the same set of exercises in virtual ambience in PARAM protocol which is a novel approach where the patient compares video graphs taken in virtual ambience with physical environment for self-realization on their movement capacity. Totally 48 males and 36 females participated, with an average age of 45.2 (4.7). Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and SF-12 scale for health-related quality of life were used at baseline, after two weeks and at the end of the 4 weeks of intervention.ResultsBoth groups showed significant improvements (VR-Group- TSK:χ²= 18.42, p < 0.001;VAS:χ²= 16.21, p < 0.001;SF-12:χ²= 19.55, p < 0.001 and Ex-Group TSK:χ²= 10.67, p = 0.005, VAS:χ²= 8.49, p = 0.014, SF-12:χ²= 12.34, p = 0.002). Improvement in the VR-Group was immediate and consistently better than the Ex-group. (Post-test-1, TSK:U = 45, p = 0.002; VAS: U = 50.5, p = 0.004; SF-12: U = 42, p = 0.001, Post-test-2-TSK: U = 60, p = 0.048; VAS: U = 65.5, p = 0.036; SF-12: U = 58, p = 0.044).ConclusionPARAM and conventional exercises were effective in reducing apprehension to movement among silk weavers with long-term COVID-19. However, PARAM training resulted in a significantly better improvement that was faster and more consistent.

BackgroundWork accidents have been studied from the perspective of outcome indicators, quantifying the frequency and severity of the occurrences. However, accidents at work continue to be a problem. In 2019, 611,275 accidents occurred in Colombia. All of this led workers to file lawsuits against employers, resulting in rulings by the Supreme Court of Justice's Labor Cassation Chamber-a topic that has been little studied.ObjectiveThis paper aims to develop and evaluate a machine learning model, the Surface Tension Neural Net-Decision Tree (STNN-DT), for classifying and predicting the favorability of verdicts related to employer liability in work accidents in Colombia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study defines and trains the proposed system based on data collected from 76 different cases in the Colombian context between 2019 to 2020. These cases correspond to actual verdicts issued by the Labor Cassation Chamber of the Colombian Supreme Court of Justice. An equal proportion of cases ruled in favor of and against employers was maintained. Methodologically, the study applied machine learning algorithms; a Bayesian Network and Surface Tension Neural Network-Decision Tree (STNN-DT).ResultsThe results show that, in 85.43% of cases, the classifier Surface Tension Neural Network-Decision Tree correctly identified the judgments due to employer liability.ConclusionsA striking 97% of the sentences for non-material damage reveal non-compliance by employers with legal regulations that predate current Safety and Health at Work standards. These violations primarily occur in IV-V risk companies, including mining, construction, and the installation of electrical networks.

In today's fast-paced work environments, the emphasis on maximizing efficiency within the shortest possible timeframe often leads organizations to compromise safety protocols. Indeed, an inherent conflict may arise between strict adherence to safety principles and meeting project deadlines or financial objectives. Multiple studies indicate that in high-pressure production environments, decision-makers frequently prioritize productivity over safety (1). Furthermore, management theories suggest that resource constraints-such as time, budget, and workforce-force organizations to make trade-offs between safety and productivity, particularly in time-sensitive or budget-limited projects (2). A systematic review revealed a significant correlation between increased monthly working hours and higher incident rates, underscoring the risks of neglecting safety in pursuit of efficiency (3). The slogan "Safety First, Then Work" has long been a foundational principle in industrial and occupational settings, advocating for safety as a prerequisite to work activities. While this mantra has played a pivotal role in promoting safety awareness, its practical implementation faces critical challenges. First, strict adherence to this approach may delay workflows, negatively impacting organizational productivity (2) Second, it risks fostering a counterproductive culture where employees prioritize safety compliance over operational performance, potentially stifling innovation and engagement (4).