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

BackgroundObesity and job stress are established contributors to oxidative stress, which is associated with various adverse health outcomes. However, the moderating role of job stress in the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress remains inadequately understood.ObjectivesThis study explored whether job stress, specifically the extrinsic and intrinsic components of the Effort Reward Imbalance (ERI) model, moderates the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress among female nurses.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory analysis from a cross-sectional study involving female nurses at a tertiary hospital in Western India. The study assessed the prevalence of obesity and overweight based on the suggested criteria for the Asian Indian population. We examined correlations among obesity markers and oxidative stress markers and explored if there is a moderator role of job stress on the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress.ResultsThe combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in the study population was 74%. Significant positive correlations were found between age, obesity-related parameters (Body-mass Index, Percentage Body Fat, Waist-Hip Ratio), and oxidative stress markers (Protein carbonyl content and Glutathione S-Transferase). The relationship between obesity and oxidative stress markers was moderated by overcommitment. Nurses with marked overcommitment exhibited stronger associations between age, obesity, and oxidative stress markers compared to those without marked overcommitment.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that overcommitment moderates the relationship between obesity and oxidative stress, highlighting the need to address intrinsic as well as extrinsic work-related factors in interventions targeting obesity among nurses. Future studies should confirm these findings and explore mechanisms to develop targeted interventions.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected schooling since university professors must switch to online and remote learning. Working from home requires adaptation to new noise, temperature, and lighting conditions, and those factors affect the instructors' job effectiveness.ObjectiveTo examine and measure how noise, temperature and lighting conditions affect a professor's job effectiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA questionnaire was first developed to obtain information to test the hypotheses, including the hypothesized model variables: Noise, temperature, lighting (independent variables), and performance (dependent variable). The independent variables contained three items each, while the dependent variable contained eight items, evaluated with a five-point Likert-type scale. Subsequently, the online questionnaires were sent to Latin American university professors, Excel^® automatically recorded the data, and SPSS 25^® software was used for the analysis. A structural equation model was created, and WarpPLS 8.0 software and data from 257 responders were used to test the hypotheses.Results119 (46.30%) of surveyed teachers were male, and 138 (53.70%) were female. Most of them (32.68%) were 40-50 years old, while the minority (5.45%) were between 20-30 years of age. Regarding the effects on performance, Noise had an effect of 0.22, Temperature one of 0.20, and Lighting one of 0.21. These variables explained 29% of the variance in teachers' performance.ConclusionsNoise, lighting and temperature directly and positively affect teachers' performance, such as class quality, student learning and growth, and society's sustainability.

BackgroundClimate change impacts everyone, but the warmer and snow starved winter of 2023-2024 in Minnesota has had devastating impacts on people all over the state. It severely limited participation in typical winter outdoor recreational and leisure activities and resulted in unemployment or underemployment of thousands of Minnesotans.ObjectiveThe aim of this article is to draw attention to the direct impact climate change has on human occupations and suggest ways that occupational therapy practitioners and others can contribute to efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.MethodsThe author reviewed of publicly available data, news stories, and had conversations with people directly affected by the winter that was unusually warm and dry. This information was then synthesized into this article.ResultsIn Minnesota, the climate in winters is changing faster than in summers. The lack of snow and ice, directly resulted in unemployment or underemployment of thousands of Minnesotans. It cost businesses, clubs, and communities untold dollars in lost revenue. Further, thousands of Minnesotans lost opportunities to ski, skate, snowmobile, ice fish, snowshoe, dogsled, and engage in many other outdoor activities.ConclusionEngagement in outdoor activities is an important part of life in Minnesota. When climate change interferes with these outdoor activities, it is cause for concern. It impacts paid work, volunteer work, recreation, and leisure. This is of particular concern to occupational therapy practitioners. More must be done to reduce the human causes of climate change.

The number of people with chronic conditions among (potential) workers is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. These individuals experience problems with study, work and income. Both study and work are important to patients and contribute significantly to quality of life. For this reason, attention to study and work has been integrated into regular care across a number of patient groups at Radboud University Medical Center (Radboudumc). Here, work is considered a treatment goal as part of the individuals care plan from diagnosis onwards. Work-oriented care takes shape through the training of nurse specialists, deployment of clinical occupational physicians and guidance to patients. An initial evaluation showed that patients and healthcare professionals believed that work-oriented care added value for both parties. As such, it is important for the future that work-oriented care is structurally embedded in the organization and financing of regular care.

Background: Returning to work is one of the common challenges faced by survivors of traumatic brain injury following their injury. A few reviews to date have examined the occupational therapy interventions related to return-to-work post TBI.

Objective: To examine the interventions that fall under the purview of the field of occupational therapy in facilitating return to work post mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury.

Methods: The following databases were searched: CINAHL, Ovid, PsychInfo, PubMed, & Scopus. Fifteen articles met the inclusion criteria (articles published within the past 10 years, adults, & received rehabilitation services for return to work). The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses was used to guide this review.

Results: The most effective intervention approaches that fall under the purview of occupational therapy practice to facilitate return to work in individuals with traumatic brain injury included the use of (i) vocational and work hardening rehabilitation interventions, (ii) a multidisciplinary approach to care, (iii) mental health and cognition focused interventions, and (iv) the Model of Occupational Self Efficacy. Interventions must consider both client and work-related factors to ensure successful outcomes.

Conclusions: The articles included in this review provided moderate level evidence that multidisciplinary and holistic approaches lead to successful return to work and community reintegration outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injury. Focusing on client and work-related factors through vocational rehabilitation, cognitive and mental health interventions, and client-centered models of care is recommended to yield better return to work outcomes for traumatic brain injury survivors.

Background: Understanding Long COVID's impact on healthcare workers (HCWs) is vital for patient safety and care quality. However, research on its prevalence among HCWs in Singapore and its work impact is lacking.

Objective: This study aims to assess Long COVID prevalence and its impact on work role functioning among HCWs in two Singapore tertiary hospitals, filling a critical gap in the literature.

Methods: Conducted from January to April 2023, this study evaluated Long COVID prevalence and its impact on HCWs' work-role functioning in two Singapore tertiary hospitals. HCWs over 21, having experienced ≥1 COVID-19 infection, participated in an online survey. Long COVID, defined by NICE criteria, entailed symptoms persisting for 4 or more weeks. Work-related functioning was assessed using WRFQv2.0. Descriptive analyses were conducted using STATA software.

Results: Out of 15,882 eligible participants, 573 responded (3.6% response rate). Long COVID prevalence (symptoms persisting for ≥4 weeks) was 47.5%, notably higher among younger HCWs (<40 years old), those with moderate/severe infections, and multiple infections. HCWs with Long COVID had significantly lower WRFQv2.0 mean scores compared to those without (85.1 vs. 74.3, p < 0.05). Additionally, HCWs with symptoms for ≥12 weeks had significantly lower scores than those without Long COVID (85.6 vs. 74.3, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study underscores Long COVID's potential impact on HCWs' work role functioning, especially among those with prolonged symptoms. Tailored work adjustments are crucial for their successful return to pre-illness levels, highlighting the importance of addressing Long COVID in healthcare settings.

Background: Sick leave and ill health due to stress are significant concerns today and negatively affect the individual, the organisations, and the community. High demands, multitasking, and inexplicit boundaries between different occupations contribute to an explanation. However, research shows that more qualitative studies are needed to better understand this issue and how to promote health in the working population.

Objective: The study aims to explore participants' experiences of maintaining or regaining occupational health in their everyday life, including paid work, several years after sick leave.

Method: Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using inductive content analysis. The analysis resulted in one major theme and three categories describing the current experiences handling their everyday life and work situations.

Results: The result showed that returning to work and maintaining occupational health after sick leave due to occupational ill health calls for "flex-ability". The term describes that individuals need to be open to change and adapt to new challenges at work and in everyday life.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of health-promotive organisations where the individual factor is more considered. Furthermore, a broader view of health-promotive work in society where work is included in everyday life, instead of divided into and outside of work, is needed.

Background: Percussion massage therapy (PMT) integrates traditional massage with vibration therapy.

Objective: This study compared the effects of percussion massage therapy (PMT), kinesiology tape (KT), and dynamic stretching (DS) on shoulder strength, proprioception, and functionality.

Methods: The KT group had kinesiology tape applied to the deltoid muscles. The DS group performed dynamic stretching in flexion and abduction. The PMT group received percussion massage on the deltoid muscles. Assessments included the Becure system for joint position sense (JPS), the Timed Functional Arm and Shoulder Test (TFAST), and a hand-held dynamometer for muscle strength.

Results: Significant improvements were observed in almost all JPS parameters for all groups (p < 0.05). Total TFAST scores improved in all groups. Muscle strength significantly improved in the DS group (p < 0.05), while PMT and KT groups showed no significant change (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found between the groups (p < 0.05). JPS 30°, 60°, and 90° flexion parameters had effect sizes of 0.51, 0.64, and 0.49, respectively; JPS 30°, 60°, and 90° abduction parameters had effect sizes of 0.38, 0.46, and 0.45, respectively. The effect size for Total TFAST was 0.55, flexion muscle strength 0.59, and abduction muscle strength 0.68. DS was more effective for muscle strength, DS and PMT for functionality, and KT and PMT for proprioception (p < 0.017).

Conclusions: PMT and KT were more effective for proprioception, PMT and DS were more effective for functionality, and DS was most efficient in enhancing muscle strength.

Background: Occupational exposures can endanger the health of pregnant workers and their unborn children. The Department of Occupational and Environmental Health of Unisanté has established a specialized occupational health consultation to assist pregnant workers, employers and gynecologists in implementing maternity protection provisions in the workplace.

Objective: The study aims to assess the satisfaction of the users of the consultation, describe their overall experience and identify the benefits and limitations of the consultation.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used. A telephone questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions was administered to pregnant workers who had attended the consultation in 2021, as well as to their employers and gynecologists. Quantitative data on users' satisfaction were statistically analyzed using STATA 17, while responses to open-ended questions were thematically analyzed using MAXQDA20.

Results: All users expressed high levels of satisfaction: 95% of pregnant workers, 88% of employers and 97% of gynecologists were satisfied with the consultation. Users highlighted the value of the consultation in providing insight into the legal framework and occupational risks, as well as the neutrality and support of occupational health physicians. However, they reported challenges in implementing recommended measures and ineffective monitoring of their application.

Conclusions: The study indicates that users are highly satisfied with the services provided by the consultation. It is recommended that these services be maintained and extended to other regions of Switzerland, with particular attention to pregnant women who do not have access to such services in their company.

Background: Low-wage workers carry a disproportionate burden of chronic condition morbidity due to their overall socioeconomic disadvantage and the risks accrued from low-wage work environments. Studies show low-wage work is linked to more occupational hazards, higher physical demands, more stress, lack of access to health insurance coverage and paid sick leave, and poverty - all of which result in poorer health. Work accommodations are modifications in the workplace setting that can help minimize health-related work limitations, and in some countries, employers are required to make "reasonable accommodations," by law, for workers with chronic health conditions.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to identify what is known about work accommodations for low-wage workers globally.

Methods: A systematic search of literature, using the PRISMA-ScR protocol, was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus databases through July 2024. Screening and data abstraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Studies that incorporated work accommodations as a variable and provided findings specific to low-wage workers were included.

Results: The search produced 473 citations; 14 met inclusion criteria. Health conditions represented were variable. Most studies used descriptive designs, and over half used a qualitative approach.

Conclusion: More studies are needed reflecting low-wage workers' requests for and receipt of work accommodations. Work accommodations may be an important target for intervention among populations with chronic health conditions towards reducing morbidity, work limitations, and health inequities.