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

Background: Spine pain is a leading cause of functional disability and work absenteeism globally. Multiple prognostic factors influencing return-to-work(RTW) among people with spine pain are reported from high-income-countries. However, findings from high-income-countries with 16 percent world's population, cannot be extrapolated to low-middle-income countries (LMICs) which constitutes 84 percent world's population. Hence, paucity of evidence from LMICs motivated present literature review.

Objective: To study work absenteeism and RTW profile of people with spine pain in LMICs, including intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing RTW and time taken to RTW.

Methods: Literature search in scientific databases: PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane and Google Scholar yielded 3 articles from middle-income countries; including 2 cohort studies and 1cross-sectional study. No study was identified from low-income countries.

Results: Review findings reported cessation of work or work absenteeism due to spine-pain; factors influencing RTW; proportion of people returning to work and period of RTW. Intrinsic factors which influenced work absenteeism and RTW included-age, gender, BMI, stage of spine pain and pain severity. Extrinsic factors were heavy physically demanding occupation, informal employment, compensatory leave and lack of access to rehabilitation services at primary and secondary healthcare levels.

Conclusions: Scarce evidence on work absenteeism and RTW among people with spine pain is available only from middle-income countries. Trends of work practice underpinned by pain-coping strategies among people with spine pain in LMICs with inadequate access to evidence-based spine-care, out-of-pocket health expenditure and lack of compensation guidelines warrant urgent research attention.

Background: Studying at school and engaging in social activities are primarily performed while sitting, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle, which poses a major health concern for adults and children. Sitting independently and being stable facilitates success in reaching and connecting with objects.

Objective: Recognizing the potential negative consequences of SB, this study explored the effect of using a fit ball as an alternative seating option in classrooms to reduce sedentary behavior.

Methods: We employed a repeated-measures design to compare the fine motor accuracy of 37 preschool children (18 boys and 19 girls, aged 4-6 years with a mean age of 5.48 ± 0.54 years) when seated on standard chairs versus fit balls. The children were assessed through six subtests designed to evaluate fine motor accuracy appropriate for their age group.

Results: Our findings revealed no significant difference in fine motor accuracy between the two seating modes (p > 0.05), indicating that using a fit ball as a seating alternative does not compromise the fine motor skills of preschool children. Furthermore, no clear preference for either seating mode among the children was detected (Z = -1.79, p = 0.074).

Conclusion: While using fit balls may not enhance fine motor accuracy, they could still be considered an alternative seating in classrooms to reduce sedentary behavior without negatively impacting fine motor development. Such seating arrangements, including dynamic chairs or fit balls, could foster the development of healthy habits without adversely affecting academic skills. Further research may explore other benefits of dynamic seating and its long-term effects on child development.

Background: Type 1 Diabetes is important chronic health problem that incidence increasing between the ages of 4-6 and 10-15, has multi-dimensional etiological factors. Cardiovascular diseases may develop due to diabetes and cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetes cause deterioration of vascular structure, and sudden onset of heart disease through various pathophysiological mechanisms. Controlling factors, especially diabetes management, is very important in preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between heart health attitudes, socioeconomic factors, and HbA1c levels in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Methods: The study included 10-15-year-old adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes treated in pediatric endocrinology outpatient clinic provided they met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Adolescents' heart health attitudes were evaluated with the cardiovascular health promotion attitude scale for children. HbA1c levels and socioeconomic characteristics of the adolescents were recorded.

Results: The independent predictors of the group with favorable heart health attitudes were exercise duration, meal frequency, low economic status, and HbA1c levels. HbA1c levels were positively associated with nutrition, exercise, sedentary life, and smoking subscale scores as well as total scale scores. However, it was not associated with the scores of self-love and stress subscales. Low self-love and stress subscale scores were independent predictors of low economic status and explain why low economic status is a predictor of favorable heart health attitudes.

Conclusions: The cardiovascular health promotion attitude scale scores are associated with HbA1c levels, which is a predictor of increased cardiovascular diseases. This predictive ability of the scale makes its use meaningful.

Background: Employee job insecurity negatively affects health outcomes, with limited research on the moderating role of workplace social support. Objective: This study examines the relationship between job insecurity and health-related quality of life among medical representatives, exploring the moderating effect of social support at work. Method: Cross-sectional data from 391 Turkish medical representatives during the pandemic were analyzed using correlation, logistic regression, and moderation analysis with SPSS for Windows and Hayes' Process Macro. Results: 73.4% of the participants were male, with a mean age of 38.3 ± 6.7 years. According to multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender, quantitative and qualitative job insecurity negatively [OR = 1.02 (95% CI = 1.00-1.03)] and social support positively [OR = 0.96 (95% CI = 0.95-0.98)] affected health-related quality of life. There was a moderately significant correlation between health-related quality of life and quantitative job insecurity, qualitatively job insecurity and social support in the workplace (r = -0.430, r = -0.477, r = 0.494), respectively. The moderating effect analysis has revealed that receiving social support in the workplace alleviates and reduces the negative impact of job insecurity on the health-related quality of life of employees. Social support in the workplace received by employees mitigates and reduces the negative impact of job insecurity on their health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Social support in the workplace plays an important role in buffering the negative consequences of job insecurity. According to this research, it is important to improve social support in the workplace to prevent negative health-related quality of life outcomes among medical representatives experiencing job insecurity.

Background: Active sitting chairs have been proposed as an effective approach for reducing sedentary behaviour in the workplace.

Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluated how an active sitting chair altered energy expenditure compared to a traditional office chair during seated computer work.

Methods: Sixteen participants (8M/8F) completed two 20-min sessions of seated standardized computer work in an active sitting chair, with a multiaxial rotating seat pan, and traditional office chair. Metabolic and ventilatory variables were collected with a customized metabolic cart and cardiac variables were collected by a Hexoskin^© shirt. Average ventilatory, metabolic, and cardiac variables from the last 15-min of each block were compared between chairs and sexes.

Results: Statistically significant increases in oxygen uptake (V˙O₂) emerged in active sitting (0.02 L/min; 7.6%), and ultimately led to a 1.5 kcal increase in energy expenditure compared to traditional sitting. Proportional and significant changes in minute ventilation (V˙_E; + 0.9 L/min), heart rate (HR; + 5.8 bpm), and heart rate variability (HRV; -0.05 s) occurred, which further support the greater metabolic demand in active sitting.

Conclusions: A 1.5 kcal per 15-min increase in energy expenditure translates to 6 kcal/hour and 48 kcal/day. Compared to other literature, this change is similar to caloric expenditure when climbing three to six flights of stairs and when using alternative workstation designs (e.g., standing or sitting on a stability ball). An active sitting chair with a multiaxial rotating seat pan and no back support, appears to be a good alternative for increasing energy expenditure at a workstation.

Background: As technology develops rapidly and complex systems become more widespread, the study of mental workload (MWL) for monitors has become increasingly important.

Objective: To explore the signaling features of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in different MWL states.

Methods: Twenty participants performed the N-back task and fNIRS data were collected to measure changes in blood oxygenation levels in the prefrontal cortex. Additionally, performance metrics and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire results were recorded.

Results: NASA-TLX scores increased progressively from 0-back (M = 8.750) to 1-back (M = 34.792), 2-back (M = 52.292), and 3-back (M = 75.625). Significant differences were observed in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) concentrations (F_{3, 57}= 10.557, p < 0.001) across these tasks. HbO increased from 0-back (M = -0.008) to 1-back (M = -0.002) and 2-back (M = -0.001), but decreased to 3-back (M = -0.002). Channels CH16, CH17, and CH18, located in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), were significantly activated in the 1-back, 2-back, and 3-back conditions. CH1 and CH2, which are located in the right DLPFC, showed significant activation in both the 2-back and 3-back tasks.

Conclusions: Our results showed that different levels of the N-back tasks triggered different MWL states. Significant differences in HbO concentrations and activated channels were observed across tasks with varying MWLs. HbO followed an "inverted U" pattern, increasing as the MWL shifted from underload to normal, and subsequently decreasing as it reached overload. Additionally, the left DLPFC was activated earlier than the right DLPFC, with the latter gradually engaging as the MWL increased. This study provides valuable insights into the assessment of MWL states.

Background: An occupational hazard is any workplace condition that poses a risk to an employee's health. Occupational hazards are ubiquitous in the field of anesthesiology and often go underappreciated. These hazards warrant careful assessment and strategic preventative planning.

Objective: This narrative literature review examines the occupational hazards encountered by anesthesiologists and discusses evidence-based techniques to mitigate these risks. Facilitating the health and safety of anesthesia professionals protects not only the providers themselves but also enhances patient care by reducing the possibility of medical errors due to occupational fatigue, stress, and injuries.

Methods: A targeted search of PubMed and other databases (SCOPUS, Web of Science) was used to review the literature. Safety standard handbooks by the International Atomic Energy Agency, The Pan American Health Organization, The World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture of the United Nations, were also consulted to provide the current guidelines for hazards discussed. Articles and information were included if they provided information about the occupational hazards of anesthesiologists or evidence-based prevention techniques for mitigating the hazards.

Results: The occupational hazards are classified into physical, chemical, and biological categories. Evidence-based preventive measures are proposed and examined for each category.

Conclusion: This paper examines the challenges faced by anesthesiologists by categorizing the physical, chemical, and biological occupational hazards. Each identified hazard is accompanied by evidence-based strategies to mitigate its impact. By illuminating these issues, increased awareness among healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public can foster a collective effort to improve the safety of the work of anesthesia providers.

Background: Musicians are performing artists, and parameters such as strength and dexterity are required for their performance. In violinists, who the instrument group with a high prevalence of performance-related musculoskeletal pain (PRMP), the effects of performance on PRMP and these parameters, and the correlation between these parameters and PRMP are also intriguing.

Objective: To investigate the effects of performance on PRMP, finger grip strength, finger dexterity, and hand grip strength in violinists and also to provide perspective on parameters correlated with PRMP.

Methods: This study included 78 violinists (mean age: 22.50 ± 2.87, 55 Female-23 Male). Violinists were evaluated for PRMP with the Numeric Rating Scale, finger grip strength with the pinch meter, finger dexterity with the Purdue Pegboard Test, and hand grip strength with the hand dynamometer. Musicians were evaluated on two separate days: 1) during rest and one week later, 2) after playing the Concerto in B Minor (post-performance).

Results: Post-performance, there was an improvement in PRMP and finger grip strength and a decrease in finger dexterity. There was no change in hand grip strength. PRMP was only correlated with left-hand grip strength, and the explanatory power of left-hand grip strength was low.

Conclusions: Contrary to the literature, there was a decrease in PRMP post-performance in young violinists. It is noteworthy that finger grip strength increased while finger dexterity decreased. Left-hand grip strength may contribute to the reduction of PRMP. It is clear that more research is needed on musician health and that clear conclusions are still far off.

Background: Long Covid symptoms are known to have an impact on function, however, their effect on employment and the associated demographic and clinical factors are not well understood.

Objective: Our objectives were (1) To compare changes in employment status between those with Long Covid and those who recovered from their Covid-19 infection; and (2) To identify demographic factors, clinical factors, and occupational skill level associated with decreased employment status in those with Long Covid.

Methods: We conducted an electronic survey (≥12 weeks post infection) with adult residents in Laval, Quebec, Canada who tested positive for Covid-19 between March 2020 and January 2022, regarding Long Covid symptoms and their functional impact. This analysis focuses on employment status: pre-covid, prior to infection, and current, and was recorded as full-time, part-time, or not working due to illness or for other reasons. Change in employment status was categorized as no decrease or decreased.

Results: Among 2764 respondents, 15.6% (95% CI: 13.3-17.9) with Long Covid (versus 5.4% (95% CI: 4.2-6.5) who recovered) experienced a decrease in employment (p < 0.001). Clinical factors associated with a decrease in employment include having been hospitalized for Covid-19, having ≥1 comorbid condition prior to infection, >12 months since infection, moderate to severe decline in physical and psychological health, and decline in global health. Demographic factors and occupational skill level were not associated with a change in employment.

Conclusions: Persons with Long Covid are more likely to experience a decrease in employment. Research is needed to determine whether rehabilitation for people with Long Covid could improve employment levels.