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

BackgroundBarriers to the delivery of vocational rehabilitation have been reported as a lack of knowledge, skills and confidence in occupational therapists who deliver these services. A program aimed at overcoming these barriers was developed to provide training in the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services. The program includes three decision-making tools to facilitate not only knowledge translation but also practice changes. The tools are (1) Return-to-Work Decision Tree, (2) Performance-based Assessment Tool, (3) Job Match Tool.ObjectiveThe objective of the research was to obtain consensus on the acceptability and utility of the developed tools to facilitate clinical reasoning in the delivery of vocational rehabilitation services.MethodsA nominal group technique was used to obtain consensus on the developed tools. During a second phase, participants were sent revised versions of the tools and asked to comment on the tools' clinical utility using a four-point Likert scale.ResultsThe Return-to-Work Decision Tree and the Performance-based Assessment Tool received a 100% agreement in terms of clinical utility with the Job Match Tool receiving a 90% agreement for clinical utility. Participants made valuable recommendations such as adding a user manual and a training workshop to facilitate implementation of the tools.ConclusionThe three tools developed to support clinical reasoning and decision making during the vocational rehabilitation process were reported to be acceptable by the expert participants. Further development of the Job Match Tool is recommended.

Backgroundoccupational stress is one of the problems that exists in almost all jobs and positions. In the related studies, researchers have considered various and numerous factors to be involved in causing occupational stress.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study is to identify, categorize and determine the importance of factors related to occupational stress.MethodA variety of databases were searched and reviewed from 2000 to 2022. In the first stage, 8702 articles were found. One-hundred articles were kept for review after careful screening and factors associated with occupational stress were identified. Fuzzy Dematel method was used for the relationship between identified factors and AHP fuzzy method was used for pairwise comparison of factors. The obtained network was modeled using Bayesian network to determine the importance of factors.ResultsFinally, 89 factors that causing stress in the workforce were identified and extracted. The factors were divided into 7 main categories: individual, occupational, organizational, work environmental, political and cultural, economic, and social. Among all the factors influencing occupational stress, job-related factors have the greatest impact, accounting for 23.1%, while cultural and political factors have the least influence at 6.2%. In a Bayesian network, if all factors are at a very weak level, occupational stress will be severe, with a proportion of 66.5%.ConclusionUsing the findings of this research, it is possible to prioritize the factors affecting the occurrence of occupational stress and try to eliminate or reduce them.

BackgroundResilience has recently emerged as a key focus, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs). However, following the series of crises in Lebanon since 2020, there is limited data on HCWs' resilience levels.ObjectiveOur study assessed resilience levels among Lebanese HCWs and explored potential associated risk factors.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional multicenter study conducted in Lebanon. It included 907 HCWs, comprising medical students, registered nurses, physicians, and postgraduate trainees. Resilience was measured using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors.Results74% of our participants demonstrated a normal level of resilience rather than a high level, with a median BRS of 3. Factors associated to lower scores were having less than one year of experience, being a medical student, working in a public sector or in stressful workplaces, and being current heavy smokers. Conversely, higher scores were linked to higher income, better financial well-being, having more than ten years of experience, transitioning to a less stressful work environment, and living with a family member with a chronic illness.ConclusionWhile most HCWs in Lebanon exhibit moderate resilience, it may not be sufficient in the face of future crises, necessitating public measures and healthcare policies to improve HCWs' mental well-being while implementing resilience-supportive interventions.

BackgroundIn recent years, numerous large-scale manufacturing enterprises in Northeastern China have shifted from the conventional 8-h shift model to an extended 12-h shift schedule. While this change aims to improve production efficiency, prolonged working hours may lead to increased levels of occupational fatigue and pose significant risks to worker health and safety.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the physiological and subjective fatigue responses among forklift operators working 12-h shifts, with particular emphasis on differences between day and night shifts, as well as gender-based variations in fatigue susceptibility.MethodsTen forklift truck operators were recruited from a major tire manufacturing enterprise that had implemented a 12-h shift system. Subjective fatigue was measured through self-reported assessments, while objective indicators were captured using surface electromyography (sEMG) and electroencephalography (EEG). Data were collected at multiple time points across both day and night shifts to monitor changes in fatigue levels.ResultsFindings revealed that most operators experienced significant fatigue after 8 h of work, even when shifts extended to 12 h. Fatigue and drowsiness symptoms were more pronounced among night shift workers, with critical fatigue peaks observed between 14:30-16:00 and 2:30-4:00. Gender-based analysis showed negligible differences in daytime fatigue; however, female operators exhibited greater fatigue and drowsiness during night shifts compared to male counterparts.ConclusionsExtended 12-h shifts are associated with considerable fatigue, especially during night work, posing potential safety concerns in industrial environments. The identification of specific fatigue-prone periods and gender-related differences underscores the need for tailored fatigue risk management strategies and evidence-based shift scheduling policies to safeguard worker well-being and operational safety.

BackgroundAntibiotic self-medication is an emerging global health challenge, contributing significantly to antimicrobial resistance development. Healthcare students' knowledge and practices are particularly crucial, given their future roles as medical professionals.ObjectivesThis investigation sought to assess antibiotic self-medication patterns among Pakistani healthcare students by examining their knowledge, attitudes, and practices, while identifying contributing factors and prevalence rates.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis was implemented at two Pakistani universities, involving 1340 undergraduate healthcare students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire that evaluated sociodemographic factors as well as participants' understanding, perspectives, and behaviors regarding antibiotic self-medication. Knowledge and attitude measurements were classified as poor/negative or good/positive. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe study revealed that 68.8% of respondents practiced antibiotic self-medication. Despite 63.3% demonstrating adequate antibiotic knowledge, 53.4% exhibited negative self-medication attitudes. Knowledge distribution varied according to academic program and year of study. DPT students showed the highest self-medication frequency at 77.3%. Amoxicillin (56%) and Azithromycin (31.3%) emerged as predominant choices, primarily selected for convenience (77.5%) and respiratory symptoms (50.4%). Previous prescriptions significantly affected antibiotic selection. Analysis revealed a substantial correlation between knowledge levels and attitudes toward antibiotic usage (p < 0.001).ConclusionDespite adequate knowledge levels among participants, a concerning trend of negative attitudes toward antibiotic self-medication practices was observed. These findings emphasize the critical need for comprehensive educational interventions and strengthened regulatory frameworks to minimize inappropriate antibiotic use among healthcare students, which is essential for addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance, and to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use ensuring both patient safety and future professional performance.

BackgroundHealth and safety at the workplace are critical to the well-being of workers and to the performance of the organization. Stress management has a significant impact on safety behaviour, especially in high-risk sectors such as cement production.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to develop and validate a culturally appropriate questionnaire to assess the coping with stress and safety behaviour of cement factory workers.MethodsA cross-sectional psychometric study was conducted from January 2023 to January 2024 at the Zaveh City cement factory in Torbat Heydarieh, Iran, with 276 completed questionnaires.ResultsThe final 21 item tool has demonstrated its robust reliability (Cronbach's alpha and ICC) and validity. EFA explained 69.18 percent of the variability (KOM = 0.89). A significant positive correlation was observed between stress management and safety behaviours (r = 0.58, p < 0.001). The CFA showed excellent fit to the model (CFI = 0.93, GFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.049).ConclusionsThe questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool; the findings support the inclusion of stress reduction strategies in the cement industry's safety programmes.

BackgroundDespite significant advancements in workplace equality, gender-based discrimination continues to hinder women's leadership aspirations and potential. In many non-Western societies, cultural and institutional structures intensify the influence of sexism on women's professional experiences.ObjectiveThis study explores how benevolent and hostile sexism, together with perceived organizational support, affect female employees' worries about leadership roles. It also examines whether organizational support moderates the relationship between sexism and leadership-related anxieties.MethodsData were collected from 201 full-time female employees working in various occupations in Türkiye. An online survey included the Worries about Leadership scale, the Perceived Organizational Support Scale, and the Perceived/Experienced Sexism Scale. Hypotheses were tested using moderation analysis via the PROCESS macro.ResultsBenevolent sexism and perceived organizational support were both negatively associated with worries about leadership. Perceived organizational support moderated the effect of benevolent sexism on leadership worries, such that higher support reduced its impact, demonstrating a crossover effect. Specifically, benevolent sexism was linked to fewer leadership worries when organizational support was low but associated with more worries when support was high. However, hostile sexism showed no main or interaction effect with POS on WAL.ConclusionThis study highlights the complex role of benevolent sexism in shaping women's leadership concerns, showing both its potentially protective and harmful effects. It also emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive approaches that go beyond generic organizational support to actively challenge subtle sexism and promote gender-inclusive leadership readiness in non-Western contexts.

BackgroundErgonomics plays a critical role in musculoskeletal health, yet validated tools such as ROSA may be impractical in high-demand clinical settings. This study compared ergonomics knowledge, awareness, and behaviors between individuals with and without musculoskeletal pain using a concise yes/no-based tool.ObjectiveTo compare ergonomic behaviors, knowledge, and awareness between individuals with and without musculoskeletal pain, and to identify behavioral factors associated with chronic pain.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18-65 in a tertiary healthcare facility. Participants completed a binary-response ergonomics questionnaire assessing posture, workstation adjustment, screen use, and ergonomic equipment habits. Group comparisons used Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests (p < 0.05).ResultsAmong 222 participants, chronic pain was significantly associated with female gender, being a housewife, poor posture, lack of chair height adjustment, and reduced screen-time awareness. (p < 0.05) Correct posture, chair adjustment, and screen-time awareness were protective. Elbow support use was associated with lower chronic pain prevalence (p = 0.033).ConclusionsA rapid, binary ergonomics assessment effectively identified behavioral risk factors for chronic musculoskeletal pain. This format may support scalable ergonomic screening in diverse occupational environments.

BackgroundEmpathy is a core professional competence in social work. Managing the emotional labor arising from empathy is vital to social workers' sustainable development and occupational health.ObjectiveBased on the research findings, we offer practical reflections and recommendations. Our goal is to relieve the emotional burden caused by empathy and support the long-term wellbeing of social workers.MethodsWe widely distributed the "Empathy Capacity Scale for Social Workers" and surveyed 526 practitioners across China. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), we analyzed the relationships among empathy, emotional labor, burnout, and work withdrawal.ResultsResults show that empathy significantly and positively affects emotional labor, burnout, and work withdrawal. Emotional labor and burnout serve as a sequential mediator in the path from empathy to withdrawal. Perceived organizational support moderates the effects of empathy on both emotional labor and burnout.ConclusionsSocial workers operating in empathy-intensive and emotionally demanding environments often endure prolonged psychological and physical strain. This increases the likelihood of work withdrawal and undermines overall wellbeing. However, meaningful support from organizations and society can significantly improve this situation. Further research is needed to examine social workers across different cultures and service contexts, especially those in Western countries.

BackgroundOrganizational ostracism can lead to significant psychological effects, including loneliness and decreased productivity. This study examines the interplay between organizational ostracism, loneliness, depressed mood, and workplace incivility, which increasingly impacts workplace dynamics and employee well-being.ObjectivesThe study aims to evaluate the impact of organizational ostracism on loneliness among grey-collar health care workers, with a focus on the mediating role of depressed mood and the moderating role of workplace incivility.MethodsData were gathered from 397 grey-collar healthcare workers in a university hospital in Ankara, Türkiye, via surveys. Analysis was conducted using SPSS Process Macro Model 14 to evaluate the moderated mediation effect, enabling assessment of both direct and indirect impacts of organizational ostracism on loneliness, moderated by workplace incivility.ResultsFindings revealed a positive link between organizational ostracism and loneliness, mediated by depressed mood. Workplace incivility moderated this link, with low to moderate incivility intensifying the relationship between depressed mood and loneliness. However, at high incivility levels, this effect weakened, indicating that extreme incivility may overshadow other dynamics.ConclusionsAddressing organizational ostracism is essential, as it drives employee loneliness, with depressed mood as a key mediator. The study suggests that environments with low to moderate incivility may worsen the impact of ostracism on loneliness, while high incivility may reduce this effect. These findings underscore the importance of fostering supportive and inclusive workplace environments to safeguard mental health.