Journal of occupational and environmental medicine最新文献

Objective: To assess factors influencing Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) risk, incorporating maternal demographics, behaviors, medical conditions, pregnancy-related factors, and PM2.5 speciation pollutants exposures.

Methods: Using Florida de-identified birth records, logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between maternal exposure to PM2.5 speciation metals during pregnancy and the risk of RDS, adjusting for various covariates.

Results: Our findings highlight the multifaceted nature of RDS risk, reaffirming known risk factors such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal health conditions. Complex interactions among pollutants and maternal health factors were observed, emphasizing the importance of considering synergistic effects in risk assessment. Additionally, race and ethnicity were identified as significant factors, with nuances observed within Hispanic subgroups.

Conclusion: Targeted interventions aimed at reducing exposure to harmful pollutants, particularly among high-risk populations, may help mitigate RDS burden.

Objective: Mental health problems are increasing worldwide, and research has shown that it can be affected by work-life conflict (WLC). The aim of the present study is to examine the association between WLC and both stress and depressive symptoms in early adulthood.

Methods: A cross-sectional and a 4-year follow-up study was conducted using register data and questionnaire data from The West Jutland Cohort Study (VestLiv), Denmark. 1296 individuals (age 28) were included in 2017, and 679 were included in 2021. Validated scales were used to measure both WLC, stress and depressive symptoms. Linear and logistic regression were performed.

Results: An association was found between WLC and both stress and depressive symptoms in both genders.

Conclusion: It is relevant to consider WLC a contributing factor for mental health of individuals in today's workforce.

Objective: Estimate ever using marijuana in a sample of U.S. career first responders.

Methods: Health survey cohort data collected between 2018-2024 from employed and retired U.S. first responders was analyzed for frequency of ever using marijuana. Binary logistic regression models estimated the association between ever using marijuana and first responder demographics, employment status, and risky health behaviors.

Results: Among 1,310 current/retired first responders, 15.3% reported ever using marijuana (80.0% seldom, 18.0% often, and 2.0% always). Currently employed firefighter/paramedic/EMT's had the highest (45.5%) while Battalion/EMS/Deputy/Fire Chiefs had the lowest use (3.0%). First responders who binge drink (adjusted OR = 1.45;[95%CI:1.03-2.03];p = 0.033), former-smoker (2.42;[1.68-3.47];p < 0.001) or current-smokers (3.61;[1.01-12.93];p = 0.049), and were retired (AOR = 1.85;[1.20-2.87] were significantly more likely to report ever using marijuana.

Conclusion: Ever using marijuana was highest among those rank firefighter/paramedics/EMT and significantly associated with binge drinking, retirement and smoking behaviors.

Objective: To evaluate the process of an online cognitive rehabilitation program aimed at supporting cancer survivors experiencing cognitive problems at work.

Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 279) were randomized to one of the intervention groups (i.e., basic and extensive online cognitive rehabilitation) or waitlist control group. Recruitment, reach, dosage, implementation, perceived usefulness and experiences with the program were evaluated using questionnaires and logbooks.

Results: Implementation (i.e., reach multiplied by dosage) was acceptable for both versions of the program (range 63% to 76%). Cancer survivors and cognitive therapists perceived the overall program as moderately to highly useful and generally reported positive experiences.

Conclusions: Both a basic and extensive version of the online cognitive rehabilitation program were successfully implemented in the context of an RCT, suggesting their feasibility as intervention to support cancer survivors with cognitive problems at work.

Abstract: Objective: Hand function, an important component of daily functioning, declines with age, yet the degree to which occupation modifies such declines is largely unknown.Methods: Older adults (≥65) completed an online cross-sectional survey containing a standardized hand function questionnaire, occupation-related questions, and demographic information. Participants were then categorized by their longest-held occupation as Blue Collar or White Collar.Results: Hand impairments were more common in the Blue Collar group (51.5% versus 28.9%, p < 0.05). Odds ratios indicated that Blue Collar workers were 2.71 times more likely to report hand impairments in older adulthood than White Collar workers.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated strong associations between occupation type and hand function, underscoring the importance of implementing hand-specific preventative workplace measures and highlighting the need to consider additional risk factors for hand impairments, including occupation, during routine clinical exams.

Objective: Although increasing evidence suggests that depression/distress involves inflammatory processes, its potential sex differences and the temporal directions for this association remain elusive.

Methods: We examined the temporal association between serum inflammatory mediators and depression/distress as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), in non-depressed working men and women (n = 61 and 43, respectively) by a 16-month prospective design.

Results: Fully-adjusted partial correlation analyses revealed that in men, a lower IFN-γ predicted subsequent increases in CES-D and K6 scores, while a higher TNF-α predicted increased K6 scores. In women, a higher IFN-γ predicted a subsequent increase in the CES-D score. CES-D and K6 scores did not predict inflammatory mediators at follow-up.

Conclusions: The finding suggests that inflammatory activation precedes depression/distress with distinct sex differences.

Abstract: Lifestyle medicine (LM) utilizes evidence-based therapeutic lifestyle changes to address lifestyle factors that impact health, performance, and injury risk and recovery. By integrating LM principles into clinical care, workplace policies, and programs, along with other evidence-based methods, occupational and environmental medicine clinicians and medical directors can enhance worker health and performance, manage chronic disease, and facilitate faster recovery from injury and illness. This guidance addresses approaches that can be used in the clinic and workplace to address tobacco, substance misuse, nutrition, physical activity, overweight/obesity, sleep, mental well-being, and social connectedness.

Objective: The study aimed to describe working conditions among complementary and integrative healthcare (CIH) providers, specifically acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, midwives, and naturopathic doctors.

Methods: We used cross-sectional Occupational Information Network data (2013-2021) for five CIH occupations. We examined means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 10 variables that represented positive conditions, ergonomic demands, psychosocial demands, and schedule demands. We compared CIH to conventional healthcare and non-healthcare occupations.

Results: CIH occupations had relatively high degrees of positive conditions, moderate degrees of psychosocial demands, and moderate hours/scheduling. Massage therapists, chiropractors, and acupuncturists reported more ergonomic hazards (eg, 1-5 scale where 5 is the highest, mean bending/twisting frequency for chiropractors is 3.43 [95% CI, 3.80-4.05] compared to 2.17 for midwives [95% CI, 1.97-2.36] and 1.96 for managers [95% CI, 1.42-2.51]).

Conclusions: CIH occupations generally had healthy working conditions, although ergonomic hazards were prominent.

Objective: Analyzing in a cross-sectional study the factors associated with mental health in 1511 recently delivered women returning to work, the mediating role of work-family interface, and the moderating role of social supports.

Methods: Data were collected at 3 months after returning to work to assess work characteristics (Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire), work-family conflict (Survey Work-Home Interaction Nijmegen), anxiodepressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), commuting, childcare, household demands, and social supports.

Results: Anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms were associated with work factors, the opposite for the nonwork demands. The mediation by work-family conflict and the moderation of social supports were present especially for anxiety symptoms. Taking into account the parental constraints by the hierarchy, family/friends' support and paid personnel reduced anxiodepressive symptoms.

Conclusions: Promoting mental health at returning to work of new mothers needs the assessment of total workload and resources.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the smoke exposure of firefighters who attended the Grenfell Tower fire during the initial 20 hours.

Methods: As no compilation of exposure data exists, data were compiled from nine unconnected sources, including the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, firefighters' statements, incident logs, and the UK Firefighter Cancer and Disease Registry.

Results: Of the 628 firefighters who attended, information was available from 524. Eighty-nine percent reported exposure to smoke without respiratory protection equipment (RPE), of whom 23% also reported exposure to excessive heat. Common reasons for smoke exposure were assisting casualties (18%), running out of air (15%), and climbing stairs without activating RPE to conserve air (17%).

Conclusions: A significant proportion of firefighters reported inhaling smoke during the incident with potentially debilitating health effects.