Journal of occupational and environmental medicine最新文献

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presents with complex symptom patterns in high-risk occupational groups. We validated an eight-factor DSM-5 PTSD model of the PCL-5, distinguishing between internally and externally cued intrusions, and examined associations with resilience and suicidality among first responders and veterans.

Methods: Treatment-seeking first responders (n = 291) and veterans (n = 393) completed the PCL-5, RSES-22, and SBQ-R. Subgroup confirmatory factor analyses compared eight PTSD models; correlations tested convergent and criterion validity.

Results: The eight-factor model fit best in both groups, outperforming all alternatives, including the seven-factor hybrid. Separating internal and external intrusions clarified the symptom structure. PCL-5 severity correlated negatively with resilience and positively with suicidality.

Conclusions: The eight-factor configuration better captures PTSD in high-trauma occupations, potentially enhancing clinical precision, and supports integrating resilience-building within transdiagnostic, preventive frameworks alongside evidence-based trauma treatments.

Objective: This study explores factors influencing the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) level of subcontractor workplaces in the electronics industry, where small-scale operations and chemical use are common.

Methods: A survey was conducted with 852 OSH managers from subcontractor firms. Three key domains were analyzed: OSH management framework, chemical risk management, and principal contractor support. Binomial logistic regression identified significant variables.

Results: Factors such as appointing OSH managers, establishing procedures, providing worker information, and operating safety committees improved OSH levels. Chemical-related training, risk assessment, and control also contributed. Support from principal contractors through communication and consulting was effective.

Conclusions: Strengthening internal OSH systems, improving chemical management, and enhancing collaboration with principal contractors are essential for advancing OSH in subcontractor workplaces in the electronics industry.

Objective: This study aims to establish machine learning models using non-imaging data from health examinations of coal workers, which can screen the preclinical stage of CWP.

Methods: Non-imaging data from two centers, totaling 34,362 coal miners, were collected. From 84 initial variables, 19 were preliminarily screened, and LASSO selected 8 key features. Six machine learning models were trained to predict the preclinical stage of CWP, evaluated using ROC curve.

Results: In the internal test set, GB achieved the best discrimination (AUC 88.19%), while DT yielded the highest accuracy (81.09%) and specificity (80.90%). In the external validation set, GB remained the top model by AUC (83.94%) and showed high sensitivity (87.67%).

Conclusion: Age, FEV1, FEV1%, drinking status, smoking status, FVC, occupational category, and cumulative years of service are significant features for predicting the preclinical stage of CWP.

Objectives: This study investigated whether exposure to work-family conflict was associated with increased perceived stress (PS) cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Methods: Using data from the Midlife in Japan Wave I and II surveys over a four-year period, 668 workers in a cross-sectional and 419 workers in a longitudinal study were examined to assess the associations between baseline work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) and changes in baseline and follow-up PS Scale scores.

Results: In the multivariable analysis using linear regression for cross-sectional analysis and Generalized Estimating Equations linear regression for the longitudinal analysis, both binary and continuous WFC/FWC were significantly associated with PS cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

Conclusions: Both WFC and FWC were associated with increased PS cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Screening work-family conflict and developing interventions to mitigate it can be beneficial for enhancing mental health.

Objective: This study developed and validated a composite Occupational Heat Risk and Illness Index (O-HRII) that integrates exposure to risk factors and self-reported symptoms, benchmarked against urine specific gravity (USG).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 outdoor workers in Tamil Nadu, India, during peak summer, combining two components: Heat Exposure Risk (HER) score, based on validated risk factors, and Heat Illness Symptom (HIS) score, derived from clinical frameworks. End-of-shift USG (≥1.020) was used as physiological reference for validation.

Results: HER score showed strong validity and reliability, while HIS score effectively identified symptomatic workers. The combined O-HRII aligned well with physiological marker, classifying most workers as moderate-to-severe risk. Importantly, the tool facilitated evidence-based recommendations for immediate on-site use.

Conclusions: O-HRII is a validated, field-feasible tool for identifying vulnerable outdoor workers and guiding heat-stress interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between pulmonary function and serum biomarkers among Egyptian workers occupationally exposed to ultrafine calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles, which can penetrate biological membranes and accumulate in the lungs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 non-smoking males: 40 CaCO3-exposed workers and 40 matched controls. Participants underwent medical and occupational history taking, clinical examination, spirometry, and serum biomarker measurement (Clara cell protein 16 [CC16], matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9], and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 [TIMP-1]).

Results: Exposed workers demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms along with significantly reduced pulmonary function indices. They also showed decreased CC16 and elevated MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels. Biomarkers correlated with lung function decline and exposure duration.

Conclusion: Chronic CaCO3 exposure was associated with increased respiratory risk, necessitating protective workplace measures.

Objective: This study examines barriers to mental health care and factors influencing perceived need and service use in medical faculty and staff.

Methods: Faculty and staff at a large urban health care system completed online surveys regarding mental health status, perceived need for mental health services, and barriers to access.

Results: The sample included 2,421 participants (44.2% staff; 55.8% faculty). The most common barrier to care was limited time (60.9%). Faculty were significantly more likely than staff to report privacy concerns (33.9% vs 10.4%). Among those who perceived a need for mental health services, demographic factors (age, race/ethnicity, gender, role, and partner status) and psychiatric symptoms (suicidal ideation, anxiety, and depression) were associated with utilizing mental health services.

Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for accessible, destigmatized mental health interventions, improved outreach, and education on health care worker treatment privacy.