Journal of occupational and environmental medicine最新文献

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of working from home on musculoskeletal pain.

Methods: An e-survey of computer workers was conducted. Multinomial logistic regression modeling examined relationships between work location (work or home office desk, dining table, other), sitting posture (diagrams with descriptors), depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale), sleep quality (good/average vs poor) and pain (low back pain [LBP]), and other pain without LBP (asymptomatic).

Results: Of 634 respondents, most (91%, n = 578) worked partially at home and had pain (91%, n = 576; 342 LBP, 234 other pain, 58 asymptomatic). Sitting posture ("trunk a little bent forward" vs "straight up, back against back rest": odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-6.5, P = 0.008), being female (2.2; 1.2-4.1, P = 0.008), and depressive symptoms (3.4; 1.7-6.6; P < 0.001) were associated with LBP. Poor sleep quality related to LBP but correlated with depressive symptoms. Working from home and location were not associated with pain.

Conclusions: Sitting postures, but not working from home, are associated with LBP.

Background: The objectives of this study are to explore healthcare workers' (HCWs') mental models regarding psychological distress and to compare these with that of experts.

Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted (n = 28 HCWs, n = 13 experts). The topic list encompassed risk perception, early stress symptoms, causes, consequences, and preventive measures of psychological distress. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed using MAXQDA (VERBI Software, Berlin).

Results: Similarities were found in risk perception, symptoms, causes, and consequences. Differences arose in HCWs' reliance on personal experiences and values versus experts' scientific perspective. Preventive measures also showed discrepancies. Variation within HCWs was found on all aspects of their mental model.

Conclusion: For effective preventive interventions regarding psychological distress, experts should consider HCWs' personal values and experiences, acknowledging the variation in their mental models. This approach may enhance HCWs' engagement in preventive behaviors.

Objective: The aim of the study is to measure cancer's incidence in endemic fight agents in a Brazil's Northeast state.

Methods: This is a historical cohort with 1053 endemic fight agents. A survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method.

Results: The overall neoplasm incidence rate has been 5508 cases per 105, and 4843 cases per 105 when nonmelanoma skin tumors were excluded. The increase in incidence of neoplasms occurred in 2019 and has conferred a risk of neoplasms 20 times higher than the national and state incidence.

Conclusions: We believe in an occupational factor for these results: the chronic exposure to insecticides used in public health campaigns. The peak incidence of neoplasms, in 2019, may corroborate with long induction period of these compounds, in addition to consistency with specialized literature.

Objective: The aim of the study is to spotlight the challenges, gaps, and opportunities to improve workforce mental health and well-being in higher education institutions.

Methods: We convened a full-day summit of subject matter experts from academia, business, government, and practice to share research and best practices on workplace mental health.

Results: Highlights from the summit are presented in this paper covering the importance of leadership and culture; the mental health costs associated with being a Black STEM scholar; the role of the environment; case studies of three university mental health and well-being programs; and the future of work.

Conclusions: Establishing a culture of caring requires leadership commitment, strategic planning, accountability and shared responsibility, and measurement and evaluation. Higher education institution leaders are called to lead by example; foster community partnerships; adopt a Total Worker Health framework; and regularly evaluate progress.

Objective: This study investigates perceptions of homeworking in UK Government response-focused employees that contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Method: A cross-sectional online survey with open-ended questions was conducted. Free-text responses detailing participants' perceptions of barriers, facilitators, advantages, and disadvantages were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: A total of 1943 free-text responses (from 150 participants) were analyzed. There were many conflicting advantages and disadvantages provided by participants, but crudely more positive statements were provided than negative. Flexibility associated with working from home was the most common positive factor, and the isolation and impact on working relationships was the most reported negative factor of working from home.

Conclusions: We suggest a 'one size fits all' approach to supporting staff working from home is not fit for purpose due to individual circumstances and contextual factors.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with individual lifestyle influencing productivity reduction.

Methods: Data were collected using a Web-based questionnaire from January 6, 2020, to February 18, 2020. The study included 3890 wage workers across South Korea. Data on drinking, smoking, physical activity, and sleep were collected. This study measured health-related productivity loss (HRPL), using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: General Health version.

Results: Only nonoptimal sleep time was significantly associated with higher HRPL after adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, employment status, income level, weekly working hours, and occupation. This result was most derived from presenteeism than absenteeism. If the sleep disorder was diagnosed by a physician, the HRPL was even greater.

Conclusions: This study suggested that sleep is significantly associated with HRPL, particularly in men and manual workers.

Objective: The aim of the study is to clarify the association of job stressor score (A score), psychological and physical stress response score (B score), and social support (C score), with the incidence of ≥10% weight gain.

Methods: This study included 10,036 university employees who completed the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) and annual health checkups between 2016 and 2021. The incidence of ≥10% weight gain from baseline weight was measured. Participants were classified into four categories based on their BJSQ dimension scores.

Results: B score was significantly associated with the incidence of weight gain, whereas A and C scores were not. Participants of Q 75-89 , and Q 90-100 categories of B score were at significantly high risk of the incidence of ≥10% weight gain.

Conclusions: Psychological and physical stress response had an increasing risk of weight gain.

Objectives: This study identifies work trajectories of patients with persistent complaints after a COVID-19 infection receiving allied healthcare and predictors of return work.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 1333 Dutch working-age patients with persistent complaints after a COVID-19 infection receiving allied healthcare between 2021 and 2022 were used. Sequence analysis was conducted to identify work trajectories over time and logistic regression to investigate predictors of return to work.

Results: Five hundred fifty-two unique work trajectories were identified. The proportion of return to work was 31.4% ( n = 419). High health-related quality of life was associated with higher odds of return to work (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.00 to 1.04).

Conclusions: Only one-third of patients returned to work 9 months after receiving allied healthcare. Return to work was best predicted by health-related quality of life although the model's accuracy was poor.