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J A Landeweerd

Publications and source records attributed to J A Landeweerd.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Prediction of sickness absence: development of a screening instrument.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a concise screening instrument for early identification of employees at risk for sickness absence due to psychosocial health complaints. METHODS: Data from the Maastricht Cohort Study on "Fatigue at Work" were used to identify items to be associated with an increased risk of sickness absence. The analytical procedures univariate logistic regression, backward stepwise linear regression, and multiple logistic regression were successively applied. For both men and women, sum scores were calculated, and sensitivity and specificity rates of different cut-off points on the screening instrument were defined. RESULTS: In women, results suggested that feeling depressed, having a burnout, being tired, being less interested in work, experiencing obligatory change in working days, and living alone, were strong predictors of sickness absence due to psychosocial health complaints. In men, statistically significant predictors were having a history of sickness absence, compulsive thinking, being mentally fatigued, finding it hard to relax, lack of supervisor support, and having no hobbies. A potential cut-off point of 10 on the screening instrument resulted in a sensitivity score of 41.7% for women and 38.9% for men, and a specificity score of 91.3% for women and 90.6% for men. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that it is possible to identify predictive factors for sickness absence and to develop an instrument for early identification of employees at risk for sickness absence. The results of this study increase the possibility for both employers and policymakers to implement interventions directed at the prevention of sickness absence.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1999

Nurses' well-being in a primary nursing care setting in The Netherlands.

A study was conducted in a Dutch hospital to evaluate the effects of the implementation of a Dutch form of Primary Nursing on nurses' well-being in the work situation. The variables used as indicators of well-being at work were job satisfaction, experienced job significance, health complaints and absenteeism. The study included three measuring periods: one pre-intervention (t1) and two post-intervention periods (t2, 8 months after t1, and t3, 14 months after t1). Primary Nursing was implemented in group 1 (consisting of two nursing units) after t1. At this time no changes were introduced into group 2 (three nursing units) but after t2. Primary Nursing was also implemented in group 2. The research variables were measured by means of questionnaires. The results of the study indicate that most of the expected effects of Primary Nursing did not occur. Some methodological and practical explanations for this outcome are given.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1997

Primary nursing and quality of care: a Dutch study.

In an 850-bed Dutch hospital a study was carried out to compare the quality-of-care scores of a Primary Nursing group and a lagged experimental group. Process as well as outcome aspects of quality of care were investigated. The study consisted of three measuring moments: one pre-intervention at t1, March 1992, and two post-intervention moments at t2, November 1992 and t3, May 1993. The intervention was formed by the implementation of Primary Nursing in two experimental units after t1; this is the experimental group. After t2, Primary Nursing was also implemented in the three control units; this is the lagged experimental group. The process aspects of quality of care were covered by three dimensions: coordination of care, instrumental aspects of care and expressive aspects of care. The outcome aspects of quality of care were measured by evaluating four patient variables: self-care, initiative, patient stress and patient satisfaction. ANOVAs were used to test for significant differences between the experimental and lagged experimental group. The only significant difference in favour of the Primary Nursing group was found on the variable instrumental aspects of care. On the other variables no expected changes were observed. Finally, the implications of the findings are discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1996

A Dutch study of the effects of primary nursing on job characteristics and organizational processes.

In an 850-bed Dutch hospital a study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the implementation of a Dutch form of primary nursing on five job characteristics (viz. autonomy, responsibility, feedback/clarity, complexity/difficulty and job demands) and on the communication and power processes in the organization of the nursing unit. The study consisted of three measuring moments: one pre-intervention (t1, March 1992) and two post-intervention moments (t2, November 1992 & t3, May 1993). Primary nursing was introduced in the two experimental units (the experimental group) after t1. No changes were made to the control group. After t2, this quasi-experimental design changed, because primary nursing was also implemented in the three original control units (the control group) after this moment. The research variables were measured by means of questionnaires. No significant effects were found for the five job characteristics. Only the improvement in the communication with the team head and the decrease in the influence of physicians on patient care in the experimental group and the improved communication with physicians in the control group were in line with expectations. Changes in the amount of influence of different groups on patient care were inconsistent with what had been expected: according to the nurses the influence of the nursing management increased, whereas the influence of the nurses decreased and the influence of the patients did not change. In other words, the shift of power was not in the expected direction.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Physical workload of ambulance assistants.

The physical workload of ambulance assistants was assessed by means of the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS) observation method and a Work and Health Questionnaire (WHQ) for measuring perceived workload. In addition, a biomechanical model was applied to several specifically strenuous conditions that were simulated in a laboratory situation. Bad postures were identified for a number of activities: 16% to 29% of a work shift was spent in harmful positions. Strenuous situations occur particularly during rides in emergency situations. The results of observed and perceived workload are generally in agreement. A number of practical recommendations are made. They concern, for example, the equipment in ambulance cars, training of ambulance assistants and adaptations in working procedures.

Ambulances↗
PubMed1994

An OWAS-based analysis of nurses' working postures.

The working postures of Dutch nurses (n = 18) in an orthopaedic ward and a urology ward were observed using the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS). During observation, both working postures and activities were recorded. A specially developed computer program was used for data analysis. By means of this program, it was possible to calculate the working posture load for each activity and the contribution of a specific activity to the total working posture load. This study shows that some activities of the nurses in both wards were performed with poor working postures. In the orthopaedic (resp. urology) ward two (resp. one) out of 19 observed postures of parts of the body were classified as Action Category 2. Moreover, 20% (resp. 16%) of the so-called typical working postures was classified in Action Category 2. This suggests, that in both wards working postures that are slightly harmful to the musculoskeletal system, occur during a substantial part of the working day. Differences between both wards with respect to working posture load and time expenditure were determined. Activities causing the workload to fall into OWAS higher Action Categories were identified. The data show that poor working postures in the nursing profession not only occur during patient handling activities but also during tasks like 'administration'. Focusing on patient-handling (i.e., lifting patients) in order to determine the load on the musculoskeletal system would therefore lead to an underestimation of the total working posture load of nurses.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

An evaluation of patient lifting techniques.

In the present laboratory study five two-person manual lifting techniques were evaluated as to the amount of physical exertion required of the nurses. Ten female volunteers served as nurses; two healthy volunteers (weight: 55 kg and 75 kg) served as passive patients. The working postures and motions were recorded on videotape. The data thus obtained were used in a anatomical-biomechanical analysis. The perceived exertion by the nurses was measured as well. In almost all situations the compressive forces on the nurse's spine exceeded their acceptable limit of 3425 N. Differences between the lifting techniques were most obvious when the 55 kg patient was lifted. Ratings of the perceived exertion (RPE scores) were higher in symmetrical handling than in asymmetrical handling. The three techniques using asymmetrical hand positions produced less subjective stress. RPE scores and rotation of the back were negatively correlated. Rotating the back when moving a patient from one side to the other seems to ease the task. On the whole, the results of the biomechanical evaluation are in line with the subjective perception of the nurses. In both instances the barrow lift appeared to be the most strenuous one; the Australian lift resulted in low compressive forces and a moderate level of perceived exertion.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Correlations of the quality of nursing care. The relations between the quality of nursing care on the one side and stress experience, patient satisfaction and the nurse's satisfaction on the other side].

For different reasons interest for the subject 'quality of care' has increased the last couple of years. One of those reasons is a greater emancipation of the patient, who, just like the insurers, will ask for quality guarantees in the future healthcare system. In this context the relation between the quality of the nursing care (process-variable of the quality of care) and perceived stress and satisfaction of patients and the satisfaction of nurses with their work (outcome-variables) has been investigated. In this investigation a positive relationship has been found between the coordination of care (a dimension of the nursing care quality) and the stress experienced by patients. Also a positive relationship between two dimensions of the nursing care quality (the instrumental and expressive dimensions) and the satisfaction of patients has been found. Finally it is indicated that a negative relationship exists between the instrumental-technical dimension and the satisfaction of nurses.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Leadership in the nursing unit: relationships with nurses' well-being.

The head nurse occupies an important position in the nursing unit. Concerning leadership style, a distinction is traditionally made between consideration and initiating structure. Sometimes a third style is distinguished as well, namely 'production-orientated' leadership. In a study of 561 nurses from 16 general hospitals in The Netherlands, the influence of two leadership styles upon the reactions of nurses (job satisfaction, experienced meaningfulness, health complaints and absenteeism) to their work situations was examined, namely the styles of social (i.e. consideration) and instrumental leadership (a combination of the styles initiating structure and production-orientated). The separate effects of the two styles were studied, as well as the connection between combinations of leadership styles and reactions. The results indicate that social leadership contributes positively to nurses' reactions to their job. Instrumental leadership, on the other hand, leads to health complaints. From the analyses of combinations of leadership styles it appears that nurses are most satisfied if the head nurse pays much attention to both dimensions of leadership. For health complaints, a tendency in this direction is also found. Finally, it becomes clear that nurses with a great need for autonomy prefer a different type of leadership from nurses with little need for autonomy.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1988

Nurses' work satisfaction and feelings of health and stress in three psychiatric departments.

A study was conducted to compare nurses' work satisfaction and feelings of health and stress in three psychiatric departments differing in type of work. Subjects were 65 nurses. Questionnaires and interviews were used. From the results it appears that the admissions department receives relatively high scores on the work satisfaction variables. The short-stay department especially scores relatively negative on both the work satisfaction and health and stress variables. These results are explained in terms of the different work situations, stressing the differences between a dynamic psychiatric environment and a work situation where aims and expectations are not met.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Working in an intensive or non-intensive care unit: does it make any difference?

OBJECTIVE: To compare intensive care unit and non-intensive care unit nurses regarding work situation characteristics (e.g., work pressure), reaction variables (e.g., job satisfaction), and individual and psychosocial characteristics (e.g., need for autonomy) to explore whether it is more stressful to work on an intensive care unit than on a non-intensive care unit. DESIGN: Descriptive, correlational study. SETTING: Sixteen randomly selected general hospitals in The Netherlands. SAMPLE: 561 intensive care unit and non-intensive care unit nurses from 36 nursing units. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects completed a survey questionnaire with items derived from the Job Diagnostic Survey, the Leader Behavior Questionnaire, the Organizational Stress Questionnaire, and the Utrecht Coping Questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures were work-related variables including work pressure, autonomy, feedback and clarity, job satisfaction, experienced job significance, health complaints, absence frequency, social support, need for autonomy, and coping strategies. MAIN RESULTS: The results of the study showed that nurses who work in intensive care units had more positive scores than nurses who work in non-intensive care units. Thus the assumptions that intensive care units present more stressful work situations and that intensive care unit nurses show more negative reactions to their work were not supported in this study. CONCLUSION: The results indicate non-intensive care unit nurses may have a greater need for interventions in the work situation.

Adult↗