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Biomedical subjects

K Tuomi

Publications and source records attributed to K Tuomi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Promotion of work ability, the quality of work and retirement.

In this study, the validity of a model designed to promote the work ability of aging workers was examined. The target areas of work ability promotion were searched for the characteristics that explain work ability the best. In addition, the way work ability relates to the quality of work and retirement was examined. The subjects (n = 1101) participated in the follow-up study on aging Finnish workers in 1992 and 1997. The results consistently supported the model for promoting work ability. All four areas of focus-(i) work demands and the environment; (ii) work organization and the work community; (iii) the promotion of workers' health and functional capacity; and (iv) the promotion of professional competence-proved to be strongly associated with work ability. Good work ability was associated with a high quality of work and the enjoyment of staying in one's job. It also predicted active and meaningful retirement.

Aging↗
PubMed1999

Health reasons for leaving the profession as determined among Finnish hairdressers in 1980-1995.

BACKGROUND: Selection into and out of a profession is a known phenomenon in jobs such as hairdressing, in which the workers are exposed to agents and conditions capable of causing work-related symptoms and diseases. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk for departure from the profession due to health and other reasons among hairdressers as compared with women engaged in commercial work. METHODS: We used a self-administered questionnaire to provide data on 3484 female hairdressers and 3357 referents with regard to their reasons for leaving the profession during the 15-year follow-up period of 1980 1995, for which the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The data were collected in August 1995. RESULTS: Of the reasons studied, only the concern for health increased the risk of leaving the profession (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.16-1.52) among hairdressers. The risk of hairdressers having to leave the profession (1) because of asthma or hand eczema was 3.5 times as great as that found among the control group, (2) because of a strain injury of the wrist or elbow was 2.7 times as great, and (3) because of diseases of the neck or shoulders was 1.7 times as great. The risk of leaving the profession was approximately 20% higher for hairdressers who had suffered at some point in their lives from an atopic disease. CONCLUSIONS: Hairdressers suffering from atopic diseases, hand eczema, and strain injuries of the elbow and wrist are at higher risk of leaving the profession. Active modes of intervention are needed to maintain their working ability. The tools available in the occupational health service are: information on hazards, optimization of working conditions, personal protection, and timely medical care and rehabilitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Finnish research project on aging workers in 1981-1992.

The objective of this follow-up study of aging workers was to determine changes in the work, life-style, health, functional capacity, and stress symptoms of Finnish municipal employees from 1981 to 1992. In addition, factors that predict improvement or decline in the ability to work were studied. With the use of this information, attempts were made to produce practical measures to decrease the work-related health risks of elderly workers and increase factors promoting work ability. Along with the stress-strain model applied in the study, the reference frame of the World Health Organization (WHO) was used. The WHO model emphasizes the interaction between work, life-style, aging, and health. Work, life-style, health, work ability, and stress symptoms were studied through the use of comprehensive questionnaire surveys in 1981, 1985 and 1992. Initially, all the subjects (N = 6257) were employed in municipal occupations. During the follow-up, the data were supplemented by information on disability to work and mortality. The changes in work, life-style, health, work ability, and stress symptoms were examined among employees who worked in the same job (N = 924) during the entire follow-up period.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Perceived work changes between 1981 and 1992 among aging workers in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: Perceived changes in mental and physical work demands and work content were evaluated longitudinally. METHODS: Municipal workers (N = 924) in the same job from 1981 (mean age 47 years) to 1992 (mean age 58 years) in the work content groups of mental, mixed mental and physical, or physical work responded to a questionnaire in both 1981 and 1992. RESULTS: The workers reported that the physical and mental demands of their jobs had mainly increased from 1981 to 1992, especially muscular work and use of knowledge. In 1992 the women still perceived higher physical demands than the men but felt they had greater possibilities to develop. The use of knowledge had increased, especially among the women, and was on the same level for both genders. The perception of changes differed in the 3 work content groups. CONCLUSIONS: Perceived work demands increase with age. Although the 3 work content categories differ somewhat as to perceived changes over time, in general, the changes may be more connected to personal factors than work factors. Older persons seem to work at a relatively higher capacity than younger workers, and this higher work load may be a risk factor for early work disability. Work demands and stress factors should therefore be surveyed and balanced according to the capacity of the aging worker. On the other hand, workers' perception of possibilities to develop seem to increase with age. The differences between men and women may especially diminish at a later age.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Changes in stress symptoms and their relationship to changes at work in 1981-1992 among elderly workers in municipal occupations.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated perceived changes in stress symptoms and the relationship of these changes to work during an 11-year period. METHODS: The sample consisted of municipal workers in different occupational groups who had remained in the same occupation during 1981-1992 (N = 924, 350 men and 574 women, 14.8% of the original sample in 1981). The age range was 44-51 years in 1981. Changes in the physical and mental stress symptoms and changes at work were analyzed with the aid of a structured questionnaire in 1981 and 1992. RESULTS: The questionnaire surveys revealed that stress symptoms were markedly increased, especially aches and pain in the upper and lower limbs, but also respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms. Avoidance reactions, including sense of apathy in general and desire to stay at home in the morning, were the most increased psychological symptoms. The women experienced a greater increase in symptoms than the men. Changes in symptoms were associated with changes at work in that, in general, the more symptoms had increased, the more the work had also been changed. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the impact of work on the functional capacity and symptoms of workers might start even earlier than the age of 45 years. This finding is of crucial importance when preventive measures and policies are being planned in regard to stress and physical and mental load at work. Results on the relationship of changes in cardiorespiratory symptoms and work tentatively suggest that, by developing job content and social support, even a positive impact on physical symptoms is possible.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Changes in the work ability of active employees over an 11-year period.

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the work ability of active employees were followed over a period of 11 years. METHODS: Men and women in the same occupation (N = 818) in 1981-1992 assessed their work ability according to an index on current work ability, physical and mental work demands, diagnosed diseases, work impairment from disease, sickness absence, work ability prognosis, and psychological resources. Their mean initial age was 46.9 (range 44-51) years. The means and standard deviations of the work ability index and the prevalence rates of 4 work ability categories were followed with respect to age, gender, and job content. RESULTS: The mean work ability index declined significantly in 11 years for both genders. Its association with age and work was strong. Age of > or = 51 years and physical work load were critical factors affecting the work ability of both genders. At the mean age of 58 years, at least 25% of the installation, auxiliary, or transport workers had a poor work ability rating, as did the women doing kitchen supervision, auxiliary, and home care work. The annual rate of decline in work ability was highest for women aged 51 years at the onset of the study. Female teachers showed a less dramatic decline in work ability than male teachers. CONCLUSIONS: Work does not seem to prevent a decline in the work ability of men and women as they age. Therefore, measures to promote work ability should be started before the age of 51 years, especially for workers in physically demanding jobs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

Aging, work, life-style and work ability among Finnish municipal workers in 1981-1992.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to explain changes in work ability through occupational and life-style factors. METHODS: Work ability was measured by an index describing workers' health resources in regard to their work demands. The work factors mainly included physical and mental demands, social organization and the physical work environment. The life-style factors covered smoking, alcohol consumption, and leisure-time physical exercise. The first questionnaire study was done in 1981 and it was repeated in 1992. The subjects (N = 818) were workers in the 44- to 51-year-old age group in the beginning of the study who were active during the entire follow-up. The improvement and, correspondingly, the decline in work ability were analyzed by logistic regression models. RESULTS: Both the improvement and the decline in work ability were associated more strongly with changes in work and life-style during the follow-up than with their initial variation. The model for improved work ability included improvement of the supervisor's attitude, decreased repetitive movements at work, and increased amount of vigorous leisure-time physical exercise. Deterioration in work ability was explained by a model which included a decrease in recognition and esteem at work, decrease in workroom conditions, increase in standing at work, and decrease in vigorous leisure-time physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Social relations at work can promote or impair the work ability of elderly workers. Although the work ability of elderly workers generally declined with aging, both older and younger workers were also able to improve their work ability.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Work characteristics and lifestyle as predictors in the development of chronic non-specific lung disease among elderly municipal employees.

OBJECTIVES: This study prospectively evaluated factors of working conditions and lifestyle in the development of chronic non-specific lung disease (CNSLD). METHODS: Baseline data were collected in 1981 from 5386 municipal employees born in 1923-35 who had no diagnosed CNSLD. The subjects were studied again in 1985 with a postal questionnaire. The predictors of CNSLD were selected by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 159 (3%) reported the development of CNSLD confirmed by a physician. During the 4.6 year follow up period the average annual incidence was 6.5/1000 subjects. In men the logit model followed was: smoking (odds ratio (OR) 1.17, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06-1.29), tight work schedule (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03-1.65), loss of a close friend (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.13-4.31), and retirement of a spouse (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.35-8.11). In women the selected risk factors were: smoking (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.38), atopy (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.12-3.53), physically heavy work (OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.09-2.29), poor physical working conditions such as heat, cold, changing temperature (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.13-1.75), and infrequent communication with other people at work (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05-1.49). CONCLUSION: The differences in the predictors of the incidence of CNSLD between men and women were partly explained by different smoking habits, frequency of atopy, and working conditions. In men the significance of life events (loss of close friend and retirement of wife) need further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Characteristics of work and life predicting coronary heart disease. Finnish research project on aging workers.

This study focussed on features of work and lifestyle predicting coronary heart disease. In 1981 the 5353 subjects were active Finnish municipal employees, aged 44-58 years. They answered a postal inquiry in 1981 and 1985. The cumulative incidence of coronary heart disease was 3.5% (188). The predictors were selected by discriminant analytic methods and logistic models. The risk for women was explained best by physically too heavy work (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.8), and residence in north-eastern Finland (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1-3.4). The risk for men was explained best by three factors: smoking (RR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.9), frequent walking or moving about at work (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4), and a household with two or more unemployed members over 15 years of age (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.5). These men often had a secondary job or had done much housework. The risk of coronary heart disease was associated with physically heavy work before the age of 20, first employment at a young age, and building their own house around the beginning of the follow-up.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Associations between functional capacity and work ability among elderly municipal employees.

The relationship between objectively measured physical and mental functional capacity and work ability was studied among 137 workers with a mean age of 55 years. Of the physical capacity tests muscular strength correlated the best with the constructed work ability index. Cardiorespiratory capacity and work ability did not correlate statistically significantly. About 50% of the subjects was classified uniformly, and less than 10% not uniformly, with respect to muscular strength. The correlation between cardiorespiratory capacity and work ability was significant for those without, but not for those with, a musculoskeletal disease. The mental capacity tests had systematically lower correlations with work ability than the tests for physical capacity. The highest statistically significant correlation was found between visuomotor speed and work ability. Objective measurements of muscular strength seem useful for defining work ability, but other tests need to be improved to be more work-related. Furthermore, musculoskeletal diseases should be checked for when cardiorespiratory capacity is assessed.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Work load and individual factors affecting work ability among aging municipal employees.

The effects of work stressors, individual characteristics, symptoms, and diseases on work ability were studied among 4255 municipal employees. Work ability was assessed by a work ability index in two cross-sectional inquiries, one in 1981 and the other in 1985. The most impairing for work ability were mental symptoms and musculoskeletal disease. Among the work stressors, high physical demands at work, poor physical work environment, and lack of freedom were associated with impaired work ability. Muscular work, disturbing temperatures at the workplace, and lack of freedom particularly affected employees with disease, whereas poor work postures and role conflicts at work were particularly injurious for healthy employees. The worst situation was observed when a worker with many symptoms and disease was exposed to many different work stressors. Life satisfaction, sitting work posture, a good basic education, and physical exercise during leisure time were associated with good work ability.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Summary and recommendations of a project involving cross-sectional and follow-up studies on the aging worker in Finnish municipal occupations (1981-1985).

This report is a summary of the main findings of 15 studies comprising a multidisciplinary research project. Recommendations are also made on the basis of the findings, and they emphasize the following points: (i) work demands should change with age, (ii) work should be designed for unhealthy people, (iii) work ability should be promoted, (iv) work ability should be regularly monitored, (v) special attention to stress reactions is needed, (vi) knowledge of aging is needed, and (vii) action programs are needed.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Changes in the content of Finnish municipal occupations over a four-year period.

The data of this study are based on questionnaire surveys made in 1981 and 1985. The sample consisted of 1799 men and 2456 women in the age range of 48-62 years. Physical demands were more common in 1985 than in 1981, and more common among the women than among the men. In addition problems with the physical-chemical environment were more common in 1985 and more common among the men. The changes in tasks were evaluated more often as positive than negative. The mental load had increased between 1981 and 1985 due to an increase in the amount of work and the knowledge needed at work. In addition changes in social contacts and client relations increased the mental load.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

Mortality, disability and changes in occupation among aging municipal employees.

During a four-year follow-up period the indicators of work load, individual factors, and stress reactions predicting mortality, disability, and change of occupation were studied. In 1981, 6257 active workers aged 44-58 years answered a questionnaire. The study was repeated in 1985 when 1% of the subjects had died, 9% had become disabled, and 5% had changed their occupation. These changes had occurred the most often in occupations which included muscular work, poor work postures, and a poor physical environment. The highest mortality rate was observed for the male installation and auxiliary workers who had reported the presence of cardiovascular, but no musculoskeletal, disease four years earlier. The highest disability rate was well predicted by a poor index of work ability. Major diseases leading to disability included malignant tumor, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis or bronchial asthma, and mental disease. Work-related stress reactions were associated with both mortality and disability.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence and incidence rates of diseases and work ability in different work categories of municipal occupations.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the health status and work ability of individuals representing a variety of municipal occupations. In both 1981 and 1985, 4255 employees answered a postal questionnaire. The subjects, aged 44-58 years in 1981, were grouped into physical, mental, or mixed physical and mental job categories. Occupational groups with a high disease prevalence in 1981 had a high, and occupational groups with a low disease prevalence in 1981 a low, disease incidence during the follow-up period. In 1985 every second subject suffered from a musculoskeletal disease. The highest disease prevalence was observed for physically demanding occupations and for men in work with mixed physical and mental demands. Female auxiliary workers, domestic helpers and cooks, and also male installation and transport workers, had the poorest health. The men and women in mental work had the best health and work ability.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1991

Background and objectives of the Finnish research project on aging workers in municipal occupations.

In Finland, the proportion of 45- to 64-year-old people in the work force is expected to increase from 31.1 to 40.1% between 1980 and 2000. A multidisciplinary study was carried out to test the factors of work, health, work ability, functional capacity, and perceived strain as criteria for determining new concepts for retirement age. The first phase of the project comprised cross-sectional studies in which the age of the 6257 working subjects ranged from 45 to 58 years. The second phase covered a four-year follow-up of these same subjects. The main results of the 15 various studies are given in separate articles. Recommendations for improving the work and promoting the work ability of the aging worker have been made on the basis of the findings of the project.

Aged↗