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PubMed1985

Work-rest periods: their effects on normal physiologic response to isometric and dynamic work.

Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to repeated dynamic and combined dynamic and isometric work bouts of 30 sec, 2 min, and 6 min with equal rest periods at 40% and 80% of Vo2max was studied in five healthy men and five healthy women. Total work duration for each experimental condition was 24 min. The treadmill was used for dynamic work. Subjects pushed a bar horizontally while on the treadmill at 20% of their maximal voluntary strength for isometric work. Results showed that work performed at 40% of Vo2max in 30 sec bouts compared to 6 min bouts reduced HR, BP and the double product (BP X HR) by 11%, 4%, and 14%, respectively. Work performed at 80% of Vo2max in 30 sec bouts of repeated work or rest compared to the 6 min bouts resulted in reducing HR, BP, and double product 28%, 15%, and 39%, respectively. Addition of the isometric load did not significantly change the results. This study suggests that cardiac patients may be able to perform more work safely if it is carried out in short periods alternating with rest periods of equal duration.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

[Wishes of residents in internal medicine with relation to working week, part-time work, career length and practice pattern].

To investigate the wishes and ideas about length of working week, part-time work, length of career and future kind of establishment, a questionnaire was sent to all Dutch registrars of internal medicine. In the opinion of more than 70 percent of the registrars, the length of a full-time working week of an internist should be less than 50 hours. Of all registrars (62% men and 38% women), 68% would decide in favour of part-time work if the length of a full-time working week of an internist were to remain at about 68 hours (common length of a working week of Dutch internists nowadays). 33% would still like to work part-time when the length of a full-time working week became as they desired (about 47 hours). The preferred length of their career was for most registrars less than 30 years. The majority preferred a tenure to a position in a partnership. In conclusion, the wishes about the future of the registrars of internal medicine differ markedly from the current situation.

Female↗

PubMed1990

Hospital graduate social work field work programs: a study in New York City.

Twenty-seven hospital field work programs in New York City were studied. Questionnaires were administered to program coordinators and 238 graduate social work students participating in study programs. High degrees of program structural complexity and variation were found, indicating a state of art well beyond that described in the general field work literature. High rates of student satisfaction with learning, field instructors, programs, and the overall field work experience found suggest that the complexity of study programs may be more effective than traditional field work models. Statistically nonsignificant study findings indicate areas in which hospital social work departments may develop field work programs consistent with shifting organizational needs, without undue risk to educational effectiveness. Statistically significant findings suggest areas in which inflexibility in program design may be more beneficial in the diagnostic related groups era.

Education, Graduate↗

PubMed2006

Effects of work-related factors on the breastfeeding behavior of working mothers in a Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the creation of supportive environments for encouraging mothers to breastfeed their children has emerged as a key health issue for women and children. The provision of lactation rooms and breast pumping breaks have helped mothers to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, but their effectiveness is uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of worksite breastfeeding-friendly policies and work-related factors on the behaviour of working mothers. METHODS: This study was conducted at a large Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer in August-September 2003. Questionnaires were used to collect data on female employees' breastfeeding behaviour, child rearing and work status when raising their most recently born child. A total of 998 valid questionnaires were collected, giving a response rate of 75.3%. RESULTS: The results showed that 66.9% of survey respondents breastfed initially during their maternity leave, which averaged 56 days. Despite the provision of lactation rooms and breast pumping breaks, only 10.6% mothers continued to breastfeed after returning to work, primarily office workers and those who were aware of their company's breastfeeding-friendly policies. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, breastfeeding-friendly policies can significantly affect breastfeeding behaviour. However, an unfavourable working environment, especially for fab workers, can make it difficult to implement breastfeeding measures. With health professionals emphasizing that the importance of breastfeeding for infant health, and as only females can perform lactation, it is vital that women's work "productive role" and family "reproductive role" be respected and accommodated by society.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

How satisfaction with hospital field work affects social work students' willingness to accept employment in hospital settings.

This study of 238 social work students in 27 hospital field work programs examined how student satisfaction with field work affects their willingness to accept employment in host hospitals. Job willingness was positively correlated with five measures of student satisfaction. Factors predictive of each measure were identified. Findings suggest strategies that can be used by hospital social work managers and field work supervisors to enhance student satisfaction with the field work experience, in order to maximize the benefit of providing field work education as a way of recruiting graduating students for employment in hospital settings.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Star wars and strategic defense initiatives: work activity and health symptoms of unionized bank tellers during work reorganization.

Work activity and health symptoms of bank tellers whose work was undergoing reorganization were examined during a university-union study of the health effects of work in women's traditional jobs. Data were gathered through collective and individual interviews, analysis of work activity, and a questionnaire administered to 305 tellers. Employees worked in a standing posture over 80 percent of the time. More than two-thirds frequently suffered pain in back, legs, and feet. The average teller had been involved in 3.7 robberies as a direct victim and six as a witness. Work required feats of memory and concentration. In order to meet job demands, tellers engaged in supportive activities and teamwork. The introduction of individualized objectives threatened the employees' ability to collaborate and induced distress. More than twice as many tellers as other female workers in Québec experience psychological distress (Ilfeld scale), related to: robbery during the past two years (odds ratio = 1.7; confidence interval = 1.0-2.9); difficult relations with superiors (O.R. = 2.6; C.I. = 1.3-5.3); and full-time work (O.R. = 2.3; C.I. = 1.3-3.9). Diverse methods enriched the analysis, and union participation allowed the proposal of concrete correction measures.

Commerce↗

PubMed1984

[Effect of work of different types and intensity on changes in work capacity].

Changes in the current effort capacity following 4-hrs' performance of six types of work of different intensity and different muscular system engagement, have been evaluated. The studies involved two groups of women. Group I, consisting of 25 women, performed the dynamic, work on cycle-and manual-ergometers (Rr) and two types of static effort resulting from the shift of the load constituting 20% body weight (N) and maintenance of forced posture during manual weaving (T). Group II, consisting of 9 women, performed the dynamic work on cycle ergometer (R) and dynamic-static work, with an additional load, i.e. holding--in one's hand--2,5 kg (R2,5) and 5.0 kg (R5,0). The effort capacity was determined before and after work, basing on an ergometer test. Whatever the type of the previously performed work, the tolerance of fatigue was found to decrease, which was expressed by lower values of oxygen consumption and heart rate at which the women stopped the test effort. The intensity of the previously performed work (% VO2 max) might be estimated from the difference in the average test effort power, respiratory quotient value and amount of oxygen consumed per one power unit. The static load was evidenced by changes in the blood systolic pressure and increased heart rate during the effort test.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Shift work, shift change, and risk of death from heart disease at work.

Some epidemiologic studies suggest workers who rotate shift are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but no studies have studied the effect of shift workers who do not rotate. To determine whether current shift or recent change in shift was a risk factor for ischemic heart disease, we conducted a nested case-control study of heart disease death at work within a cohort of 21,000 men working at four heavy equipment plants. We identified 163 men who died of ischemic heart disease at work or within 1 week of working, and compared them 781 controls who were working at the same age but did not die. Plant personnel records were used to determine duration of time on current shift. At the time of case death, 72% of study subjects were working on first shift, 22% on second, and 6% on third. The average time on shift without change was 9 years. There was little evidence of any difference in heart disease risk by current shift. There was some indication that recent change from afternoon or night shift to day shift had a protective effect initially, which decreased over time. On the other hand, no corresponding negative effect was found for a change from first to second/third shift, regardless of when the change took place. Our analyses were limited by the small number of workers on the third shift. We consider our analysis to be exploratory, and encourage more research on this topic in other working populations.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1993

Working with persons with serious mental illness: implication for social work recruitment and retention.

Educating and recruiting practitioners to work in community-based settings with persons with serious mental illness has become a national health person-power issue, particularly in underserved rural areas. This study was conceived in order to obtain a better basis for curriculum development and recruitment strategies. Graduate and undergraduate social work students, representing the greatest pool of mental health practitioners, were surveyed about their perceptions about working with persons with serious mental illness and about factors which are most important to their future job satisfaction. The findings indicate positive perceptions about work with the seriously mentally ill population by a significant number of students, and further reveal that students project job satisfaction factors related to intrinsic reward and ability to learn and grow in their work. The findings also reveal group differences related to educational level, previous work experience in mental health and expressed interest in working with persons with serious mental illness. Important implications for practitioner education, recruitment, administration and job development and ongoing in-service training are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Choosing to work at night: a moderating influence on individual tolerance to shift work.

The author looked at the impact of choosing to work at night on individual tolerance to shift work. The relative importance of individual circumstances and personality type in influencing this decision was examined. Five hundred eighty-seven nurses and midwives completed measures of physical and psychological health, difficulties with sleep, social and domestic disruption, flexibility of sleeping habits, morning versus evening preferences, and reasons for engaging in shift work. Results high-lighted the advantages of choosing to work at night, rather than engaging in night work as part of a rotating-shift schedule, on tolerance to shift work. The individual circumstances of the shift workers were particularly important in influencing whether they chose to work at night. These results offer some support for the maintenance of permanent night-shift schedules and have implications for the future design of shift systems.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Effect of shift work on body mass index: results of a study performed in 319 glucose-tolerant men working in a Southern Italian industry.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of shift work on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in subjects working in an industry sited in Apulia, Southern Italy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of metabolic effects of shift work in glucose tolerant workers in a chemical industry in southern Italy. SUBJECTS: The subjects included 319 glucose tolerant male individuals, aged 35-60 y. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometric parameters (body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), fasting concentrations of glucose, insulin, and lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides), the sum of glucose levels during 75 g-oral glucose tolerance test (Sigma-OGTT), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively). RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was higher among shift workers compared to day workers, whereas body fat distribution was not different between the two groups. Shift workers had higher BMI than day workers, and shift working was associated with BMI, independently of age and work duration. Shift workers had significantly higher SBP levels, which were independently influenced by BMI, but not by shift work, thus suggesting that the difference in SBP may well be mediated by the increased body fatness. CONCLUSION: In workers of an industry sited in Southern Italy, shift work may be directly responsible for increased body fatness and is indirectly associated with higher blood pressure levels and some features of metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Work capacity after myocardial revascularization: factors related to work resumption.

For patients with coronary artery disease the ability to retain or resume a normal occupation must be one of the goals of myocardial revascularization procedures. Provided myocardial revascularization is sufficiently complete and left ventricular function is not severely impaired, this goal should be achieved in virtually all cases. The rates of return to work after coronary surgery, however, are often lower than what could be expected. Analysis of the factors related to work resumption after coronary surgery shows that non-medical preoperative parameters (age, educational level, type of occupation, and, most of all, length of preoperative unemployment) are major predictors of subsequent re-employment, whereas medical preoperative factors have little or no influence on return to work. In contrast, re-employment following coronary surgery is strongly influenced by the success of the revascularization procedure, with much fewer patients resuming work in case of poor exercise capacity or persisting angina after surgery. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is usually given to patients with less extensive coronary artery disease, and rates of return to work higher than after surgery are observed; re-employment after PTCA is also influenced by the initial result of the procedure. Recognition of the factors negatively influencing return to work after myocardial revascularization is important in an attempt to improve work resumption by appropriate medical, psychological and social measures.

Angina Pectoris↗

PubMed2000

Understanding a work-family fit for single parents moving from welfare to work.

Teng and Pittman's model of "work-family fit" served as a theoretical base for exploring the experiences of families moving from welfare to work. Responding to open-ended telephone interview questions, 30 recently hired welfare recipients described factors that were needed for them to make a smooth transition into work, be successful at their jobs, and balance work and family. The individuals appeared to experience greater success when their own needs and the needs of their families were being met and when they were able to meet the demands of work, leading to greater work-family fit. Support from the workplace and other community sources, as well as participants' personal attributes contributed to this work-family fit. Specific strategies based on these findings are offered for employers, social workers, and community organizations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Perceived stress, pain and work performance among non-patient working personnel with clinical signs of temporomandibular or neck pain.

The aim of the present study was to assess the associations between different types of perceived stress, pain and work performance among non-patients with clinical signs of muscle pain in the head/neck region. One-fifth (n = 241) of the 1339 media employees who had participated in a previous survey (Ahlberg J. et al., J Psychosom Res 2002; 53: 1077-1081) were randomly selected for standardized clinical examinations. Altogether 49% (n = 118) of these subjects had clinical signs of temporomandibular and/or neck muscle pain and were enrolled in the present study. The mean age of the study sample was 46.9 years (s.d. 6.6) and the female to male distribution 2:1. Of the 118 employees 46.5% reported that the pain problem interfered with their ability to work. Perceived ability to work was not significantly associated with age, gender or work positions. According to logistic regression, reduced work performance was significantly positively associated with continuous pain [odds ratio (OR) 4.38; 95% CI 1.21-15.7], level of perceived pain severity (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.04-1.63), and health stress (OR 2.08; 95% CI 1.22-3.54). The results of this study indicated an association between specific self-reported stress regarding health and work issues, pain and work performance. From a preventive perspective this indicates a need for increased awareness about these associations on not only individual level but also at the organizational level and in health care.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Work demands, job insecurity and sickness absence from work. how productive is the new, flexible labour force?

BACKGROUND: We investigate one aspect of productivity--sickness absence--and ask whether job insecurity and high work demands are associated with increased sickness absence and, if so, whether mental or physical health mediates this association. We further investigate if having control at work modifies these associations. METHODS: We used cross-sectional survey data from 2,248 employees aged 40-44 years living in two cities of south-eastern Australia. Logistic regressions were used to compare the associations between job insecurity and demands among those with short (1-3 days) or long-term (> 3 days) sickness absence with those who had no sickness absence in the last four weeks. The mediating effects of mental and physical health were assessed by evaluating changes in the magnitude of the association between these work conditions and sickness absence. RESULTS: High job insecurity (OR = 3.28; 95% CI 1.54-6.95) and high work demands (OR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.13-2.30) were significantly associated with long-term, but not with short-term, sickness absence. These associations were unaffected by job control. Depression and anxiety explained 61% of the association between high work demands and long-term sickness absence and 30% of the association between job insecurity and long-term sickness absence. CONCLUSION: Difficult working conditions may reduce productivity by contributing to longer absences from work. IMPLICATIONS: Reforms intended to improve economic performance should address any potential health costs of insecurity or intensification, which could inadvertently decrease productivity, possibly through their impact on mental health.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Work conditions, mastery and psychological distress: are housework and paid work contexts conceptually similar?

This research examined how the conditions of paid work and unpaid housework were related to women's sense of mastery, depressed mood and anxiety. The data for these analyses were taken from the American Changing Lives (ACL) survey (House, 1986). This research draws from a subsample of 992 black and non-Hispanic white women aged 24 to 59. The conditions of work on the job and in the home are not consistently related to women's psychological functioning. Among employed women, decision latitude on the job is related to depressed mood indirectly through their sense of mastery; the physical demands of work are directly related to depressed mood, but the effect is stronger among employed women than employed homemakers. In contrast, decision latitude at home is directly related to depressed mood among homemakers; the physical demands of housework are related to depressed mood only indirectly through women's sense of mastery. This pattern is repeated in the relationship between anxiety and decision latitude both at home and on the job, and in the relationship between anxiety and physical demands of work on the job. Both unpaid housework and paid work are forms of productive activity, but these findings suggest they are not a ubiquitous entity with similar effects for all women. Rather the context of work shapes the effect of work conditions for women's psychological functioning.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

A woman's work is never done: women's work and pregnancy outcome in Albania.

Albania has undergone extreme social and political changes during the past five years. Conditions regarding women's work and its effect on reproductive health have been unknown. During the 1993 and 1994, a cohort of 1199 pregnant women were followed to identify how work factors related to spontaneous abortion, infant low birth weight, gestation length, and perinatal mortality. A small subgroup was interviewed to examine qualitative issues including motivation, attitudes, and personal experiences regarding working and raising a family. Results reveal that certain work factors directly correlated with low birth weight, miscarriage, and/or perinatal death. The significant factors included: fewer household helpers, standing, working in hot environment, commuting, walking and carrying, and lifting heavy weights on the job. Most women were unemployed, and virtually all were deeply concerned about employment and poverty. Their challenge is to maintain an equilibrium between satisfaction of economic needs and physical needs during pregnancy. International aid programs in Albanian maternal and child health must consider the physical repercussions from increased work on the job and little or no decrease in work at home.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

PubMed1996

The work hardening program and subsequent return to work of a client with low back pain.

Billions of dollars are spent annually for the costs associated with workers' compensation cases. Chronic low back injuries have been traditionally the most costly cases. In addition to the physical problems, psychosocial issues emerge which confound conventional treatment and prolong resolution. Work hardening programs were developed to address the many issues of the occupationally injured chronic patient. This case study examines the treatment of a 54-year-old male who sustained an injury to his lumbar spine during employment as a boiler mechanic and subsequently had been out of work for 8 months. The article describes the interdisciplinary work hardening treatment (5-week duration) and the progressive resistive work circuit which preceded the client's return to work. It is concluded that work hardening programs can be cost-effective for insurers, as in this case, saving an estimated $44,000. An aggressive return to work program should also be considered in earlier stages of injury as a way of preventing the development of chronic disability for which the human costs are immeasurable.

Chronic Disease↗