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PubMed1986

[Work and health: work-related disease].

Work and health interact with one another in the following ways: when work is adapted to human goals and capacities of men, work can play important role in promoting both physical and mental health; exposure to chemical, physical and biological risk factors, can lead to occupational diseases; both work environment and work condition can play a role, together with other risk factors, in the development of diseases characterized by a multiple etiology. Such diseases have been commonly called work-related. In occupational disease, there is a direct cause-effect relationship between hazard and disease, whereas in work-related disease, the work environment contributes, but as one of a number of factors, to the development of the disease. Because of their multifactorial and complex etiology, work-related diseases represent an interesting subject for epidemiological surveys. At the time, epidemiological study of work-related diseases can take the following forms. Descriptive studies relating morbidity to occupation, work area, task, or specific exposure can be concerned with anything from "hard" indicators of illness (such as death), to "soft; indicators (such as non-specific symptoms). Descriptive studies of work-related diseases utilizing the latter indicators of disease are usually study ad hoc, since morbidity registers do not exist for any disease in our country.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Health↗

PubMed1994

The probability of recovery and return to work from work disability as a function of time.

This paper describes a prospective longitudinal cohort study of musculoskeletal soft tissue pain impairment following a work related injury. It focuses on specific, univariate prognostic factors indicated in previous research studies that might affect the likelihood that injured workers will return to work or remain on work disability at any point in time. These factors include gender, age, return to work attempts and site of injury. Life table analysis was used to model the probability of work disability. The results showed that different disability and return to work patterns emerged for males and females. Males were more likely to return to work; however, females had a higher probability than males of remaining at work once they returned to work. Older workers had the highest probability of being off work any given number of days after injury; were less likely to return to work, and if they did, had a higher probability of becoming disabled again. Efforts to return early to work contributed to a decrease in overall work disability. Workers with low back injuries had a greater likelihood of recurrence compared to injuries at other body sites.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The effects of chronic medical conditions on work loss and work cutback.

Although work performance has become an important outcome in cost-of-illness studies, little is known about the comparative effects of different commonly occurring chronic conditions on work impairment in general population samples. Such data are presented here from a large-scale nationally representative general population survey. The data are from the MacArthur Foundation Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) survey, a nationally representative telephone-mail survey of 3032 respondents in the age range of 25 to 74 years. The 2074 survey respondents in the age range of 25 to 54 years are the focus of the current report. The data collection included a chronic-conditions checklist and questions about how many days out of the past 30 each respondent was either totally unable to work or perform normal activities because of health problems (work-loss days) or had to cut back on these activities because of health problems (work-cutback days). Regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of conditions on work impairments, controlling for sociodemographics. At least one illness-related work-loss or work-cutback day in the past 30 days was reported by 22.4% of respondents, with a monthly average of 6.7 such days among those with any work impairment. This is equivalent to an annualized national estimate of over 2.5 billion work-impairment days in the age range of the sample. Cancer is associated with by far the highest reported prevalence of any impairment (66.2%) and the highest conditional number of impairment days in the past 30 (16.4 days). Other conditions associated with high odds of any impairment include ulcers, major depression, and panic disorder, whereas other conditions associated with a large conditional number of impairment days include heart disease and high blood pressure. Comorbidities involving combinations of arthritis, ulcers, mental disorders, and substance dependence are associated with higher impairments than expected on the basis of an additive model. The effects of conditions do not differ systematically across subsamples defined on the basis of age, sex, education, or employment status. The enormous magnitude of the work impairment associated with chronic conditions and the economic advantages of interventions for ill workers that reduce work impairments should be factored into employer cost-benefit calculations of expanding health insurance coverage. Given the enormous work impairment associated with cancer and the fact that the vast majority of employed people who are diagnosed with cancer stay in the workforce through at least part of their course of treatment, interventions aimed at reducing the workplace costs of this illness should be a priority.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2006

Types of work-family interface: well-being correlates of negative and positive spillover between work and family.

The aim of the present study was to test the structure of the work-family interface measure, which was intended to take into account both the positive and negative spillover between work and family demands in both directions. In addition, the links among the types of work-family spillover and the subjects' general and domain-specific well-being were examined. The sample (n = 202) consisted of Finnish employees, aged 42, who had a spouse/partner. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a four-factor model, including negative work-to-family spillover, negative family-to-work spillover, positive work-to-family spillover, and positive family-to-work spillover, was superior compared to the other factor models examined. Path analysis showed, as hypothesized, that the negative work-to-family spillover was most strongly related to low well-being at work (job exhaustion) and next strongly to low general well-being (psychological distress), whereas the negative family-to-work spillover was associated with low well-being in the domain of family (marital dissatisfaction). Positive work-to-family spillover was positively related both to well-being at work and general well-being. Inconsistent with our expectations, positive family-to-work spillover was not directly related to any of the well-being indicators examined.

Adult↗

PubMed1981

Blood flow and in vivo apparent viscosity in working and non-working skeletal muscle of the dog after high and low molecular weight dextran.

We studied the effect of high and low molecular weight dextran on blood flow and in vivo apparent viscosity in the vasodilated vascular bed of working and non-working skeletal muscle. In 12 mongrel dogs, the calf muscle of one hindlimb was isolated. Vasodilation was induced either by sciatic stimulation setting the muscle at rhythmic work or by intraarterial infusion of papaverine. Blood flow was measured electromagnetically at different perfusion pressures. In vivo apparent viscosity was calculated by comparing pressure-flow relationship for blood and a reference solution. Viscosity in vitro was determined in a cone-plate viscometer. A hyperviscous state was induced by intravenous infusion of high molecular weight dextran (HMWD). Hemodilution subsequently was produced by administration of low molecular weight dextran (LMWD). After HMWD, blood flow decreased to 30% of control values in the non-working group and to 45% of control values in the working group. After subsequent infusion of LMWD, blood flow returned to 60% of control values in the non-working group and to 70% of control values in the working group. In vivo apparent viscosity increased to values 250% above control in the non-working group and to 120% above control in the working group following HMWD. After subsequent infusion of LMWD in vivo, apparent viscosity decreased, but remained at values 65% above control in the non-working group and 45% above control in the working group. Thus, the flow impairment induced by HMWD was less pronounced in the working muscle, indicating a flow-preserving effect of rhythmic muscle contractions in this state of disturbed blood rheology. In contrast, the flow-improving effect of LMWD by hemodilution was more pronounced in the non-working muscle.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Perceived work ability of home care workers in relation to individual and work-related factors in different age groups.

This study analysed the relationship between age and items of the Work Ability Index (WAI) among 19- to 62-year-old female home care workers (n = 636). The first significant decrease in work ability occurred between the ages of 40 and 44 years, and a second, sharper decrease occurred after 55 years of age. The subjects' physical work ability deteriorated as early as 35 years of age. In addition, current work ability, number of diagnosed diseases and work impairment due to diseases proved to be the most age-sensitive measures of work ability. The subjects who perceived their health status as poor had the highest risk for poor work ability. Moreover, the age-adjusted odds ratio indicated that the WAI was strongly associated with age and musculoskeletal and psychosomatic symptoms. Ergonomics, possibilities to control one's own work, time pressure and management were the features of work that predicted work ability. The study demonstrated the need to promote the work ability of home care workers early in working life. Among both older and younger workers, preventive measures should focus on the above-mentioned factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Retaining the ability to work-associated factors at work.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of work-related sickness absence has traditionally dealt with reduction of exposures to known risk factors. However, there is reason to believe that there are also factors at work that act as health supportive. This study aimed to identify workplace factors predicting retained work ability. METHODS: The present prospective cohort study included the follow-up of 6337 randomly chosen, gainfully employed Swedish women and men for 1 year. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses odds ratios (ORs) together with 95% confidence interval were calculated in order to estimate the strength of the associations between different factors reported in a baseline questionnaire, and retained work ability was defined as not being on long-term sick leave (> 14 days) during the follow-up. RESULTS: Work-related factors significantly associated with retained work ability were as follows: reporting the work as physically non-strenuous (women: OR 1.6; men: OR 2.1), working at a workplace where there are no plans to close down (w: OR 2.3) and feeling recuperated and full of energy (w : = R1.5), and often being in the mood for work (m : 1.4). Significant associations with retained work ability were also found for age, socioeconomic level, household composition, employment sector, and previous sick leave patterns. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight some factors at work, but also some in the personal sphere that are influential for retained work ability, regardless of sick leave patterns prior to the study period. Identifying such factors can provide valuable knowledge for workplace health promotion.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Return to work among sickness-absent Danish employees: prospective results from the Danish Work Environment Cohort Study/National Register on Social Transfer Payments.

This study investigates the determinants within socio-demography, health behaviour, employer characteristics, and psychosocial and physical work environment for return to work. In 2000, a total of 5357 employees were interviewed regarding age, gender, family status, education, health behaviour, employer characteristics and work environment. They were followed in a national register for 18 months in order to identify subjects with 2 weeks or more of sickness absence. They were followed for an additional 12 months in order to establish associations between baseline measurements and time to first return to work. A total of 930 (17.4%) employees experienced sickness absence in the 18 months after baseline. During the 12-month follow-up, 856 (92.0%) returned to work, the mean absence period being 6.6 weeks. Prolonged time to first return to work was associated with female gender, increased age, no post-school education, being employed by a public employer, working at a workplace with 20 or more employees, high emotional demands in work, high job insecurity and sedentary work. There were no associations between health behaviour variables and return to work. The study indicates a potential for promoting return to work through interventions targeting emotional job demands, job insecurity and decreasing the risks associated with sedentary work.

Denmark↗

PubMed2006

Work hours and self-reported hypertension among working people in California.

Among the risk factors for hypertension, stress, especially work stress, has drawn increasing attention. Another potential work-related risk factor for hypertension identified in the past few years is work hours. This article presents an analysis of work hours and self-reported hypertension among the working population in the state of California. The data set used for this study comes from the Public Use File of the 2001 California Health Interview Survey. The logistic regression analysis shows a positive association between hours worked per week and likelihood of having self-reported hypertension. Compared with those working between 11 and 39 hours per week, individuals working 40 hours per week were 14% (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.28) more likely to report hypertension, those who worked between 41 and 50 hours per week were 17% (95% CI: 1.04 to 1.33) more likely to report hypertension, and those who worked >or=51 hours per week were 29% (95% CI: 1.10 to 1.52) more likely to report hypertension after controlling for various potentially confounding variables, including demographic and biological risk factors and socioeconomic status. This analysis provides evidence of a positive association between work hours and hypertension in the California working population.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Work load of nursery teachers in a nursery school. Relationship between age of children and work load].

Time study of six nursery teachers of children aged 0 to 5 was conducted at a public nursery school to ascertain their work load, and the results obtained were examined from the following two viewpoints. First, comparison was made between the results obtained by the following two methods of analysis; 1) An observer recorded the work contents and the working postures of a nursery teacher at place of work in one-minute units. 2) The nursery teacher was recorded on video tape and the analysis of the work contents and the working postures was made in one-second units. Second, comparison was made between the work loads (work content, working posture, walking, lifting children and recess) of nursery teachers of children of different age group. The results could be summarized as follows: 1. The results of analysis made by the two methods of the work contents and the working postures were in good agreement. 2. The higher the age of children in the class, the longer was the cumulative time for "indoor group nurture" and the shorter was the cumulative time for "help and care for feeding", "help and care for afternoon nap" and "help and care for excretion". 3. The higher the age of children in the class, the longer was the cumulative time of "standing" in a nursery teacher and the shorter was the cumulative time of "sitting on the floor". The total time of "bending forward", "squatting" and "rising on the knee" occupied 20% of the working hours on an average and was not related clearly to the age of children. 4. The frequency of walking was not found to be related to the age of children. 5. The nursery teachers of children aged 0 and 1 lifted children much more frequently among all nursery teachers. 6. The recess away from children was rarely observed throughout the day.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2002

Return to work outcomes following accident compensation corporation work capacity assessment.

AIMS: To determine the proportion of Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) claimants who have returned to fulltime work after ceasing to receive ACC weekly compensation following Work Capacity Assessment (WCAP). To assess what factors impact on return to work. To assess whether ACC's research findings into return to work outcomes WCAP are valid. METHODS: A structured questionnaire telephone follow-up survey was conducted with ACC claimants seen for WCAP. RESULTS: 43% of those exited from ACC weekly compensation after WCAP were currently working fulltime. Claimants who had exited ACC after WCAP were significantly more likely to be working than those remaining on ACC. Claimants over 40 years of age were significantly less likely to be working. Gender, race, length of time since injury, and retraining made no difference to return to work. 80% of claimants felt that the WCAP process was unfair. CONCLUSION: Nearly half of those claimants certified as being unfit for work but now exited from ACC via WCAP were working fulltime. This may indicate that ACC's rehabilitation is successful, or that claimants tend to remain on ACC for economic rather than injury reasons, or that WCAP results in claimants returning to physically unsuitable work putting them at risk of further injury. ACC's research finding, that 79% of claimants were working after WCAP does not appear to be valid.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Work therapy and return to work.

In summary, data were selected for 1 year on patients treated in the Work Tolerance Program at the Hand Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia. The type of information obtained has been used to obtain a profile of the patient population in the Work Tolerance Program. Statistical analysis was used, not only to formulate patient demographics, but also to evaluate the length of treatment of patients in the Work Tolerance Program. This period averaged 6 weeks. The statistical analysis also revealed there was significant interaction between the type of injury and the patient's diagnosis, and the rate of return to work. The patients with injuries to bone and nerve required longer periods of treatment until they returned to work than did patients with injuries to soft tissue or combination injuries. Our statistical analysis revealed that in 1982, 75 per cent of the patients in the Work Tolerance Program returned to work to regular or modified jobs. The length of time from injury to return to work was 63 per cent longer for patients with Workers' Compensation coverage than for patients with private insurance coverage. Because the statistical analysis that 60 per cent of the patients treated in the Work Tolerance Program were Workers' Compensation insured, and 80 per cent of the patients treated in the Work Tolerance Program were secondarily referred, it should be recognized that all patients with severe hand injuries would benefit from an immediate referral to a Hand Rehabilitation Center of excellence to facilitate their therapeutic management and expedite their recovery from time of injury to return to work. This study was restricted to the analysis of length of treatment and rate of return to work. Future studies should study the effect of early referral and the application of specific treatments.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Work-related asthma and respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to metal-working fluids.

The objective of this work was to determine whether the prevalence of respiratory symptoms differed among workers exposed to different types of metal-working fluids. As part of a mandatory surveillance system for occupational illness, from 1988-1994, the Michigan Department of Public Health received, 86 occupational disease reports of work-related asthma secondary to exposure to metal-working fluids. As part of a public health program, follow-up industrial hygiene inspections, including medical interviews of the workforce, were performed at companies where the reported cases had become ill. Metal-working fluids were the second most common cause of work-related asthma reported in the state. Most of the reports were from the automobile industry. Follow-up inspections were conducted at 37 facilities where the individuals with work-related asthma had worked. Seven hundred and fifty-five workers at these facilities were interviewed. Only one facility was above the allowable oil mist standard. Despite the exposure levels being within the legal limits, approximately 20% of the fellow workers of the reported cases had daily or weekly respiratory symptoms suggestive of work-related asthma. Workers exposed to emulsified, semisynthetic, or synthetic machining coolants were more likely to have chronic bronchitis; to have visited a doctor for shortness of breath; to have visited a doctor for a sinus problem; to be bothered at work by nasal stuffiness, runny nose, or sore throat; and to have an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms consistent with work-related asthma, compared to workers exposed to mineral oil metal-working fluids. These findings were found in individuals who currently smoked, had never smoked or were ex-cigarette smokers. Further research to determine the chemical components or microbial contaminants responsible for these findings is needed.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2005

A qualitative study of work and work return in cancer survivors.

Few studies have examined the impact of cancer on the survivor's quality of work life. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the work experiences among a diverse group of cancer survivors and to explore factors influencing decisions about work after cancer diagnosis and treatment. We interviewed 28 participants with a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds and primary cancer sites. Qualitative results indicate that after learning about their cancer diagnosis, participants had diverse and complex patterns of work return and work change, and experienced a variety of factors that influenced post-cancer decisions. Experiences at work after cancer also varied in relation to how others responded, changes in productivity, effects of cancer and treatment on work, and feelings about work. Most respondents received little guidance from their physicians about work, and many participants described their cancer as impacting their priority of work relative to other aspects of their lives. Our findings reinforce the complexity of measuring employment outcomes and the range of adaptations made to improve the quality of work life. Additional research is needed to identify prognostic factors that can guide clinical or workplace efforts to restore cancer survivors to their desired level of work function and economic productivity.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Work stress in Japanese computer engineers: effects of computer work or bioeducational factors.

To examine whether computer work and bioeducational factors (age and school career) have significant effects on work stress in computer engineers in Japan, we administered a stress questionnaire to 764 male computer engineers and 211 male office workers in a computer-manufacturing factory in Tokyo. Four scales of perceived psychological stress at work examined were work overload, poor human relationships at work, unsuitable job, and competition-dismissal anxiety. The results of the three-way analysis of variance, in which age (20-29, 30-39, and 40-49 years), school career (high school and university graduates), and computer work (computer engineers and office workers) were three variation factors, indicated that: (1) there were no significant differences in all scores of work stress between computer engineers and office workers (P > 0.05); (2) scores for unsuitable job and poor human relationships at work were significantly higher in high school graduates than in university graduates (P < 0.05); and (3) there were significant age differences in scores for three scales of work stress (unsuitable job, competition-dismissal anxiety, and work overload: P < 0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05, respectively). These findings suggest that computer work has no significant effect on perceived work stress in computer engineers; on the other hand, age and school career do have effects.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The relationships among part-time work, work-family interference, and well-being.

The authors investigated the effect of part-time work on work-family interference and well-being among 160 part-time and 29 full-time employed mothers (with a partner) working at 2 insurance companies in the Netherlands. The authors controlled for working part time as a strategy for reducing work-family imbalance and found that part-time work was associated with a lower level of work-to-family interference. Also, high levels of work-family interference were associated with diminished well-being. Work-to-family interference played a mediating role in the relationship between part-time work and well-being. Results indicate that part-time jobs can enhance the work-family balance not only for those explicitly choosing part-time employment as a means to reduce work-family imbalance but also for other employees.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Perceived exertion and discomfort associated with driving screws at various work locations and at different work frequencies.

Eighteen subjects drove screws with air-powered tools into perforated sheet metal at three vertical and two horizontal work locations using three different work paces (8, 10, and 12 screws/min). Subjects drove screws with a pistol-shaped tool on the vertical orientation at knee, elbow, and shoulder height. They used an in-line tool to drive screws on the horizontal surface. A horizontal beam was placed just below each subject's elbow height and they drove screws into it with the lower arm perpendicular to the torso and with the arms fully extended. Subjects drove screws for 10 min at each work location and frequency combination before they assessed the condition using the Borg ten-point ratio rating scale. Subjects also ranked seven body areas according to discomfort for each work location. A two-factor ANOVA (and comparable non-parametric statistics) showed that both work location and frequency were significant factors in determining the Borg ratings. As work pace increased, so did the Borg ratings of perceived exertion for each work location. For each incremental increase in work pace, the Borg ratings of perceived exertion increased 12% to 25%, depending on the work location. Driving screws at elbow height on the vertical surface and with the lower arm close to the body on the horizontal surface were the work locations with the smallest ratings of perceived exertion. The ratings of perceived exertion for driving screws at elbow height on the vertical surface were 18% to 50% lower than the ratings for driving screws at knee or shoulder height and the ratings of perceived exertion for driving screws with the lower arm close to the body on the horizontal surface were 21% to 24% lower than driving screws with the arms fully extended. No significant difference was found among the discomfort ranks given to the various body parts for the two horizontal work locations. Differences were found among the body part discomfort rankings for the vertical work locations. While driving screws at knee height, the torso was most stressed; the wrist and hand were most stressed while driving screws at elbow height, and the shoulder and upper arm were the body parts that were stressed the most while driving screws at shoulder height.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Ability to work and owner satisfaction following surgical repair of common calcanean tendon injuries in working dogs in New Zealand.

AIM: To report the long-term outcome (return to work and owner satisfaction) following surgical treatment of common calcanean tendon (Achilles tendon) injuries in working dogs in New Zealand. METHODS: Ten New Zealand Huntaway or Heading dogs (working Collies) with complete or partial tears of the common calcanean tendon, were treated using locking-loop suturing and casting, with (7) or without (3), a calcaneo-tibial screw. All dogs were actively in work on sheep or cattle farms at the time of injury, and return to work was the desired outcome. Ability to work and owner satisfaction were investigated using a telephone questionnaire at a mean followup interval of 14.6 months. RESULTS: Overall, 7/10 dogs returned to full or substantial levels of work. Post-operative complications occurred in two dogs that did not return to full or substantial levels of work. Moderate persistent lameness (score 3 on a scale of 0-5) was present in 2/7 dogs that returned to full or substantial levels of work, equating to a 71% good-to-excellent functional outcome within this group. Seven owners felt the financial investment in opting for surgical repair was worthwhile. A screw and cast method of rigid immobilisation was thought to be superior to casting alone. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of common calcanean tendon injury in working dogs carries a good prognosis if an appropriate tenorrhaphy technique is used and rigid immobilisation is achieved for 6 weeks. Care must be taken to limit post-operative complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study justifies the use of surgical repair of such injuries in the working dog even when return to work is the only acceptable outcome.

Journal Article↗