Work - Volume 42, issue 3

Authors: Stark, Mary Ann | Hoekstra, Tena | Hazel, Debra Lindstrom | Barton, Barbara

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: Living a healthy lifestyle in order to manage stress encountered in the health care system is important for health care professionals. The purpose of this study was to increase healthy behaviors of undergraduate students in professional health care majors by introducing a health promotion intervention in a required course. Participants: The sample consisted of 201 undergraduate health professional students from nursing (NUR) (n=82, 40.8%), occupational therapy (OT) (n=72, 35.8%), and speech- language pathology …(SLP) (n=47, 23.4%). Methods: A pretest-posttest comparison group design was used. The NUR and OT students received a health promotion intervention to encourage a healthy lifestyle in a required course. SLP students served as a comparison group and did not receive content on self health promotion. Results: The comparison group (SLP) had significantly lower scores on the overall Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII), physical activity and nutrition scales at posttest when compared to pretest. In contrast, students in the intervention group (NUR & OT) significantly increased in their health responsibility as measured on the HPLPII survey at the end of the semester. Conclusions: Infusing content on healthy behaviors in undergraduate curricula may better prepare professionals for living a healthy lifestyle. Show more

Keywords: Health promotion, healthy behaviors, health professions, stress, health profession education, college students, self-care, burnout

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1428

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 393-401, 2012

Authors: Bringsén, Åsa | Andersson, H. Ingemar | Ejlertsson, Göran | Troein, Margareta

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to explore healthcare workers' opinions on workplace related health resources relevant to promotion of their health. Participants: 16 registered nurses and 19 assistant nurses, from a medical emergency ward at a medium sized hospital in the south of Sweden, participated in the study. Methods: Eight focus group interviews were conducted, the material was condensed and conventional qualitative content analysis was used to elicit and identify …patterns in the expressed opinions of the participants. Results: The analysis yielded four themes that were labelled the reward, the team, the mission and the context. An explanatory model was constructed consisting of concentric circles, with the reward at the core. The qualitative analysis also revealed two divergent patterns; some of the participants associated positive health with stability while others referred to flexibility. Conclusions: The results from this study have contributed to the body of knowledge regarding salutogenic health indicators in the field of work and health research in particular as well as in health promotion in general. The findings show that individuals can have diverse responses to any given work situation, and this should be taken into account before implementation of salutogenic health promotion programs. Show more

Keywords: Positive occupational health psychology, health promotion, subjective experiences, nursing

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1356

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 403-414, 2012

Authors: Kawada, Tomoyuki | Yamada, Natsuki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: Job satisfaction is an important factor in the occupational lives of workers. In this study, the relationship between one-dimensional scale of job satisfaction and psychological wellbeing was evaluated. Participants: A total of 1,742 workers (1,191 men and 551 women) participated. Methods: 100-Point scale evaluating job satisfaction (0 [extremely dissatisfied] to 100 [extremely satisfied]) and the General Health Questionnaire, 12-item version (GHQ-12) evaluating psychological wellbeing were used. A …multiple regression analysis was then used, controlling for gender and age. The change in the GHQ-12 and job satisfaction scores after a two-year interval was also evaluated. Results: The mean age for the subjects was 42.2 years for the men and 36.2 years for the women. The GHQ-12 and job satisfaction scores were significantly correlated in each generation. The partial correlation coefficients between the changes in the two variables, controlling for age, were −0.395 for men and −0.435 for women (p< 0.001). A multiple regression analysis revealed that the 100-point job satisfaction score was associated with the GHQ-12 results (p< 0.001). The adjusted multiple correlation coefficient was 0.275. Conclusions: The 100-point scale, which is a simple and easy tool for evaluating job satisfaction, was significantly associated with psychological wellbeing as judged using the GHQ-12. Show more

Keywords: Perceived job satisfaction, general health questionnaire 12 item version, aging

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1359

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 415-418, 2012

Authors: Lundqvist, Daniel | Eriksson, Anna Fogelberg | Ekberg, Kerstin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: To explore the relationship between managers' leadership and their health, by investigating what psychosocial conditions in the workplace managers experience as being important to their health, and how their health influences their leadership. Participants and methods: Semi-structured interviews with forty-two managers at different managerial levels in a large Swedish industrial production company. Results: Most managers felt their health was good, but many perceived their work as stressful. They said it was …important to their health that they did a good job and achieved results as expected, that conditions in the workplace enabled this achievement, and that their performance was acknowledged. In comparison to the other managerial levels, the first-line managers' work and health were especially dependent on such enabling conditions. The results also showed that the managers' health influenced their leadership, the quality of their work and the quality of their relationship with subordinates. Conclusion: Managers' leadership, health and their work conditions are reciprocally related to each other. A productive and healthy workplace is facilitated by focusing on managers' conditions for leadership, their health and their work conditions. Show more

Keywords: Managerial levels, psychosocial work conditions, industrial production company

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1395

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 419-427, 2012

Authors: Mirmohammadi, Seyed Jalil | Mehrparvar, Amir Houshang | Olia, Mohammad Bagher | Mirmohammadi, Monirolsadat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: Substantial evidence shows an association between musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and certain work-related physical factors. One of the jobs with known ergonomic hazards is working with video display terminals (VDTs). Redesign, ergonomic improvements, and education have generally been recommended as solutions for the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. We designed this study to assess the effects of ergonomic training on the working postures of VDT users. Methods: In an intervention study, we assessed the impact …of ergonomic training on the ergonomic hazards and work postures in employees working with VDTs. Participants and their workstations were assessed by Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) method before and after training. Participants: 70 employees of an office, working with a VDT more than four hours per day entered the study. Results: The greatest compliance with OSHA workstation recommendations was seen with the monitor (21.4% of cases) and the least compliance with the one was the chair (10.0%). Mean RULA score before and after intervention were 5.90, and 5.07, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: It can be concluded from this study that training office ergonomics to the VDT users, even without changing work place components can significantly improve VDT users' behavior and ability to properly fit a workstation to him/herself. Show more

Keywords: Office ergonomics, RULA, MSDs, ergonomic training

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1400

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 429-433, 2012

Authors: Ramadan, Mohamed Zaki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: Although respiratory device is an essential item to protect the wearer from hazardous gases and dust, it tends to increase heat load on the workers. The goal of this paper was to select the appropriate respiratory devices that can be used in a harsh weather under different work-loads. Methods: Sixteen young male participants participated in this study. Participants exercised on an ergometer bike in a laboratory at 30% and 50% of their physical …workloads, in temperature and humidity controlled environments (30°C and 40°C dry bulb temperatures with 50% and 90% Relative Humidity), while wearing six different respiratory devices. The effects on the participant's body functions (e.g., heart rate, aural canal temperature and blood pressure), and their subjective exertion ratings were measured. Results: Results proved that when wearing protective devices in hot environments, all physiological measures as well as exertion ratings were significantly increased. However, wearing half-face masks with two inlets exerted less stresses on the worker's physiological measures and subjective rating. Conclusions: This study recommended wearing half-face masks with two inlets to be used when performing tasks at hot environmental conditions. Show more

Keywords: Heat stress, respiratory devices, protective masks, exertion rating, physiological measures, worker, hot environment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1405

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 435-445, 2012

Authors: Wästberg, Birgitta A. | Haglund, Lena | Eklund, Mona

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: To develop a self-report alternative to the Work Environment Impact Scale (WEIS). Participants: First the novel instrument was used and evaluated by ten occupational therapists and 45~clients in primary health care. Then the instrument was used by 26~clients who participated in a rehabilitation programme in another primary health care district. Methods: The instrument was investigated in two steps. First content validity and utility were investigated through a questionnaire addressed to occupational …therapists and their clients respectively. The response distribution was calculated by frequencies. Internal consistency was investigated. In the second step, a revised version of the instrument was investigated for test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The test-retest reliability was calculated by weighted kappa. The internal consistency of the WEIS-SR was calculated by means of Cronbach's alpha. Results: In step one the content validity was good to moderately good, the utility was good, and the internal consistency was satisfactory (0.72). In step two the internal consistency was good (0.88/0.89) and the test-retest reliability was mostly good to moderate (0.35–0.78, median 0.61). Conclusions: The instrument will be further investigated in other populations and take into consideration additional psychometric properties such as sensitivity to change, predictive validity, and concurrent validity. Show more

Keywords: Return to work, work environment, assessment, psychometric properties, MOHO

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1418

Citation: Work, vol. 42, no. 3, pp. 447-457, 2012