Work - Volume 45, issue 1

Authors: Sinden, Kathryn | MacDermid, Joy | Buckman, Stephanie | Davis, Bonnie | Matthews, Tracy | Viola, Carrie

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Firefighters are exposed to high physical and psychological occupational factors while providing an essential service to our communities. Female firefighters represent a minority group in this male dominated occupation. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively determine the impact of a male dominated, physically demanding occupation on women's work health and job satisfaction through the experiences of female firefighters. METHODS: A phenomenological approach was used to collect data through semi-structured, recorded interviews …with female firefighters. The recorded interviews were transcribed into text and inductive thematic analysis was used to qualitatively analyze the transcripts. RESULTS: Review and analysis of the participant responses identified seven themes: physical demands/difficulties, gender related physiological differences, compensatory strategies, equipment mal-adaptation, earning respect, negative attitudes of male counterparts: impact on social inclusion and health behaviors, recognition of injury risk. CONCLUSION: Female firefighters are exposed to increased risk of injury due to the psychological and physical occupational stressors in firefighting. Implications of this research are provided and include recommendations for future research to target the physical and psychosocial aspects of firefighting. Show more

Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, injury prevention, phenomenology

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-121549

Citation: Work, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 97-105, 2013

Authors: Siu, Andrew M.H. | Hung, Anchor | Lam, Ada Y.L. | Cheng, Andy

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the workplace experiences of people with chronic diseases, including their work limitations, emotional health, concerns about discrimination, and support from colleagues and employer. This study identifies the factors that contribute to work adjustment (job tenure and job satisfaction). METHODS: A purposive sample of 136 persons aged 18 to 60 with chronic diseases who had been employed in the past 6 months completed a survey about their workplace experience. The questionnaire …included several standardized instruments: the Perceived Health and Self-efficacy in Managing Chronic Disease Scale, Work Limitations Questionnaire, Overall Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. The researchers also designed original items to measure concerns about discriminatory practices, workplace support, and self-stigma. RESULTS: Persons with chronic diseases were fairly satisfied with their jobs and had extended stays in those jobs. They reported a minor productivity loss and physical limitations. Most participants let co-workers, employers, and supervisors know they had chronic disease, but they were concerned about the support those people provide. Participants were more likely to be highly satisfied with their jobs if they had high self-efficacy in managing their disease, perceived more workplace support, and had less work limitations (especially output demands). Job tenure is associated age, education, and monthly income, but not clinical indicators. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with chronic disease who were able to maintain good work adjustment tended to be "fit" with few work limitations and little emotional distress. The key factors affecting work adjustment were efficacy in managing their disease, workplace support, and output demands. Show more

Keywords: Work limitations, job satisfaction, chronic disease, Chinese

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-121550

Citation: Work, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 107-115, 2013

Authors: Sturesson, Marine | Edlund, Curt | Fjellman-Wiklund, Anncristine | Falkdal, Annie Hansen | Bernspång, Birgitta

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The concept of work ability is not clearly defined although it has a central place in vocational rehabilitation. Several health professions are involved in assessing work ability, physicians and occupational therapists are two of these. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapist and physician views about work ability and experiences in assessing work ability. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen physicians and 23 occupational therapists participated in seven focus group discussions that …were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. METHODS: Qualitative content analysis was used. Each author performed an individual preliminary analysis. These analyses were later discussed and refined in the research team and a workshop. The final categorization resulted in one theme, four categories and 13 sub-categories. RESULTS: The overall theme expressed work ability as an obscure, complex and unique concept. The four categories illustrate the affecting factors and confirm the complex structure of work ability: the person, the context of life, the work, and the society. Physicians expressed greater difficulty in assessing work ability than occupational therapists did, because they have fewer instruments to access this concept. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of work ability requires team cooperation with several different professionals. Cooperation could increase accuracy in issuing sickness certification and strengthens the ability of identifying individual requirements for rehabilitation. Show more

Keywords: Focus groups, sick leave, sickness certification, work capacity evaluation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2012-1416

Citation: Work, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 117-128, 2013

Authors: Vicentic, Sreten | Gasic, Miroslava Jasovic | Milovanovic, Aleksandar | Tosevski, Dusica Lecic | Nenadovic, Milutin | Damjanovic, Aleksandar | Kostic, Bojana Dunjic | Jovanovic, Aleksandar A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Many studies confirm that psychological factors and burnout in physicians are interconnected. It is however not known, whether quality of life is another factor that plays a role in this connection.The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between quality of life and emotional profile with the level of burnout in physicians. PARTICIPANTS: 120 physicians participated in this study, i.e. sixty general practitioners (GPs) and sixty psychiatrists. METHODS: The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) …and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were used to measure the job stress. The Quality of Life (QOL) and the Emotions Profile Index (EPI) were used to determine quality of life and emotional profile. Data were analyzed using methods of single and multiple correlation and regression methods. RESULTS: The QOL was higher in psychiatrists as a direct consequence of questions about finances and friendship. Analysis by gender showed that the growth of the burnout risk level (MBI) correlated with the growth of number of women who had stress coping problems. CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that quality of life and individual factors represent a very significant role in burnout among physicians. Further researches in a bigger sample are required in order to identify key factors of quality of life related to burnout reducing, as well as for improvement of supervision strategies, including more the relevance of psychological profile of physicians. Show more

Keywords: Stress, physicians, emotions profile index, psychiatry, GPs

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-121484

Citation: Work, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 129-138, 2013