Work - Volume 53, issue 3

Authors: Harris, J.E. | Mays, J. | Ratcliff, G. | Chase, S. | Vemich, L. | Colantonio, A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Returning to work is one of the most important goals cited by individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, they may have difficulty evoking past work history. The ability to recall work history is integral to the rehabilitation process of return to work. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine 1) the level of agreement on the reporting of occupations and 2) if agreement is affected when specific occupational details are required in recall between adults with traumatic brain injury and their informants. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 259 individuals, …with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, and their selected informants (e.g. spouse, parent). Interviews were conducted separately for the individual and respective informant to gather information on type of occupation at time of injury and at time of interview. Reported occupations were coded using a standard classification system. Level of agreement was analyzed by interclass correlation coefficients and percent agreement, and the significance of bias was calculated. RESULTS: Participants were a mean age of 44.5 at time of study with 40% employed compared to 77% at time of injury. Agreement between participants and their informants for occupational title was high for both time periods though more so at the time of injury compared to current status. Level of agreement for specificity was moderate to high however, decreased as need for specificity of detail increased. CONCLUSION: While participant-informant responses appear to be reliable for occupational classification, when detailed information is required corroborating information is likely needed. Show more

Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, return to work, rehabilitation, validity, reliability

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152223

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 561-567, 2016

Authors: Soeker, Shaheed | Matimba, Tandokazi | Machingura, Last | Msimango, Henry | Moswaane, Bobo | Tom, Sinazo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are responsible for helping employees cope with problems such as: mental distress, alcoholism and other drug dependencies, marital and financial difficulties – in short, the whole host of personal and family troubles endemic to the human condition. OBJECTIVE: The study explored the challenges that employees who abuse substances experience when returning to work after the completion of an employee assistance program. METHODS: The study used a qualitative exploratory descriptive research design. Three male participants and two key informants participated in the study. One semi structured interview was conducted with each one …of the participants and one semi structured interview with the key informants. RESULTS: Four themes emerged: 1) Loss of one’s worker role identity, 2) Negative influences of the community continues to effect the success of EAP, 3) EAP as a vehicle for change and, 4) Healthy occupations strengthen EAP. CONCLUSIONS: This study portrayed the following: how substance abuse effect the worker role of individuals employed in the open labor market, the challenges and facilitators experienced by employees who abuse substances when returning to their previous work roles and how occupation based interventions can be incorporated in EAP programs. Occupational therapists could use the health promotion approach, work simplification, energy conservation techniques and ergonomic analysis techniques. Show more

Keywords: Keywords, Occupation based intervention, substance abuse, corporate environment, qualitative research and occupational performance

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152230

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 569-584, 2016

Authors: Castellucci, H.I. | Catalán, M. | Arezes, P.M. | Molenbroek, J.F.M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Students are exposed to the first systematic tasks or activities that a human being carries out in his/her life while at school. In this workplace situation, school furniture is a key factor for the adoption of proper body posture. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper was to observe and determine the potential mismatch between school furniture dimensions and anthropometric characteristics of the students from the Valparaíso region of Chile. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3,078 volunteer participants from 18 schools (public, semi-public, private). Eight anthropometric measures were gathered, together with six furniture dimensions. Mismatch analyses …were carried out by using pre-defined mismatch criteria. RESULTS: Many different types of school furniture were presented at the schools. Also, a high level of mismatch was registered for seat height, desk height and seat-to-desk clearance. Finally, the analysis of all considered dimensions together showed that there was a high level of cumulative mismatch. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that there were high levels of mismatch between the school furniture and student anthropometric characteristics and that this mismatch varied within the difference types of schools. This situation may have occurred because furniture acquisition was made without considering any ergonomic criteria. Show more

Keywords: Students, anthropometry, classroom, mismatch

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152233

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 585-595, 2016

Authors: Demou, Evangelia | Brown, Judith | Sanati, Kaveh | Kennedy, Mark | Murray, Keith | Macdonald, Ewan B.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sickness absence (SA) is multi-causal and remains a significant problem for employees, employers and society. This makes it necessary to concurrently manage a particular disabling condition and consider the working environment and employee-employer relationship. OBJECTIVE: To describe and examine the components of a novel SA management service Early Access to Support for You (EASY) and discuss their potential influence on the intervention. METHODS: A new sickness absence model, starting from day one of absence, was created called EASY. EASY is planned to support both employees and managers and comprises elements already found to be …associated with reduction of SA, such as maintaining regular contact; early biopsychosocial case-management; physiotherapy; mental-health counselling; work modification; phased return-to-work; and health promotion activities. RESULTS: During the EASY implementation period, the SA rate at a health board reversed its trend of being one of the highest rates in the Scottish National Health Service (NHS) and EASY was considered helpful by both managers and employees. CONCLUSIONS: This paper describes an innovative occupational health intervention to sickness absence management based on the bio-psychosocial model to provide early intervention, and discusses the pros and cons of applying cognitive behavioural principles at an early stage in sickness-absence events, in order to improve return-to-work outcomes. Show more

Keywords: Intervention, return-to-work, sickness absence, sickness absence management, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152137

Citation: WORK, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 597-608, 2016

Authors: Koopmans, Linda | Bernaards, Claire M. | Hildebrandt, Vincent H. | Lerner, Debra | de Vet, Henrica C.W. | van der Beek, Allard J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Individual Work Performance Questionnaire (IWPQ), measuring task performance, contextual performance, and counterproductive work behavior, was developed in The Netherlands. OBJECTIVES: To cross-culturally adapt the IWPQ from the Dutch to the American-English language, and assess the questionnaire’s internal consistency and content validity in the American-English context. METHODS: A five stage translation and adaptation process was used: forward translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert committee review, and pilot-testing. During the pilot-testing, cognitive interviews with 40 American workers were performed, to examine the comprehensibility, applicability, and completeness of the American-English IWPQ. RESULTS: Questionnaire instructions were slightly modified …to aid interpretation in the American-English language. Inconsistencies with verb tense were identified, and it was decided to consistently use simple past tense. The wording of five items was modified to better suit the American-English language. In general, participants were positive on the comprehensibility, applicability and completeness of the questionnaire during the pilot-testing phase. Furthermore, the study showed positive results concerning the internal consistency (Cronbach’s alphas for the scales between 0.79–0.89) and content validity of the American-English IWPQ. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the cross-cultural adaptation of the American-English IWPQ was successful and that the measurement properties of the translated version are promising. Show more

Keywords: Job performance, scale, psychometrics, translation, validation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152237

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 609-619, 2016

Authors: De Vries, Dawn R. | Woods, Suzanne | Fulton, Lawrence | Jewell, Gayla

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Published in Work , the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) [1 ] was initially validated with 124 Canadian health profession students. The authors stated that the ISVS was useful to evaluate beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes about interprofessional practice among health profession students and professionals. OBJECTIVE: While the primary purpose of this study was to identify attitudes and behaviors in occupational, physical, and recreational therapists, and speech-language pathologists, the study also evaluated the validity and reliability of the ISVS. METHODS: The ISVS was completed by occupational, physical, and recreational therapists, and speech-language pathologists in Michigan, …United States of America to examine beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration. Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks test was used to analyze and compare responses across disciplines. Principle component analysis identified factors from the ISVS related to attitudes and behaviors. RESULTS: While no differences were found between therapy discipline and beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes, there was a significant finding related to the validity and reliability of the ISVS for use with health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the ISVS is valid and reliable to use with health professionals but may yield different factors than with health students. Show more

Keywords: Collaboration, teamwork, interdisciplinary, interprofessional education, healthcare

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152224

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 621-630, 2016

Authors: Wang, Mei-Ling | Hsieh, Yi-Hua

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Workplace bullying has become an omnipresent problem in most organizations. Gender differences have recently received increasing attention in the workplace bullying domain. OBJECTIVE: Integrating social dominance theory with gender role theory, this study explores whether male minority and supervisor gender are related to the incidence of workplace bullying. METHODS: Data from 501 public servants employed in the tax administration institute of Taiwan was collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using hierarchical regression. RESULTS: Male minority reported more workplace bullying than did the female majority. Subordinates working with male supervisors had more exposure to …bullying than those working with female supervisors. However, male supervisors did not exacerbate the relationship between male minority and workplace bullying, while females exposure to workplace bullying was attenuated when working with male supervisors. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the important role of gender differences when predicting bullying at work and support the view that gender is not merely an individual antecedent of bullying, but rather acts as a social factor to influence the incidence of workplace bullying. Show more

Keywords: Keywords, Male minority, supervisor gender, social dominance theory, gender role theory, public sector

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152239

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 631-638, 2016

Authors: Irmak, Rafet | Baltaci, Gul | Ergun, Nevin

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is one of the most common condition specific outcome measures used in the management of spinal disorders. But there is insufficient study on healthy populations and long term test-retest reliability. This is important because healthy populations are often used for control groups in low back pain interventions, and knowing the reliability of the controls affects the interpretation of the findings of these studies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the long term test-retest reliability of ODI in office workers. METHODS: Participants who have no chronic low back …pain history were included in study. Subjects were assessed by the Turkish-ODI 2.0 (e-forms) on 1st, 2nd, 4th, 8th, 15th, 30th days to determine the stability of ODI scores over time. The study began with 58 (12 female, 46 male) participants. 36 (3 female, 33 male) participated for the full 30 days. STATISTICS: Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Friedman tests were used. Test-retest reliability was evaluated by using nonparametric statistics. All tests were done by using SPSS-11. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference among the median scores of each day. (χ = 6.482, p  >  0.05). CONCLUSION: The difference between median score of the days with 1st day was neither statistically nor clinically significant. ODI has long term test re-test reliability in healthy subjects over a 1 month time interval. Show more

Keywords: Healthy subjects, low back pain, outcome measure

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152234

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 639-642, 2016

Authors: Brunoro, C.M. | Bolis, I. | Sznelwar, L.I.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In a research project about work-related issues and corporate sustainability conducted in Brazil, the goal was to better understand how work-related issues were addressed in the corporate context. Particularly, there are some specific initiatives that serve as guides to organizational decisions, which make their performance indicators for the context of corporate sustainability. OBJECTIVE: 1) To explore the presence of work-related issues and their origins in corporate sustainability approach, analyzing a) corporate disclosures; b) sustainability guidelines that are identified as relevant in corporate disclosures; c) documents that are related to sustainable development and also identified as key-documents for …these guidelines and initiatives. 2) To present the activity-centered ergonomics and psychodynamics of work contributions to work-related issues in a corporate sustainability approach. METHODS: An exploratory study based on multiple sources of evidence that were performed from 2012 to 2013, including interviews with companies that engaged in corporate sustainability and document analysis using the content analysis approach. RESULTS: Work-related issues have been presented since the earliest sustainable development documents. It is feasible to construct an empirical framework for work-related issues and corporate sustainability approaches. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Although some authors argue that corporate sustainability has its roots based only on the environmental dimension, there is strong empirical evidence showing that social dimension aspects such as work-related issues have been present since the beginning. 2) Some indicators should be redesigned to more precisely translate the reality of some workplaces, particularly those indicators related to organizational design and mental health. Show more

Keywords: Sustainable development, corporate sustainability, activity-centered ergonomics, psychodynamics of work, labor practices, working conditions

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-162248

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 643-659, 2016

Authors: Sammito, Stefan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are becoming more and more relevant for armed forces in westernized countries, especially with respect to the impact on recruitment and soldiers’ performance. The German Armed Forces have been organizing a Military Obesity Intervention Program (OIP) in Warendorf, Germany, since 2001. In addition to the existing outpatient program, a course version was offered. This course version is of interest since it offers a potential alternative to outpatient programs. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the results obtained from the course version of the OIP and comparing these to other OIPs. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the …course version of the OIP, starting in 2001, based on an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: 334 participants showed significant improvement (p  <  0.05) in bodyweight (–3.4±6.6 kg), body mass index (–1.0±2.0 kg/m2 ), waist circumference (–3.8±6.4 cm), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (–5.6±18.0 / –3.3±12.8 mm Hg), physical capacity (+11.4±32.6 Watt), total cholesterol (–0.16±0.94 mmol/l), HDL (+0.04±0.23 mmol/l), LDL (–0.16±0.80 mmol/l), uric acid (–31.2±69.3μ mol/l) and hemoglobin A1c (–0.13±0.52%). The entire OIP course was completed by 180 participants (53.9%). 27.5% of all 334 participants had reduced their body weight by 5% or more during their participation in the OIP. CONCLUSIONS: In this specific OIP only a small number of obese patients reduced their bodyweight, even though the examined parameters improved significantly. Therefore, greater efforts need to be undertaken in order to prevent overweight and obesity in the military in addition to the implemented obesity intervention programs. Show more

Keywords: Military, physical capacity, overweight, body mass index

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152236

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 661-667, 2016

Authors: Andruškienė, Jurgita | Kuzmienė, Ala | Martinkėnas, Arvydas | Jurgutis, Arnoldas | Ejlertsson, Göran | Andersson, Ingemar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Research in the area of workplace health promotion from a salutogenic perspective is lacking in Eastern Europe. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between psychosocial work environment and health from a salutogenic perspective among Lithuanian hospital workers. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional design a questionnaire was distributed to staff in a large hospital in Lithuania. Out of 811 employees, 714 completed the survey: 151 physicians, 449 nurses and 114 other staff members (e.g., psychologists, technicians, therapists). A response rate of 88.0% was achieved. The Work Experience Measurement Scale (WEMS) and the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS) were …linguistically adapted and used for the first time in a Lithuanian context. Logistic and multiple linear regression models were used for the analyses. RESULTS: Supportive working conditions, positive internal work experiences and time experience contributed the most to good health, defined as a high SHIS index. Having an executive post was significantly related to good work experiences, i.e. a high WEMS score, while being at the age of 40–54 years was associated with a low WEMS score. Physicians had the highest score on supportive working conditions; while nurses had the lowest scores on autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: A salutogenic approach enables an organisation to identify how to improve working conditions for the employees by focusing on possibilities and resources. Individual activities for workplace health promotion among different work groups seem necessary. Show more

Keywords: Salutogenic, workplace health promotion, evaluation, Eastern Europe, organisation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152171

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 669-677, 2016

Authors: Dockrell, Sara | Blake, Catherine | Simms, Ciaran

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is no global agreement on a schoolbag weight limit and little assessment of its utility. The duration of carriage is another factor yet there is no previous systematic assessment of the utility of cut-off values for it in identifying schoolbag-related discomfort. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to establish if there was a threshold for musculoskeletal discomfort based on (i) percentage bodyweight (% BW) of the schoolbag; (ii) duration of carriage; or (iii) combined % BW and duration. METHODS: Using data from 462 primary school children, a novel experimental approach was used to explore the utility …of conventional schoolbag weight limit guidelines and duration of carriage. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to examine the predictive performance of schoolbag weight and duration of carriage. RESULTS: The mean schoolbag weight (4.8±1.43 kg) represented a mean 12.4±4.18% BW. Only 30.7% of the sample carried schoolbags that were≤10% BW. The majority (76%) carried schoolbags to school for≤10 minutes. No % BW, duration of carriage or mechanical burden criterion provided a threshold cut-off point for accurately predicting schoolbag-related discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Guidelines for safe schoolbag carriage that are based on mechanical factors alone could not be upheld. The association between duration of carriage and back discomfort warrants further investigation. Show more

Keywords: Schoolbag, weight limit, duration of carriage, guidelines

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-162260

Citation: Work, vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 679-688, 2016