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ISSN 1051-9815 (P)
ISSN 1875-9270 (E)
Impact Factor 2024: 1.7
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation is an interdisciplinary, international journal which publishes high quality peer-reviewed manuscripts covering the entire scope of the occupation of work. The journal's subtitle has been deliberately laid out: The first goal is the prevention of illness, injury, and disability. When this goal is not achievable, the attention focuses on assessment to design client-centered intervention, rehabilitation, treatment, or controls that use scientific evidence to support best practice.
WORK occasionally publishes thematic issues, but in general, issues cover a wide range of topics such as ergonomic considerations with children, youth and students, the challenges facing an aging workforce, workplace violence, injury management, performing artists, ergonomic product evaluations, and the awareness of the political, cultural, and environmental determinants of health related to work.
Dr. Karen Jacobs, the founding editor, and her editorial board especially encourage the publication of research studies, clinical practice, case study reports, as well as personal narratives and critical reflections of lived work experiences (autoethnographic/autobiographic scholarship),
Sounding Board commentaries and
Speaking of Research articles which provide the foundation for better understanding research to facilitate knowledge dissemination.
Narrative Reflections on Occupational Transitions, a new column, is for persons who have successfully transitioned into, between, or out of occupations to tell their stories in a narrative form. With an internationally renowned editorial board,
WORK maintains high standards in the evaluation and publication of manuscripts. All manuscripts are reviewed expeditiously and published in a timely manner.
WORK prides itself on being an author-friendly journal.
WORK celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015.
*WORK is affiliated with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)* *WORK is endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)* *WORK gives out the yearly Cheryl Bennett Best Paper Award*
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Diminished cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) performance indicates the physiological basis for reduced capacity for activities of daily living and work. Thus, it may be a biomarker for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). OBJECTIVE: To determine statistical properties of cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic measurements obtained during CPET in people with ME/CFS. METHODS: Fifty-one females with ME/CFS and 10 sedentary females with similar age and body mass received cardiac, pulmonary, and metabolic measurements during 2 CPETs separated by 24 hours. Two-way analysis of variance and effect size calculations (Cohen’s d ) were used to assess the magnitude…and statistical significance of differences in measurements between groups. Reliability of CPET measurements was estimated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,1 ). Responsiveness of CPET measurements was assessed using minimum detectable change outside the 95% confidence interval (MDC95 ) and coefficients of variation (CoV). RESULTS: CPET measurements demonstrated moderate to high reliability for individuals with ME/CFS. Comparing subjects with ME/CFS and control subjects yielded moderate to large effect sizes on all CPET measurements. MDC95 for all individuals with ME/CFS generally exceeded control subjects and CoVs for CPET measurements were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: CPET measurements demonstrate adequate responsiveness and reproducibility for research and clinical applications.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Clinical observations have indicated that hours of upright activity (HUA) reported by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients correlated with orthostatic symptoms and impaired physical function. This study examined the relationship between HUA and orthostatic intolerance (OI). METHODS: Twenty-five female ME/CFS subjects and 25 age and race matched female healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Subjects reported HUA (defined as hours per day spent with feet on the floor) and completed questionnaires to assess the impact of OI on daily activities and symptoms. ME/CFS patients were categorized into those with <5 HUA and ≥5 HUA and analyzed by…employment status. Data analysis used one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: ME/CFS patients had fewer HUA, worse symptoms and greater interference with daily activities due to OI than HCs. The <5 HUA ME/CFS subjects had more severe OI related symptoms than ≥5 HUA ME/CFS subjects even though OI interfered with daily activities similarly. Only 33% of ME/CFS subjects were employed and all were ≥5 HUA ME/CFS subjects with an average HUA of 8. CONCLUSIONS: ME/CFS subjects experienced more frequent and severe OI symptoms, higher interference with daily activities, and reduced ability to work than HCs. Reported HUA and assessment of OI using standardized instruments may be useful clinical tools for physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and management of ME/CFS patients.
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Keywords: ME/CFS, hours of upright activity, orthostatic intolerance, impaired physical function
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is an exacerbation of symptoms that leads to a reduction in functionality. Recognition of PEM is important for the diagnosis and treatment of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). OBJECTIVE: Symptoms following cardiopulmonary exercise testing were compared between ME/CFS patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Open-ended questionnaires were provided to subjects following two maximal exercise tests, 24 hours apart. Subjects evaluated how they felt at five time points. Responses were classified into 19 symptom categories. RESULTS: ME/CFS subjects (n = 49) reported an average of 14±7 symptoms compared to 4±3 by controls (n… = 10). During the seven days afterwards, ME/CFS subjects reported 4±3 symptoms. None were reported by controls. Fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep problems were reported with the greatest frequency. ME/CFS patients reported more symptom categories at higher frequencies than controls. The largest differences were observed in cognitive dysfunction, decrease in function, and positive feelings. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized exertional stimulus produced prolonged, diverse symptoms in ME/CFS subjects. This provides clues to the underlying pathophysiology of ME/CFS, leading to improved diagnosis and treatment.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating, chronic, multisystem disease that affects an estimated 1 to 2.5 million Americans. It has no widely accepted biomarkers and no FDA-approved treatment. ME/CFS has traditionally been one of the lowest funded diseases by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). OBJECTIVES: We provide here an update to our 2016 article, which estimated the disease burden of ME/CFS in the United States in 2013 and its relation to NIH’s 2015 analysis of research funding and disease burden. This update incorporates more recent burden data from 2015 and funding data…from 2017. METHODS: We perform a regression analysis on funding versus disease burden to determine 2017 funding levels that would be commensurate with burden. Burden figures for 2017 are estimated using population-based extrapolations of earlier data. RESULTS: We find the disease burden of ME/CFS is double that of HIV/AIDS and over half that of breast cancer. We also find that ME/CFS is more underfunded with respect to burden than any disease in NIH’s analysis of funding and disease burden, with ME/CFS receiving roughly 7% of that commensurate with disease burden. CONCLUSIONS: To be commensurate with disease burden, NIH funding would need to increase roughly 14-fold.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Cochrane recently amended its exercise review for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in response to an official complaint. OBJECTIVE: To determine if the amended review has addressed the concerns raised about the previous review and if exercise is an effective treatment that restores the ability to work in ME/CFS. METHOD: The authors reviewed the amended Cochrane exercise review and the eight trials in it by paying particular interest to the objective outcomes. We also summarised the recently published review of work rehabilitation and medical retirement for ME/CFS. RESULTS: The Cochrane review concluded that…graded exercise therapy (GET) improves fatigue at the end of treatment compared to no-treatment. However, the review did not consider the unreliability of subjective outcomes in non-blinded trials, the objective outcomes which showed that GET is not effective, or the serious flaws of the studies included in the review. These flaws included badly matched control groups, relying on an unreliable fatigue instrument as primary outcome, outcome switching, p-hacking, ignoring evidence of harms, etc. The review did also not take into account that GET does not restore the ability to work. CONCLUSION: GET not only fails to objectively improve function significantly or to restore the ability to work, but it is also detrimental to the health of≥50% of patients, according to a multitude of patient surveys. Consequently, it should not be recommended.
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Keywords: Bias, occupational health, patient safety, return to work, work
rehabilitation
Abstract: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a complex, chronic, disabling, multi-system disease with no FDA-approved treatments. ME greatly impacts quality of life (QoL) with studies showing that people with ME often have worse quality of life than people with sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, among other chronic diseases. People with ME frequently have comorbidities, which, if treated, could improve quality of life. However, the pervasive impact of ME makes treatment of comorbidities difficult. When trying to treat comorbidities it is therefore important for rehabilitation specialists to understand the impact of ME on day-to-day life in order to avoid treatment-related harms or…exacerbation of ME symptoms. This article details the lived experience of one family in which both siblings have ME and comorbidities.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Today, 24% of college and university students are affected by a chronic health condition or disability. Existing support programs, including disability services, within colleges and universities are often unaccustomed to addressing the fluctuating and unpredictable changes in health and functioning faced by students with severe chronic illnesses. This situation is especially difficult for students with lesser-known, invisible diseases like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), a complex disease affecting up to 2.5 million Americans which often begins in late adolescence or young adulthood. OBJECTIVE: Educate occupational therapists (OTs) about ME/CFS and steps they can take to assist students.…METHODS: This work is based on a review of the scientific literature and our collective professional/ personal experiences. RESULTS: ME/CFS’ effects on multiple organ systems combined with the unusual symptom of post-exertional malaise frequently and substantially decrease function. Currently, no effective disease-modifying treatments have been established. Nevertheless, OTs can help student maximize their participation in university life by identifying potential obstacles, formulating practical solutions and negotiating with their institutions to implement reasonable, environmental accommodations. CONCLUSIONS: Through understanding this disease, being aware of possible support options, and recommending them as appropriate, OTs are in unique position to greatly improve these students’ lives.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: The search for a biomarker specific for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) has been long, arduous and, to date, unsuccessful. Researchers need to consider their expenditures on each new candidate biomarker. In a previous study of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer lymphocytes, we found lower ADCC for ME/CFS patients vs. unrelated donors but ruled against low ADCC as a biomarker because of similar ADCC for patients vs. their family members without ME/CFS. OBJECTIVE: We applied inclusion of family members without ME/CFS, from families with multiple CFS patients, as a second non-ME/CFS control group…in order to re-examine inflammation in ME/CFS. METHOD: Total and CD16A-positive ‘non-classical’ anti-inflammatory monocytes were monitored. RESULTS: Non-classical monocytes were elevated for patients vs. unrelated healthy donors but these differences were insignificant between patients vs. unaffected family members. CONCLUSIONS: Inclusion of family members ruled against biomarker considerations for the monocytes characterized. These pilot findings for the non-classical monocytes are novel in the field of ME/CFS. We recommend that occupational therapists advocate and explain to family members without ME/CFS the need for the family members’ participation as a second set of controls in pilot studies to rapidly eliminate false biomarkers, optimize patient participation, and save researchers’ labor.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: According to the 2015 National Academy of Medicine report, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) “is a serious, chronic, complex, and systemic disease that frequently and dramatically limits the activities of affected patients.” ME/CFS affects between 1 and 2.5 million Americans, leaving as many as 75% unable to work due to physical, cognitive and functional impairment. Unfortunately, many doctors and lawyers lack the knowledge of how to properly document an ME/CFS disability claim, leaving patients unable to access disability benefits. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article is to summarize the approaches used by experienced clinicians and lawyers in…successful ME/CFS disability claims. METHODS: The authors reviewed the types of US disability insurance programs and the evidence commonly required by these programs to demonstrate ME/CFS disability. RESULTS: This article summarizes the range of methods used in successful US disability claims, which include documentation of the functional impact of post-exertional malaise and the use of methods that provide objective evidence of impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Medical providers and lawyers can use these tested methods to obtain disability benefits for people with ME/CFS. Physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists play an important role in providing objective evidence for ME/CFS disability claims.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) causes significant impairment in daily activities, including the ability to pursue daily activities. Chronotropic intolerance is becoming better characterized in ME/CFS and may be the target of supportive treatment. OBJECTIVE: To document the effect of repeated intravenous (IV) saline administration on cardiovascular functioning and symptoms in a 38-year old female with ME/CFS. METHODS: The patient received 1 L of 0.9% IV saline through a central line for a total of 675 days. Single CPETs were completed periodically to assess the effect of treatment on cardiopulmonary function at peak exertion and ventilatory…anaerobic threshold (VAT). An open-ended symptom questionnaire was used to assess subjective responses to CPET and self-reported recovery time. RESULTS: Improvements were noted in volume of oxygen consumed (VO2 ), heart rate (HR), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at peak and VAT. Self-reported recovery time from CPET reduced from 5 days to 1–2 days by the end of treatment. The patient reported improved quality of life related, improved capacity for activities of daily living, and reduced symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: IV saline may promote beneficial effects for cardiopulmonary function and symptoms in people with ME/CFS, which should be the focus of formal study.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a growing trend around the globe for having more people working from home, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Although it is widely implemented in a number of countries and types of companies, it has shown to have multiple challenges. METHODS: In this article, we provide several recommendations on how to work from home, incorporating information from several publications. RESULTS: The suggestions are: create routines, be organized, have an adequate home office, enhance your productivity, be responsible, avoid extreme multitasking, facilitate communication and networking, be balanced, use available computer programs and platforms, be…creative with remote teaching, explore options for remote research and learn from the challenges. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations would help students, professors and researchers around the globe during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond.
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Keywords: Remote teaching, innovation, work environments, global health, education, COVID-19, pandemic
Abstract: Staying at home for the prevention of COVID-19 is an accepted fact. Office workers are a group of people, who had to wake up early in the morning and at least had a fixed pattern of sleeping and working. In this situation, complaints about the neck, shoulder and lower back tend to increase and this is a good time to learn and do some practical exercises at home. This letter presents some of the home-based exercise notes for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among office workers, following the guidelines prepared by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Living and working with chronic pain requires persons to alter lifestyles and have the knowledge as well as support to manage unforeseen challenges. Knowledge for persons living with pain who want to participate in meaningful paid and unpaid work is not easily accessible. While there is literature on chronic pain management, work transitions and return to work, less emphasis has been placed on the complexity of living and working with chronic pain. The Creating a Way Forward Project was envisioned to address this gap and to identify the informational needs of workers with pain, health/helping professionals (workers’ advisors, return…to work specialists, legal representatives), and stakeholders. The overarching aim of the project was to use evidence and experiential knowledge to inform the development of a foundation for educational guides and toolkits to support workers with pain to achieve their outcomes for remaining at work. METHODS: Phase one of the project involved a scoping review of chronic pain and work. Phase two involved stakeholder consultations, a focus group and knowledge integration of the literature and experiential insights. Knowledge synthesis drew on a Template Analysis of multiple sources of data. RESULTS: Knowledge domains and key components were identified for persons with pain and for the health/helping professions. CONCLUSION: These domains reflect a foundation for knowledge in practical training and the development of curriculum for education in self-management program and in inter professional health profession education. These knowledge domains provide a basis for future research in integrated approaches and knowledge use toward improving transitions for persons living with chronic pain who want to participate in productive paid and unpaid work. Ongoing research in knowledge domains that health providers and persons with pain need will expand the potential for improving health outcomes in living with and managing pain.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Professional drivers are part of the active working population, so there is a need for continuous improvement of operating efficiency and safety in driving. Reaction time is a very important driver’s trait. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of age and driving experience on reaction times of professional drivers. METHODS: This study assesses part of driving efficiency of professional drivers by measuring simple reaction time and complex reaction time which are important to driving safety. Reaction times of 278 male professional drivers were tested using a hardware-software system for determining…the speed of response to psychomotor simple and complex audio-visual stimuli. RESULTS: Our results showed a positive correlation between ageing and slowing of reaction times. This suggests that the natural ageing process clearly slows down reaction times. CONCLUSIONS: The response times of professional drivers are more dependent on age than on driving experience.
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Keywords: Driving experience, simple reaction time, complex reaction time, age, workplace
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Economic instability produced by financial crises can increase employment-related (i.e., job insecurity) and income-related (i.e., financial stress) economic stress. While the detrimental impact of job insecurity on safety outcomes has been extensively investigated, no study has examined the concurrent role of financial stress let alone their emotion-related predictors. OBJECTIVE: The present cross-country research sought to identify the simultaneous effects of affective job insecurity and financial stress in predicting employee safety injuries and accidents under-reporting, and to examine the extent to which emotional contagion of positive/negative emotions at work contribute to the level of experienced economic stress.…METHODS: We performed multi-group measurement and structural invariance analyses. RESULTS: Data from employees in the US (N = 498) and Italy (N = 366) suggest that financial stress is the primary mediator between emotional contagion and poor safety outcomes. Moreover, greater anger-contagion predicted higher levels of financial strain and job insecurity whereas greater joy-contagion predicted reduced economic stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the relevance of considering the concurrent role of income-and employment-related stressors as predictors of safety-related outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications for safety are discussed in light of the globally increasing emotional pressure and concerns of income- and employment-related economic stress in today’s workplace, particularly given the recent pandemic spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of wearing hard hats on the lower cervical and upper thoracic region using surface electromyography (sEMG) and possible link to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD). METHODS: Twenty study subjects wore sEMG sensors placed on the upper trapezius muscle on their dominant side to assess muscle activity while wearing different hard hats. Study subjects were asked to don six different hard hats and assume varied neck postures. A repeated-measures design was used to analyze the results for difference and similarities in muscle activity. RESULTS: There was a small, significant effect of wearing a…hard hat on muscle loading in the upper trapezius (p = 0.038). Post-hoc analyses revealed the only statistically significant difference was between wearing no hard hat at all and wearing head protection (without accessories) in the flexed posture (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that there was little difference in lower cervical and upper thoracic muscle activity while donning hard hat and assuming various neck postures. Wearing a sample of commonly used hard hats in this study does not appear to substantially increase muscle activity that would cause fatigue in the lower cervical and upper thoracic region among young, healthy volunteer subjects.
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Keywords: Head protection, musculoskeletal disorders, WRMSD, surface electromyography, neck load
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Most ambulance collisions happen in emergency driving conditions and are caused by human factors. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the influence of human factors associated with time pressure, patient-care intervention, and health status on the physiological responses of simulated emergency driving tasks. METHODS: A cohort of seventeen experienced paramedics performed a battery of three simulated diving tasks. The driving tasks were a non-urgent and two urgent driving simulations (one to the scene and one to the hospital). The second urgent driving task was preceded by a patient-care simulation (unstable cardiac patient with cardiopulmonary resuscitation).…RESULTS: The physiological responses between the three driving tasks were not significantly different due to time pressure and patient-care intervention. It is postulated that the physiological response of experienced paramedics was influenced by the fact that they are accustomed to handling stressful situations daily. Furthermore, it was observed that paramedics with health conditions were more physiologically aroused during the urgent driving scenarios (pre and post-intervention), suggesting they might have an elevated risk of collision when they drive with urgency. Paramedics with health conditions also had higher physiological responses for the post-intervention baseline, leading to a longer recovery time period, which might represent an elevated risk of developing chronic health problems or amplifying existing ones. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this research suggest that experienced paramedics manage the influence of time pressure and the impact of challenging patient-care well. Paramedics with health conditions represent an elevated risk of collision.
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Keywords: Emergency drivers, paramedics, health status, urgent driving, ambulance simulator, work physiology
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Literature reports that paramedics represent an at-risk occupation for the development of health problems. At least half of the paramedic population presents at least one risk factor associated with a negative health condition. These reports may suffer a “mono-method bias” where most reported outcomes are based on a single screening tool approach (may attenuate or inflate the prevalence). OBJECTIVE: The current study characterizes the health status of a cohort of twenty-five experienced New Brunswick (Canadian province) paramedics. METHODS: To understand possible limitations of past research, health status was characterized using four different methods: two methods…using only one health measure and two were combined methods, integrating outcomes from at least two health measures to determine the prevalence of a given health status. RESULTS: Mono-bias was observed when using the single health measure methods. The difference among the four methods highlighted that a third of the cohort seemed unaware of their health condition. This result shed additional light on paramedics’ health, where a high proportion of paramedics worked without knowledge of their health conditions. Based on a two health measures combined method, it was observed that only two-fifths of the current sample had no health conditions or could otherwise be considered as a “healthy”. CONCLUSIONS: Because the literature has focused on single screening methods, our results were difficult to compare. However, there was a consensus that paramedics represent an at-risk occupation comprised of health problems. This study was exploratory and should be the basis for further research.
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Keywords: Mono-method bias, musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), cardiovascular diseases
(CVD), post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), paramedic health status
