Work - Volume 71, issue 1

Authors: Friedli, Thomas | Gantschnig, Brigitte E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A deeper understanding of how contextual factors affect the ability to participate in the life area of work and employment despite chronic musculoskeletal pain is needed as a basis for interprofessional rehabilitation programs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate which contextual factors influence rehabilitation program clients’ ability to participate in the life area of work and employment, and how they do this. METHODS: Nested case study using a realist evaluation framework of interprofessional interventions. Qualitative content analysis of problem-centered interviews to identify influential context-mechanism-outcome configurations. RESULTS: We identified several important context-mechanism-outcome configurations. In the pre-interventional phase, …socioeconomic and environmental factors affected two mechanisms, “exhaustion” and “discrimination”. In the intra-interventional phase, the social skills of health professionals and opportunities for discussion with peers affected the ability of program participants to engage with program content. In the post-intervention phase, volitional competences of the social system affected the sustainable application of program content in everyday life. CONCLUSION: The identified context-mechanism-outcome configurations shows that the ability to participate in the life area of work is interdependent with the ability to participate in other areas of life. In practice and research, assessment and treatment should be carried out based on this understanding. Show more

Keywords: Evaluation study, international classification of functioning, disability and health, quality of life, realist evaluation, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205173

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 119-132, 2022

Authors: Jennen, Jacqueline G.M. | Jansen, Nicole W.H. | van Amelsvoort, Ludo G.P.M. | Slangen, Jos J.M. | Kant, IJmert

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of older employees leave the labour market early, amongst others via unemployment or disability benefits, implying that health might affect possibilities to extend working life. OBJECTIVE: This study 1) examined associations between chronic conditions (subtypes) and self-perceived health (SPH), independently, and indicators of labour participation and retirement over six-year follow-up among older employees, and 2) explored the impact of differences between prevalent and incident presence of chronic condition(s) in this relation. METHODS: Older workers (aged > 45 years) included in the Maastricht Cohort Study were studied (n  = 1,763). The Health and …Work Performance Questionnaire assessed chronic conditions and one item from the Short Form health survey-36 assessed SPH. Cox regression analyses assessed associations between chronic conditions and SPH, independently, and retirement intentions, employment status, decreasing working hours, and changes in work over time. RESULTS: Employees with coexistent physical-mental chronic conditions showed higher risks to lose employment and to receive a disability benefit (HR 1.85, 95% CI 1.23–2.78; HR 8.63, 95% CI 2.47–30.11) over time compared to healthy employees. No statistically significant associations were found between SPH and indicators of labour participation and retirement over time. Having chronic condition(s) was cross-sectionally associated with lower SPH scores and larger proportion of part-timers –compared to healthy employees. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic condition(s) among older employees were substantially associated with indicators of labour participation and retirement over time. The role of SPH was mainly instantaneous. Findings provide valuable input for preventive measures aiming to prevent an early labour market exit of older employees. Show more

Keywords: Objective health, subjective health, observational, ageing workers, prospective

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210436

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 133-150, 2022

Authors: Omojunikanbi, Oluwagbejami Alfred | Akinpelu, Aderonke Omobonike | Ekechukwu, Echezona Nelson Dominic

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) account for a loss of GDP in most countries. The oil sector is the largest and most economically relevant industry in Nigeria, yet the impact of WMSD on workers in this industry is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence, pattern and predictors of WMSD among oil workers in Nigeria. METHODS: This exploratory study was conducted in oil producing companies in Nigeria. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to assess WMSD, while risk factors and demographic variables were obtained through an interview. Obtained data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression …at α=0.05 RESULTS: A total of 198 (138 male, 60 female) oil workers aged 40.3±10.1 years participated in this study. The prevalence of WMSD was 88.8%, and was most common around the low-back (51.5%), and neck (44.4%) regions. There was a significant association between WMSD and each of duration of service (X2  = 45.44, p  = 0.020), awkward neck postures at work (X2  = 12.46, p  = 0.006), inadequate training on injury prevention (X2  = 11.98, p  = 0.007), and continuing to work while feeling discomfort (X2  = 10.83, p  = 0.013). Post-hoc analysis revealed that being a male oil worker (OR = 1.17, p  = 0.037) and continuing to work while feeling discomfort or pain (OR = 2.23, p  = 0.048) were the significant predictors of WMSD. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately nine in every ten oil workers in Nigeria have a WMSD. Male gender and work persistence amidst discomfort or pain are the predictors of WMSD among oil workers in Nigeria. Ergonomics training and evaluation programme is recommended for workers in this industry. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, absenteeism, health seeking behaviour, occupational health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205005

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 151-163, 2022

Authors: Placencio-Hidalgo, Dario | Álvarez-Marín, Alejandro | Castillo-Vergara, Mauricio | Sukno, Renato

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Technology has evolved in surprising ways, and augmented reality (AR) has positioned itself as one of the technologies with outstanding value. Its importance in education is still being debated, but its incorporation in business training has been left out. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine variables that explain the intention to use this technology in construction training, focused on preventing injuries and disabilities. METHODS: This study was carried out using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) through the structural equation method. The variables: perceived ease of use , perceived usefulness , attitude toward using , and …behavioral intention to use were incorporated. An AR app was developed that addresses the teaching of safety elements on scaffolding, and we collected data from Chilean construction companies. RESULTS: The results show that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use explain the attitude towards using augmented reality, while perceived usefulness and attitude towards using explain behavioral intention to use . CONCLUSIONS: These findings enrich AR’s literature in the construction industry and have high business managers’ implications. It may allow them to implement this technology more likely to succeed in their virtual business training to prevent injury-related disability. Show more

Keywords: Business training, augmented reality, TAM, technology acceptance

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205049

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 165-175, 2022

Authors: Ahmad, Paras | Chaudhary, Farooq Ahmad | Asif, Jawaad A. | AlSagob, Eman I. | Alkahtany, Mazen F. | Almadi, Khalid H. | AlMubarak, Abdulrahman | Abduljabbar, Tariq | Vohra, Fahim

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: When anxiety is persistent among dental students, the consequence could be poor academic performance, ill health, lack of empathy, and exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety along with anxiety-provoking factors among clinical dental students. METHODS: This study included dental undergraduate and postgraduate clinical students from a public university. A modified version of the self-administered Moss and McManus questionnaire, which consisted of 50 items, was utilized to evaluate the levels of anxiety. The results were analyzed using SPSS® version 24. The significance level was set at p  < 0.05. …RESULTS: Within 180 participants, 140 (77.77%) were undergraduate students, while 40 (22.22%) were postgraduate dental students. Overall, the top clinical anxiety-provoking factor included failure to pass the final examination, whereas the least clinical anxiety-provoking element was communicating with the opposite gender. Significant differences existed among male and female participants in the seven anxiety-provoking factors among the participants namely dealing with elderly patients, fail to pass finals, arresting post-extraction bleeding, patients asking difficult questions, fear of accidental pulp exposure, dealing with a child or non-cooperative patient, and fear of taking an incorrect impression. Postgraduate students showed lower anxiety scores in various clinical tasks as compared to undergraduate students. CONCLUSIONS: Postgraduate dental students share largely the same perspectives with undergraduate dental students on the clinical anxiety-provoking situations with slight variations. Being the future healthcare providers, dental students must learn techniques to help them manage their dental anxiety and fear as well as deal with anxiety related to treating patients Show more

Keywords: Clinical anxiety, dental students, postgraduate, undergraduate

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205093

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 177-186, 2022

Authors: Silva, Jonhatan Magno Norte da | Dantas, David Anderson Cardoso | da Silva, Luiz Bueno | Melo, Igor Eduardo Santos de | Correia, Lucas Miguel Alencar de Morais

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Previous studies have observed that psychosocial factors are associated with an increase in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in European countries. However, the influence of psychosocial factors on the WMSD symptoms has not been studied in detail. Additionally, working conditions differ between developing and developed countries. OBJECTIVE: In this study, the influence of psychosocial factors on WMSD symptoms among men and women in the footwear industry in northeastern Brazil is investigated. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate workers’ perceptions of psychosocial factors and WMSD symptoms. The influence of psychosocial factors on WMSD symptom trends …was observed through ordinal logistic regression models. RESULTS: It was found that different psychosocial factors are related to WMSD symptom intensification. Factors such as “job insecurity” and “low social support,” which are not associated with the worsening of WMSD symptoms in developed countries, showed a noticeable influence in the sample analyzed. CONCLUSION: These findings may be associated with differences in working conditions and economic problems in developing countries, suggesting that some psychosocial factors have a different effect on workers’ perceptions in developing countries. Show more

Keywords: Painful regions, gender differences, developing country, logistic regression model

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205113

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 187-200, 2022

Authors: Ademiluyi, Adeolu | Aruin, Alexander S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sitting is a common and familiar position used daily as a platform for many motor activities in the workplace, at school, or at home. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how difference in the chair design and selected sitting manipulations contribute to reach distance in sitting. METHODS: Ten healthy subjects were required to reach forward as far as possible while sitting in an adjustable chair with 0°, 10° forward or 10° backward inclination of the seat, with and without footrest and leg support, with legs crossed, and when holding the edge of the seat with …the contralateral arm. RESULTS: In comparison to sitting with feet on the footrest, the maximal reaching distance decreased significantly when sitting on either forward or backward inclined seat (p  < 0.05) and it increased when the subjects held the edge of the seat while seated with footrest and the posterior leg support (p  < 0.05). There was no major effect of crossing the legs or the use of anterior leg support on the maximal reach distance. CONCLUSIONS: Modification of the chair design could increase or decrease reaching distance in sitting. The outcome of the study provides a background for future investigations of the effect of sitting positions on reaching distance in the workplace, at home, or at school. Show more

Keywords: Sitting, maximum reach, inclined seat, footrest, leg support, arm support, legs crossed

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205114

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 201-207, 2022

Authors: Mohammadi, Abbas | Nematpour, Leila | Dehaghi, Behzad Fouladi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mental fatigue is usually accompanied by a sense of weariness, reduced alertness, and reduced mental performance, which can lead to accidents, decrease of productivity in workplace and several other health hazards. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess mental fatigue of students while reading for a prolonged duration of time by application of electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS: Ten healthy students (27.57±3.4 years; 5 females and 5 males), participated in the study. The experimental design consisted of 5 blocks of 15-min length, in total 75 min for each participant. The experiment was done …without any reading activities at the first block. In the following, participants studied the texts and corrected the mistakes. In each block EEG (beta, alpha, and theta power), and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) were recorded. RESULTS: The mean of the self-assessment of sleepiness by KSS from the first to final 15 minutes were 2.3, 3.4, 4.3, 5.2, and 6.1, respectively. The average power in the theta band decreased from 1.23μV2/Hz at the first 15-min period to 1.02μV2/Hz at the last 15-min period. Also, mean power in the alpha band decreased from 0.85μV2/Hz at the first 15-min period to 0.59μV2/Hz at the last 15-min period. Conclusion: The study showed that the KSS and EEG activity indicate sleepiness which were highly correlated, with both changing along with performance. Show more

Keywords: Electroencephalography, karolinska sleepiness scale, mental fatigue

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205121

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 209-214, 2022

Authors: Rey-Merchán, María del Carmen | López-Arquillos, Antonio

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Occupational accidents among teachers are a cause of concern because of their consequences regarding several parts of the body, such as the neck, back, or extremities; however, the number of studies on this issue is limited. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible effects of different variables (gender, age, nationality, experience, sector, day of the week, traffic accidents) associated with occupational injuries suffered by teachers. METHODS: All teachers’ accidents recorded in Spain (136,702) from 2003 to 2018 were analyzed. Odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: For injured …female workers, being younger than 45, in her first month of experience, in a public school, without risk assessment, and in a traffic accident are the most important factors related to suffering a neck injury. In the case of injured male workers, to be older than 45, in a private school, and no traffic accidents are the factors detected influence suffering an injury in lower extremities. CONCLUSIONS: Institutions and schools should pay special attention to the highest-risk profiles. Results obtained can be a very useful tool for the design and implementation of specific occupational health and safety strategies adapted to the more vulnerable workers in each kind of injury. Show more

Keywords: Injury, neck, occupational accident, risk, teacher

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205125

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 215-222, 2022

Authors: Meirun, Tang | Bano, Sobia | Jafri, Syed Khurram Ali | Arshad, Muhammad Zulqarnain | Javaid, Muhammad Umair

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Contemporary migrant workers from rural areas demonstrate high turnover behaviors in China and pose substantial threats to China’s economic growth. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the causes of this short-term employment from the perspective of individual dispositions in terms of career adaptability. This study investigated organization embeddedness and organizational identification as underpinning mechanisms linking career adaptability to turnover intention. The hypotheses explanations were provided according to the Conservation of Resources theory. METHODS: Survey data were collected from 379 migrant workers from rural areas in the manufacturing sectors of China, and the structural equation modeling …technique was used to find the range of outcomes. RESULTS: The empirical results demonstrate that career adaptability does not meaningfully predict turnover intention but is positively and significantly related to organization embeddedness and organizational identification. Organization embeddedness and organizational identification both negatively and significantly predicted turnover intention and also played as a conciliator in the association between career adaptability and turnover intention. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest management and human resource specialists can directly influence the turnover intention of contemporary rural migrant workers via paying attention to these two critical factors, namely, organization embeddedness and organizational identification. Show more

Keywords: Turnover intention, career adaptability, organization embeddedness, organizational identification, contemporary rural migrant workers

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-205132

Citation: Work, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 223-234, 2022