Work - Volume 73, issue 3

Authors: Jacobs, Karen

Article Type: Editorial

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-223645

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 751-751, 2022

Authors: Rumrill Jr., Phillip D. | Lee, Beatrice | Minton, Deborah | Bishop, Malachy L. | Koch, Lynn C. | Pittman, Cassidy

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: People with diabetes mellitus constitute an emerging vocational rehabilitation (VR) consumer population. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to (a) describe the characteristics and needs of Americans with diabetes mellitus, (b) examine the often devastating effects that this highly prevalent disease of the endocrine system has on employment and career development, and (c) suggest strategies that rehabilitation professionals can use to improve VR services and outcomes. METHOD: Following an overview of the etiology, incidence, prevalence, and impact of this high incidence endocrinological disease, the authors present strategies to meet the service and support needs …of Americans with diabetes mellitus across the phases of the VR process. RESULTS: The importance of individualized case planning, employer consultation, workplace accommodations, interface with medical and mental health professionals, and adherence to self-care and symptom management regimens is emphasized throughout the article. CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus is an emerging disability that can affect people of any age, one that disproportionally affects people of color and people who live in poverty. Rehabilitation professionals must be prepared to meet the service needs of this growing clientele. Show more

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, employment, COVID-19, rehabilitation, workplace, VR

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-223648

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 753-759, 2022

Authors: Macedo, Liane Brito | Costa de Assis, Sanderson José | Pereira, Nayara Karina Ferreira | Cacho, Roberta de Oliveira | de Souza, Clécio Gabriel

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Social distancing was implemented worldwide due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This impacted physical activity levels and increased the time spent in sedentary behaviors which may contributed to the emergence of increased musculoskeletal complaints. OBJECTIVE: To assess the consequences of social distancing for the increase in perceived pain of students and professors from higher education institutions. METHODS: One thousand two hundred and fifty-four participants responded to an online survey containing sociodemographic information and questions related to daily habits, physical activity profile, and musculoskeletal pain before and during the pandemic. Levels of concentration, nervousness, productivity, and …visual fatigue were also assessed. The primary outcome was presence of perceived pain before and during the pandemic, dichotomized between those with and without increased pain during the pandemic. RESULTS: Perceived pain increased during the pandemic (p  < 0.001) and was associated with females (p  = 0.023; PR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.02–1.32), income up to one minimum wage (p  = 0.039; PR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.01–1.42), no physical activity practice (p  = 0.006; PR = 1.22; 95% CI = 1.06–1.40), long time in sedentary behavior (p  = 0.013; PR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.27–7.43), and electronic device usage for > 6 hours (p  = 0.041; PR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.02–2.06). Nervousness (p  = 0.001) and visual fatigue (p  = 0.001) increased, whereas concentration (p  = 0.001) and productivity (p  = 0.001) reduced during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced physical activity practice and increased time in sedentary behavior and electronic device usage during the pandemic were associated with increased musculoskeletal pain in students and professors from higher education institutions. Decreased concentration and productivity and increased nervousness and visual fatigue were also observed during the pandemic. Show more

Keywords: Coronavirus, pandemic, COVID-19, education, universities, musculoskeletal pain, cross-sectional survey

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211053

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 761-768, 2022

Authors: Kumaresan, A. | Sebastian, Nivya | Suganthirababu, Prathap | Srinivasan, Vignesh | Vishnuram, Surya | Kumar, Priyadharshini | Jayaraj, Vanitha | Alagesan, Jagatheesan | Prathap, Lavanya | Kandakurti, Praveenkumar

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive stress. Burnout weakens the energy of an individual which reduces productivity and leaves this individual helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Thus, an early diagnosis of this syndrome has to be done and ways to prevent the level of progression and complication of burnout syndrome has to be planned. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of self-supervised Jacobson’s relaxation technique along with Bhastrika Pranayama in reducing the level of burnout among the work-from-home IT professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Thirty participants with burnout …syndrome were randomly divided into two groups (15 participants in each group) using random allocation. The experimental group received Jacobson’s relaxation technique along with Bhastrika Pranayama, whereas the control group received diaphragmatic breathing exercises and chest expansion exercises. Pre-test and post-test values using Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to interpret the results. RESULTS: Data collected were analyzed statistically by the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. It shows that there is a significant reduction in the level of burnout in the experimental group when compared to the control group at a p -value of 0.001. CONCLUSION: From the results, it is concluded that Jacobson’s relaxation technique along with diaphragmatic breathing exercises showed significant improvement in the reduction of burnout levels. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, maslach burnout inventory scale, diaphragmatic breathing exercises, Jacobson’s relaxation technique

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220051

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 769-775, 2022

Authors: Lee, Hyejoo | Kim, Jiyun | Moon, Jihwan | Jung, Sangyeop | Jo, Younhwan | Kim, Byeongmin | Ryu, Eunseo | Bahn, Sangwoo

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In early 2020, the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic necessitated changes in social behavior to prevent its spread, including holding online classes, implementing social distancing, and allowing employees to telecommute. However, these changes have had a negative impact on people’s sleep patterns and mental health, particularly for college students. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the relationship between mental health and sleep quality according to the changes in lifestyle of college students in the periods before and after COVID-19. METHODS: The study subjects were 164 college students from Korea who had both face-to-face and non-face-to-face college experiences before …and after COVID-19. The experiment was conducted using a Google survey, and the participants were recruited from the college community. The general features and lifestyle habits for the individuals were assessed using the AUDIT-K, Delphi method, KGHQ (General Mental Health Scale), and PSQI-K (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index). RESULTS: The KGHQ and PSQI scores increased with the spread of COVID-19, which means that the mental health and sleep quality of college students deteriorated. 11 categories of variables were further investigated to evaluate changes in lifestyle, and the results indicate significant changes in the number of private meetings per week, monthly drinking, outdoor activity time, electronic device usage time, weekly food delivery, weekly late-night snacks, daily snacks, and daily coffee intake and no significant changes in exercise, smoking, and fast food intake. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 caused many changes in the lifestyle of college students, which adversely affected mental health and sleep. Show more

Keywords: Coronavirus, university students, mental health, sleep quality, lifestyle habits, Korea

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220112

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 777-786, 2022

Authors: Soeker, Mogammad Shaheed

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are known to experience higher stress levels compared to other industry workers due to challenges presented in their work environment. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has seen many countries’ healthcare systems struggle to meet the demands of healthcare seekers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the article is to explore healthcare professionals’ perceptions and experiences of the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on their personal and work performance. METHODS: Twelve individuals working in the health sector participated in this study. The researchers used a qualitative exploratory and descriptive research design. Semi-structured interviews were used to …collect data. RESULTS: Theme one “A feeling of ambivalence”, describes the positive and negative influence that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on HCWs. Theme two “Unfortunately, the support from the government is not as much as it’s said to be in the news”, describes the support required from government services during the pandemic. Theme three “Changes experienced by the individual related to his or her personal and work routine”, describes the changes experienced by healthcare professionals in their daily tasks during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The study found that the work environment contributed to experiences of burnout and anxiety due to staff shortages, lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and an increase in work pressure. More research needs to be conducted to inform policies and organizations on how to best support healthcare workers to prevent burnout and anxiety. Show more

Keywords: Open labor market, barriers and facilitators to the worker role, coping skills and strategies, workplace reintegration

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-211143

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 787-798, 2022

Authors: Soltanzadeh, Ahmad | Adeli, Seyyed Hasan | Sadeghi Yarandi, Mohsen | Mahdinia, Mohsen

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Given the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) risk, it is essential to develop a comprehensive risk assessment method to manage the risk of the infectious diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a risk assessment method for infectious diseases focusing on COVID-19. METHOD: This study was based on the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) and fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP) in three steps: (a) designing the preliminary risk assessment algorithm by reviewing the literature, (b) corroborating the designed structure based on the majority opinions of the expert panel and assigning scores to different factors according to the Delphi …method, and (c) determining the weight of components and their factors based on the FAHP. RESULTS: The COVID-19 risk index (CVRI) was found to be affected by four components and 19 factors. The four components consisted of the probability of getting sick (5 factors), disease severity (4 factors), health beliefs level (3 factors), and exposure rate (6 factors). The identified components and their relevant factors had different weights and effects on the CVIR. The weights of probability, severity, health beliefs level, and exposure rate components were 0.27, 0.20, 0.14, and 0.38, respectively. The CVRI was found to range from 0.54 to 0.82, defined in three levels. CONCLUSION: Given the significant effects of identified components, factors, and parameters on the incidence of COVID-19 on the one hand and using the FDM and FAHP on the other, the proposed method can be considered as an appropriate method for managing the risk of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Show more

Keywords: COVID-19, fuzzy analytical hierarchical process, fuzzy Delphi, infectious diseases, risk assessment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220084

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 799-808, 2022

Authors: Bayindir Cevik, Ayfer | Kasapoglu, Elcin Sabahat

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is important to determine nurses’ levels of knowledge, health-protective practices for work and social life, and mental health states at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to combat the pandemic and minimize further problems. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationships between knowledge levels, health-protective practices, and anxiety among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with the online participation of 605 nurses in Turkey. The researchers prepared a questionnaire form to evaluate the participants’ knowledge of COVID-19 and their awareness and health-protective behaviours in work and social life. The mental …health statuses of the participants were assessed with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaire. RESULTS: Most of the participants (87.8%) had high levels of knowledge of COVID-19, while 28.8% had severe levels of anxiety disorder. The use of alcohol-based hand disinfectants (88.2%) and the use of N95 or N99 masks (88.5%) were the least frequently practiced protective behaviours at work, while in social life, a healthy and balanced diet (61.6%), social distancing (72.8%), and paying attention to one’s sleep pattern (77.3%) were the least frequently practiced protective behaviours. Older age (41–50 years), higher education (master’s degree) and having a work experience of 10 years or more were determined to increase the knowledge levels of the participants about COVID-19 (p  < 0.001). Anxiety levels were higher in those with a history of mental illness (p  < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Determining the knowledge levels, health-protective practices, and anxiety levels of nurses who are struggling in the frontlines in the field of health during the pandemic period can make a great contribution to the management of different current epidemics and pandemics and future ones by showing the areas in which nurses need to be empowered. Show more

Keywords: Healthcare worker, nurses, pandemic, COVID-19 knowledge level, personal protective practices, COVID-19, work life

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-220194

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 809-818, 2022

Authors: La Torre, Giuseppe | Leggieri, Pasquale Fabio | Cocchiara, Rosario Andrea | Dorelli, Barbara | Mannocci, Alice | Sernia, Sabina | Guerra, Fabrizio

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Health care providers (HCPs) and health care students experience a huge amount of stress due to high workloads and pressure to perform and are likely to develop anxiety, depression and burnout. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to carry out an umbrella review of systematic and narrative reviews on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress and improving well-being in HCPs and health care students. METHODS: Systematic and narrative reviews that examined the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on HCPs and healthcare students’ perceived stress were identified through a systematic search of three electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus …and Web of Science. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in the analysis: eleven systematic and four narrative reviews. Studies’ quality varied from critically low to high. The different interventions showed positive results in reducing stress in both HCPs and students, with mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course having the major impact. CONCLUSIONS: MBSR techniques and other mindfulness based interventions resulted to be potentially effective in reducing stress. However, despite the vast amount of data collected by the studies and the promising results, several limitations affected the validity of the studies. Therefore, more research that considers the critical aspects of this field is required, in order to provide more reliable results. Show more

Keywords: Mindfulness, stress reduction, healthcare professionals, umbrella review

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210504

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 819-829, 2022

Authors: Do, Jihye | Yoo, Ingyu

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The emotional management of workers can not only increase the efficiency of work, but also contribute to the improvement of the productivity of a company. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review surveyed the literature to identify the relationship between postural expression and emotion during sedentary tasks. METHODS: We searched relevant literature published up to December 1, 2019 using seven electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, IEEE Xplore, and MEDLINE Complete). RESULTS: A total of 14 publications were included in this scoping review. It was found that the application of pressure sensor and …camera-based measurement equipment was effective. Additionally, it was proposed to predict the emotional state of the worker by using forward and backward movements as the main variable as opposed to left and right movements. The information-based analysis technique was able to further increase the accuracy of workers’ emotion prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The emotion prediction of workers based on sitting posture could be confirmed for certain movements, and the information-based technical method could further increase the accuracy of prediction. Expansion of information-based technical research will further increase the possibility of predicting the emotions of workers based on posture, and this will in turn promote safer and more efficient work performance. Show more

Keywords: Affective state, body position, working environment, scoping review

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210496

Citation: Work, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 831-841, 2022