著者

Wanhyung Lee Kwanyoung Hong Sung-Shil Lim Jin-Ha Yoon

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.58, no.6, pp.582-592, 2016-11-20 (Released:2016-11-29)

参考文献数

47

被引用文献数

6

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Objectives: Many aging workers wish to continue working as long as they can for a better life in the future. However, symptoms of pain are a key obstacle in the continuation of work among older workers. The impact of pain on work is understudied. Thus, we investigated the relationship between pain characteristics (total site and severity) and aging workers' working life expectancy scale (WoLES) in Korea. Methods: We included 1,979 participants (1,175 men and 804 women) from a well-established survey of a nationally representative population: the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing. A self-questionnaire was used to assess pain characteristics and WoLES. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the lower-WoLES group were calculated using multiple logistic regression models. Results: Compared with the absence of pain, ORs and 95% CIs of the lower-WoLES group were increased, as follows: 1 pain site, 1.75 (1.20-2.55); 2 pain sites, 1.99 (1.32-3.03); 3 or more pain sites, 2.28 (1.51-3.42); mild pain, 1.74 (1.32-2.61); moderate pain, 2.02 (1.28-3.22); and severe pain, 2.12 (1.46-3.08). The statistical trend was significant in both total sites and severity of pain (p<0.001). Conclusions: There was a significant association between WoLES and both total pain sites and severity of pain, even after adjusting for potential confounding factors.

著者

Yumiko Maekawa Juan Ramos-Cejudo Atsuko Kanai

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.16-0052-OA, (Released:2016-10-07)

被引用文献数

6

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Objectives: Although using mental health services is an effective way to cope with work-related stressors and diseases, many employees do not utilize these services despite their improvements in recent years. The present study aimed to investigate the interaction effects of workplace climate and distress on help-seeking attitudes, and elucidate the reasons for mental health service underutilization in Japan.Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 650 full-time male Japanese employees. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to investigate interaction effects of workplace climate and distress on help-seeking.Results: Results showed that the association between workplace climate and help-seeking attitudes differed depending on employee distress level. For employees experiencing low levels of distress, openness to seeking treatment increased with a higher evaluation of the mental health services available at the workplace. However, the same did not hold true for employees experiencing high levels of distress. Instead, openness to seeking treatment decreased with perceived risk for career disadvantage for high distress employees. Additionally, negative values for seeking treatment in highly distressed employees decreased only when services were perceived as valuable, and the risk to their career was perceived as low.Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that distress distorts the perception of social support, which may lead to underutilization of available services. Assessing employees' distress levels and tailoring adequate interventions could facilitate help-seeking in male employees.

著者

Toyoaki Sawano Masaharu Tsubokura Claire Leppold Akihiko Ozaki Sho Fujioka Tsuyoshi Nemoto Shigeaki Kato Tomoyoshi Oikawa Yukio Kanazawa

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.15-0292-CS, (Released:2016-04-22)

被引用文献数

12

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Objectives: Patients with underlying conditions are at a higher risk of developing sepsis, a systematic response to infection, which has a high mortality rate. After the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, there has been an influx of migrant decontamination workers; however, little is known about their health status. Case: A Japanese 55-year-old male decontamination worker, who had several underlying diseases, was transferred to our hospital in cardiopulmonary arrest. He had a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and a past history of tuberculosis. Control of underlying conditions was poor, with HbA1c of 13.8% at presentation. He was diagnosed with pneumonia-induced bacteremia and sepsis due to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Although spontaneous circulation returned in emergency room, he died a day after admission. Conclusion: The poor control of underlying diseases seen in this patient could have been influenced by his recent job transfer and engagement in decontamination work and additionally related to his socioeconomic status (SES). This case highlights the need for further research to elucidate the underlying diseases, working conditions, and SES of this population.

著者

Jean-Bernard Henrotin Cyndie Picot Myriam Bouslama Dorothée Collot-Fertey Anca Radauceanu Marie-thérèse Labro Béatrice Larroque Alain-Claude Roudot Nessryne Sater Mostafa Ould Elhkim Dominique Lafon

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.57, no.6, pp.485-496, 2015 (Released:2015-12-25)

参考文献数

49

被引用文献数

11

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and to use a meta-analytical approach to assess quantitatively the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in hairdressers and cosmetologists. Methods: A systematic literature search up to 1 February 2012 was carried out using major bibliographic databases, grey literature, contacts with research teams working on the subject, review papers and reference lists of selected articles. Observational studies reporting measures of effects in relation with body care (hairdressers, cosmetologists, etc.) and reproductive disorders were included. Study quality was assessed by three reviewers. The estimated risk ratios (RR) from all studies reporting on identical outcomes were combined using an average of logarithm transformation of estimated RR weighted by their inverted variance. Statistical heterogeneity across studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test. To explore the sources of heterogeneity, several sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted based on study quality, country, study period, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, jobs and control populations. Results: Nineteen studies were selected and reviewed in-depth. The combined risk ratios (RRcs) of five reproductive outcomes were calculated and found to be significantly increased for four outcomes: time to pregnancy, which had an RRc of 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03–1.19); premature birth, which had an RRc of 1.05 (95% CI: 0.99–1.11); small for gestational age, which had an RRc of 1.24 (95 CI%: 1.10–1.41); low birth weight, which had an RRc of 1.21 (95% CI: 1.06–1.39); and embryonic and fetal losses, which had an RRc of 1.19 (95% CI: 1.03–1.38). Conclusions: This work confirms a weak increase in risk of some reproductive disorders in female hairdressers/cosmetologists. However, the evidence level is rather weak, and a causal association between job and reproductive outcomes cannot be asserted.(J Occup Health 2015; 57: 485–496)

著者

Norito Kawakami Akizumi Tsutsumi

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.15-0001-ER, (Released:2015-11-26)

被引用文献数

5 98

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Objectives: The Japanese government launched a new occupational health policy called the Stress Check Program. This program mandates that all workplaces with 50 or more employees conduct the Stress Check Program for workers at least once a year. This article gives a brief overview and critical review of the program. Methods: We reviewed relevant laws, guidelines, and manuals, as well as the policy development process. The policy and the components of the program were compared using available scientific evidence and trends in the management of psychosocial factors at work according to the policies and guidelines of international bodies and European countries. Results: The process of program policy development was based on a discussion among employer and employee representatives, occupational health professionals, and mental health experts. Scientific evidence shows that mandated components of the program (i.e., feedback of stress survey results and physician’s interview) may be ineffective. However, additional components recommended to employers, such as stress management skill provision and work environment improvement, in conjunction with the program may be effective in improving psychosocial stress at work. The Stress Check Program is unique compared with the global trend for psychosocial risk management because it focuses on the assessment of stress among individual workers. Conclusion: The new program may be effective in improving worker mental health by facilitating the psychosocial risk management approach in Japan. Concerns regarding the program include mass leakage of collected information, and possible disadvantages for workers labeled as having high stress.

著者

R. Iván Martínez-Lemos

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.14-0217-RA, (Released:2015-04-10)

被引用文献数

7

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Objectives: The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence on the economic impact of corporate wellness programs (CWPs) in Europe from the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published up to 2013. Methods: A review was undertaken by searching for RCTs with key words in the following databases: PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Business Source Premier. Only RCTs that evaluated the economic impact of CWPs, and included analyses performed in Europe with results converted into monetary values, were eligible for inclusion. An approach to economic analyses from both an employer’s perspective and a societal perspective was also undertaken. Results: Eleven RCTs were identified, and review of these studies determined that the economic impact of the majority of CWPs analyzed was mostly negative. We discuss a possible explanation for these discrepancies with regard to prior reviews in this area. Despite the fact that the RCT is the “gold standard” for investigating without bias, several limitations to the methodology may have influenced the results of the studies in this review and suggested the use of caution in the interpretation of the results. Conclusions: The findings of this review could be a “wake up call” for companies regarding the high probability of bias from non-RCT studies, the majority of which report a positive economic impact of these programs, and the risk of taking inappropriate decisions based on the results of such studies.

著者

Syed Ghulam Sarwar Shah Alexandra Farrow

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.56, no.5, pp.323-331, 2014 (Released:2014-11-22)

参考文献数

41

被引用文献数

14

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Objectives: To review empirical research on adverse health and pregnancy outcomes associated with physiotherapists' occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) from shortwave (SWD) and microwave (MWD) diathermy devices. Methods: A systematic review of peer reviewed literature published from 1990 to 2010 in the English language searched in eight online bibliographic databases: CINAHL, EBSCOhost, ISI Web of Knowledge, Medline, OSH UPDATE, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. Results: Findings suggest that physiotherapists' occupational exposure to SWD was statistically significantly associated with delayed time to pregnancy (>6 months), still birth, altered gender ratio (low ratio of boys to girls), congenital malformations and low birth weight (<2,500 g) among physiotherapists' offspring. Physiotherapists' exposure to MWD was also found to be statistically significantly associated with spontaneous abortion. However, causal mechanisms for these statistical associations are unknown. The present systematic review has found these adverse reproductive outcomes and health effects associations with RF EMFs from therapeutic diathermy devices to be inconsistent. Conclusions: A number of studies did not find statistically significant results to replicate associations with such adverse outcomes, and therefore further research, preferably prospective studies of cohorts of physiotherapists, is warranted.(J Occup Health 2014; 56: 323-331)

著者

Arpalak Paksaichol Chaipat Lawsirirat Prawit Janwantanakul

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.14-0124-OA, (Released:2014-12-04)

被引用文献数

3 21

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Objective: The etiology of nonspecific neck pain is widely accepted to be multifactorial. Each risk factor has not only direct effects on neck pain but may also exert effects indirectly through other risk factors. This study aimed to test this hypothesized model in office workers. Methods: A one-year prospective cohort study of 559 healthy office workers was conducted. At baseline, a self-administered questionnaire and standardized physical examination were employed to gather biopsychosocial data. Follow-up data were collected every month for the incidence of neck pain. A regression model was built to analyze factors predicting the onset of neck pain. Path analysis was performed to examine direct and indirect associations between identified risk factors and neck pain. Results: The onset of neck pain was predicted by female gender, having a history of neck pain, monitor position not being level with the eyes, and frequently perceived muscular tension, of which perceived muscular tension was the strongest effector on the onset of neck pain. Gender, history of neck pain, and monitor height had indirect effects on neck pain that were mediated through perceived muscular tension. History of neck pain was the most influential effector on perceived muscular tension. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that each risk factors may contribute to the development of neck pain both directly and indirectly. The combination of risk factors necessary to cause neck pain is likely occupation specific. Perceived muscular tension is hypothesized to be an early sign of musculoskeletal symptoms.

著者

Ryoko Katagiri Keiko Asakura Satomi Kobayashi Hitomi Suga Satoshi Sasaki

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.14-0051-OA, (Released:2014-08-28)

被引用文献数

1 163

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Objectives: Although workers with poor sleep quality are reported to have problems with work performance, few studies have assessed the association between dietary factors and sleep quality using validated indexes. Here, we examined this association using information acquired from validated questionnaires. Methods: A total of 3,129 female workers aged 34 to 65 years were analyzed. Dietary intake was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ), and subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The relationship between the intake of several food groups and nutrients and sleep quality was examined using multivariable logistic regression models. The effect of eating habits on sleep quality was also examined. Results: Poor sleep quality was associated with low intake of vegetables (p for trend 0.002) and fish (p for trend 0.04) and high intake of confectionary (p for trend 0.004) and noodles (p for trend 0.03) after adjustment for potential confounding factors (age, body mass index, physical activity, depression score, employment status, alcohol intake and smoking status). Poor sleep quality was also significantly and positively associated with consumption of energy drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages, skipping breakfast, and eating irregularly. In addition, poor sleep quality was significantly associated with high carbohydrate intake (p for trend 0.03). Conclusion: A low intake of vegetables and fish, high intake of confectionary and noodles and unhealthy eating habits were independently associated with poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality was also associated with high carbohydrate intake in free-living Japanese middle-aged female workers.

著者

Fukuda Yoshiharu Nagano Megumi Futatsuka Makoto

出版者

公益社団法人日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of occupational health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.40, no.2, pp.118-122, 1998-04

参考文献数

20

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Occupational Leukoderma in Workers Engaged in 4-(p-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone Manufacturing: Yoshiharu FUKUDA, et al. Department of Public Health, Kumamoto University School of Medicine

著者

Hyeonkyeong Lee Hyunmi Ahn Arlene Miller Chang Gi Park Sun Jung Kim

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.54, no.3, pp.206-214, 2012 (Released:2012-07-06)

参考文献数

43

被引用文献数

6 30

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Objectives: The purposes of this study were to identify the relationships among acculturative stress, work-related psychosocial factors and depression in Korean-Chinese migrant workers living in Korea and to determine whether work-related psychosocial factors mediate the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Methods: A descriptive correlational cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample of 200 Korean-Chinese full-time migrant workers was recruited, and 170 completed questionnaires were included in the analysis. Acculturative stress was assessed by Sandh and Asrabadi’s Acculturative Stress Scale. Work-related psychosocial factors were assessed by job demand, insufficient job control and interpersonal conflict measures from the Korean Occupational Stress Scale. Depression was assessed by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Self-administered or face-to-face surveys were conducted by trained data collectors. Multiple regression and path analysis were used. Results: Roughly 30% of the sample met the criteria for depression. Female workers had significantly higher depression scores than male workers. Acculturative stress and work-related psychosocial factors significantly predicted 26.3% of the variance in depression. A path model revealed the mediating effect of job demand on the relationship between acculturative stress and depression. Conclusions: Our results indicate that work-related psychosocial factors are salient factors that lead to depression among Korean-Chinese migrant workers living in Korea. The results suggest that occupational health-care professionals should promote the prevention and management of depression in this population and highlight the importance of acculturation context in the development of interventions designed to reduce work-related stress.

著者

Phayong Thepaksorn Sathirakorn Pongpanich Wattasit Siriwong Robert S. Chapman Surasak Taneepanichskul

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.55, no.1, pp.21-28, 2013 (Released:2013-04-02)

参考文献数

20

被引用文献数

3 10

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Objective:This study examined the associations between respiratory symptoms and patterns of pulmonary dysfunction of 115 male roofing cement workers compared with 134 unexposed subjects. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Environmental samplings and spirometry measurements were also collected. Results: The exposed workers had higher respiratory dust exposure levels (0.65 mg/m3) compared with the unexposed groups (0.32 mg/m3). The exposed group had significantly higher prevalence than the unexposed group for shortness of breath (OR=2.19). The exposed group also had higher but insignificant prevalence of chronic cough (OR=1.34), chest tightness (OR=1.64), and wheezing (OR=1.89). The ventilatory respiratory function values (FEV1 and FVC) were slightly lower for the exposed group. Conclusion: An association between higher cement dust levels and a decline in ventilatory function among roofing fiber cement workers suggests that the respiratory health of roofing cement workers should be protected through policies or work standards.

著者

Akiomi Inoue Norito Kawakami Kanami Tsuno Kimiko Tomioka Mayuko Nakanishi

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.12-0131-OA, (Released:2013-01-18)

被引用文献数

7 21

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Objectives: Several European studies showed that low organizational justice (i.e., procedural justice and interactional justice) was associated with major depressive disorders. In these studies, however, the diagnosis of major depressive disorders may be underestimated because they identified only individuals who visited a doctor and received a diagnosis. Moreover, these studies did not consider neurotic personality traits, which can affect the occurrence of major depressive disorders. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cross-sectional association of organizational justice with major depressive episodes in the past 12 months more precisely in Japanese employees. Methods: A total of 425 males and 708 females from five branches of a manufacturing company in Japan completed self-administered questionnaires measuring organizational justice, other job stressors (i.e., job strain, social support at work, and effort-reward imbalance), neuroticism, and demographic characteristics. A web-based self-administered version of the computerized Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0 (CIDI 3.0) was used to assess major depressive episodes. Logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: In the univariate analysis, low procedural justice and low interactional justice were significantly associated with major depressive episodes in the past 12 months. After adjusting for other job stressors and demographic characteristics, these associations were significant for interactional justice but not for procedural justice. The moderating effect of neuroticism on the association of organizational justice with major depressive episodes in the past 12 months was not significant. Conclusions: Low interactional justice may be associated with major depressive disorders regardless of other job stressors and neurotic personality traits.

著者

Koji Mori Seiichiro Tateishi Koh Hiraoka Toshihiko Kubo Ryuji Okazaki Katsunori Suzuki Yuichi Kobayashi Kimitoshi Kohno

出版者

(公社)日本産業衛生学会

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.12-0134-CS, (Released:2012-11-27)

被引用文献数

7 26 3

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A nuclear accident occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) as a result of a mega-earthquake and tsunami in March, 2011. A large number of workers were engaged in response and recovery operations under a complex structure of involved companies. They were exposed not only to radiation but also to other health hazards. TEPCO implemented programs to prevent radiation exposure, but had no effective systems for managing the other health risks and few occupational health (OH) professionals contributed to the health risk management. The University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Japan, dispatched physicians to a quake-proof building at the plant t provide first-aid services from mid-May, 2011, and took a strategic approach to protecting workers’ from existing health risks. UOEH presented recommendations on OH systems and preventive measures against heat stress to the Government and TEPCO. The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare issued guidelines to TEPCO and contractors. TEPCO implemented a comprehensive program against heat stress according to the guidelines and in cooperation with UOEH. As a result, we successfully prevented severe heat illness during summer 2011. From our experiences, we believe that the following recommendations should be considered: 1) the role of OH and the participation of experts should be defined in emergency response plans; 2) regulations should allow the national government and main companies involved to lead safety and health initiatives for all workers at disaster sites; and 3) OH professionals, response manuals and drills should be organized at a national level.

著者

Shu-Ling Huang Hong-Shen Lee Ren-Hau Li Yu-Min Lai Amanda LC Chen Feng-Cheng Tang

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

pp.1204130248, (Released:2012-04-16)

被引用文献数

3

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Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of and differences in certain health complaints, including physical symptoms and psychological distress, among workers in different occupational categories and to explore the associations between occupational category and each complaint. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 1,628 workers representing seven occupational categories from ten companies in different industries submitted completed questionnaires. The self-administered questionnaire contained three parts: personal data, physical symptoms and psychological distress. Physical symptoms were measured using nine questions developed by a panel of ten general practitioners; the questions included nine common physical symptoms across main organ systems. Psychological distress was measured using the Chinese Health Questionnaire. Results: Muscle pain (44.7%) and dizziness (30.1%) were the most common symptoms reported by participants, and 16.6% of participants suffered from psychological distress. Significant differences in physical symptoms and psychological distress were found among workers in different occupational categories (χ2=53.59, pConclusions: The study merits attention in terms of prevention of health problems in the workplace by focusing on a set of physical symptoms and psychological distress (not merely morbidity). Occupational category should be taken into consideration when planning workplace health promotion. Our findings highlight the need for health promotion programs that specifically target office workers and managers.

著者

Takashi Shimizu Tetsuya Mizoue Shinya Kubota Norio Mishima Shoji Nagata

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.45, no.3, pp.185-190, 2003 (Released:2003-07-04)

参考文献数

32

被引用文献数

57

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We investigated the relationship between burnout and communication skill training among Japanese hospital nurses to improve the mental health of human service workers. The subjects were forty-five registered nurses referred to a self-expression skill intervention program by their section superiors, with each superior choosing from two to five nurses. The hospital was located in the Kyushu area and staffed by about four hundred nurses. The subjects were divided into an intervention group (19 nurses) and a reference group (26 nurses). The intervention group received the communication skill training in July and August, 2001. The communication skill training was carried out in accordance with the assertiveness training (AsT) precepts of Anne Dickson. In June, 2001, we delivered a set of questionnaires including age, gender, working years, a burnout scale, and a communication skill check-list as a baseline survey. The baseline questionnaires were returned at the end of June, 2001. In January, 2002, we delivered the same questionnaire again to the two groups and collected them at the end of the month. Excluding the only male and insufficient answers, twenty-six nurses (58%) returned complete answers in the initial and subsequent surveys. We found that the personal accomplishment and the two communication skills such as “accepting valid criticisms” and “negotiation” of the intervention group had improved significantly five months after the training as compared with that of the reference. Our results implied that communication skill training might have a favorable effect on burnout among Japanese hospital nurses.

著者

Koki Kimura Tomohisa Nagata Makoto Ohtani Masako Nagata Shigeyuki Kajiki Yoshihisa Fujino Koji Mori

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.62, no.1, pp.e12167, 2020 (Released:2020-11-25)

参考文献数

31

被引用文献数

5

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Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate a risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases for each worker and to determine whether this risk is associated with the incidence and costs of presenteeism, absenteeism, and medical/drug treatments.Methods: Established risk equations were used to estimate the 10-year probability of developing coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke in male workers aged 40-65 years who were recruited from four pharmaceutical companies in Japan. The incidence of presenteeism was defined as existence of presenteeism for the past a month, and the incidence of absenteeism was defined as existence of sick-leave for the past three months by a self-administered questionnaire. Each cost was calculated based on the human capital method. Data on medical/drug treatments were collected from health insurance claims.Results: The risks were calculated for 6047 workers. Individuals at moderate and high risk of coronary artery disease had a significantly higher rate of presenteeism and absenteeism than workers at low risk. Workers at moderate and high risk of ischemic stroke also had a significantly higher rate of presenteeism and absenteeism than workers at low risk. Mean costs for absenteeism and medical/drug treatments increased with the risk of developing coronary artery disease or ischemic stroke, while costs for presenteeism did not.Conclusions: To prevent the costs of presenteeism, workers not only at high risk but also at low and moderate risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should receive health care services.

著者

Chamnong Thanapop Alan F. Geater Mark G. Robson Pitchaya Phakthongsuk Duangkamol Viroonudomphol

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.49, no.5, pp.345-352, 2007 (Released:2007-10-18)

参考文献数

26

被引用文献数

16

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Lead oxide is used extensively in the construction and repair of wooden boats in Thailand, but the behaviors of boatyard workers that could place them at risk of contamination have not previously been documented. Baseline data on practices and behaviors of boatyard workers and on the level of worker and workplace contamination with lead were therefore collected. Fifty workers in two boatyards participated in this study. Lead exposure of workers was assessed by determining airborne and blood lead levels. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on work history, suspected exogenous lead sources, personal behavior and knowledge about lead. Evidence obtained by the study indicated that safety behavior and personal hygiene were poor-workers used no mask, gloves or hood, wore open sandals, smoked, drank, chewed and ate during work and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. Some workers had lunch in the working area. The mean personal airborne lead of caulkers (36.4 μg/m3) was higher than that of carpenters (8.3 μg/m3). Forty-eight percent of all workers and 67% of caulkers had a blood lead level (BLL) exceeding 40 μg/dl. Multiple linear regression indicated that blood lead levels of workers were significantly related to job and education level, with significant differences between boatyards. In addition, the potential for "take-home" contamination was high; none of the workers took a shower or changed their clothes prior to going home. These results indicate a problem of lead exposure of sufficient magnitude to be a public health concern.

著者

Ryota Imai Takashi Konishi Akira Mibu Katsuyoshi Tanaka Tomohiko Nishigami

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.63, no.1, pp.e12277, 2021 (Released:2021-11-25)

参考文献数

40

被引用文献数

4

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Objectives: Decreased workforce productivity has a significant economic impact on healthcare systems. Presenteeism, the practice of working at reduced potential, is more harmful than absenteeism. Present workers most often experience musculoskeletal pain that is not mitigated by general exercise or stretching. We aimed to assess whether a regimen of pain neuroscience education (PNE) and exercise tailored to individual healthcare workers could reduce presenteeism and improve productivity.Methods: An independent investigator randomized 104 medical professionals into two groups (intervention and control). The control group received general feedback after answering a questionnaire, while the intervention group received a 6-month plan of exercises and PNE created by a physical therapist with 10 years of experience. Our primary outcome was the scores of the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (WHO-HPQ) to investigate presenteeism; and our secondary outcomes were pain intensity, widespread pain index (WPI), and EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ5D-5L).Results: In the intervention group, post intervention, we observed significant improvement in presenteeism, pain intensity, WPI, physical and psychological stress, and EQ5D-5L (P < .05). In the control group, we noted significant improvement only in the physical and psychological stress post intervention (P < .05). The results showed significant between-group differences in presenteeism post-intervention (P < .05).Conclusion: We demonstrated that a combination of PNE and exercise decreases presenteeism of healthcare workers. Our findings will help healthcare facilities carry out better employee management and ensure optimal productivity.

著者

Rina Tanabe Takashi Hisamatsu Mari Fukuda Hideki Tsumura Rina Tsuchie Masako Suzuki Nagisa Sugaya Koshi Nakamura Kenzo Takahashi Hideyuki Kanda

出版者

Japan Society for Occupational Health

雑誌

Journal of Occupational Health (ISSN:13419145)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.63, no.1, pp.e12298, 2021 (Released:2022-01-25)

参考文献数

46

被引用文献数

1

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Objectives: Problematic internet use (PIU) has been suggested in relation to psychological symptoms among schoolteachers, but the relationship with physical symptoms remains unclear. We examined whether PIU or longer Internet usage time is associated with neck pain in schoolteachers.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 2582 teachers aged 20 years or older (35.6% women) in Shimane and Tottori, Japan in 2018. Neck pain was defined as ≥5 points on the Neck Disability Index. The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) was used to assess PIU. Internet usage time on weekdays and weekends was divided into five groups: 0, 1-29, 30-59, 60-119, and ≥120 min/day. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association of the CIUS score and Internet usage time on weekdays or weekends with neck pain, adjusting for sex, age, position at school, insomnia, and psychological distress.Results: We observed 800 (31.0%) teachers with neck pain. The median (interquartile range) of their CIUS scores was 7 (2, 14). A higher CIUS score was independently associated with a higher prevalence of neck pain (odds ratio of 4th vs. 1st quartiles, 1.41; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.87; trend P = .006). Compared with non-Internet users, Internet users on weekdays had almost double the odds of neck pain although the difference did not reach the customary level for designating statistical significance.Conclusions: In conclusion, teachers with higher scores in CIUS were associated with a higher prevalence of neck pain in Japan, suggesting adults with PIU being at risk of physical disorders.