| 1. |
- Larsson, Matz, et al.
(author)
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Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and health effects among hospitality workers in Sweden : before and after the implementation of a smoke-free law
- 2008
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. - Helsingfors : Institutet för arbetshygien. - 0355-3140 .- 1795-990X. ; 34:4, s. 267-277
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives This study attempted to identify changes in exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, as well as symptoms and attitudes among hospitality workers after the introduction of extended smoke-free workplace legislation.Methods A total of 37 volunteers working in bingo halls and casinos (gaming workers) and 54 bars and restaurant employees (other workers) in nine Swedish communities participated in the study. Altogether 71 of 91 persons (14 daily smokers and 57 nonsmokers) participated in both the preban baseline survey and the follow-up 12 months after the ban. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, smoking habits, respiratory and sensory symptoms, and attitudes towards the ban were recorded, and spirometry was carried out.Results The frequency of reported respiratory and sensory symptoms was approximately halved among the nonsmokers in both occupational groups after the introduction of the ban. Initially 87% had exposure to environmental tobacco smoke that was over the nicotine cut-off level chosen to identify possible health risk (<0.5 µg/m3), while, after the ban, it was only 22%, a relative risk of 0.25 (95% confidence interval 0.15–0.41). The risk decreased in both occupational groups, but gaming workers experienced the highest preban exposure levels. Attitudes towards the legislation were largely positive, particularly after the ban. However, there was no notable change in lung function, and there was no notable reduction in the number of cigarettes consumed by smokers.Conclusions The introduction of smoke-free legislation was associated with a substantial reduction in respiratory and sensory symptoms, as well as reduced exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work, particularly among gaming workers.
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| 2. |
- Hult, Carl, 1953-, et al.
(author)
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Timing of retirement and mortality : A cohort study of Swedish construction workers
- 2010
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In: Social Science and Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 0277-9536 .- 1873-5347. ; 70:10, s. 1480-1486
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent studies indicate that early retirement per se may have a negative effect on health to such an extent that it increases mortality risk. One type of early retirement often referred to in these studies is retirement with disability pension/benefit. Given the overall objective of disability benefit programmes - to help the disabled live socially and economically satisfactory lives, freed from exposure to employment health hazards and thus avoid further declines in health - the finding is challenging. This paper examined the relationship between timing of retirement and mortality using a cohort of Swedish construction workers. The mortality risk of disability pensioners - excluding those with diagnoses normally connected to increased mortality - was compared with the risk of those continuing to work. Although initial indications were in line with earlier results, it became obvious that the increased mortality risk of disability pensioners did not depend on early retirement per se but on poor health before early retirement not explicitly recognized in the diagnosis on which the disability pension rested. The results indicate that there are no general differences in mortality depending on timing of retirement. Future studies of mortality differences arising from working or not working must sufficiently control for health selection effects into the studied retirement paths.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Lytsy, Per, et al.
(author)
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Views on Treatment Necessity, Harm, and Benefits in Patients Using Statins
- 2010
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In: Medical decision making. - 0272-989X .- 1552-681X. ; 30:5, s. 594-609
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUNDPatients with dyslipidemia and high overall risk of ischemic heart disease are those most likely to benefit from treatment with statins. The objective of this study was to investigate patients' views of the necessity, harm, and expected benefits of their statin treatment, as well as factors associated with these treatment beliefs. One main objective was to investigate whether cardiovascular risk level and previous coronary heart disease affect the way patients view these different aspects of their medication.METHODSA total of 829 statin users were recruited while visiting a pharmacy to collect their statin medication (response rate, 69.4%). Patients returned a questionnaire assessing their medical history, concurrent risk status, social demographic factors, as well as their views and expectations regarding their statin treatment. RESULTS: Previous ischemic heart disease, or high risk of such disease, was not associated with a more favorable notion on statin treatment. Having an internal health locus of control as well as being satisfied with the physician's treatment explanation were factors associated with more positive views on expected treatment effect. The views on necessity, harm, and treatment benefit were closely associated with each other.CONCLUSIONThe main findings in this study suggest that cardiovascular risk level and previous coronary heart disease are not associated with the way patients value potential benefits of statin treatment. Patients' views of the treatment's necessity, harm, and benefits do not seem to be independent dimensions of patient beliefs but rather represent one overall question: is this good for me?
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| 5. |
- Ståhl, Christian, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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The Work Ability Divide : Holistic and Reductionistic Approaches in Swedish Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Teams
- 2009
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In: Journal of occupational rehabilitation. - : Springer Netherlands. - 1053-0487 .- 1573-3688. ; 19:3, s. 264-273
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stakeholder cooperation in return to work has been increasingly emphasised in research, while studies on how such cooperation works in practise are scarce. This article investigates the relationship between professionals in Swedish interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams, and the aim of the article is to determine the participants’ definitions and uses of the concept of work ability. Methods The methods chosen were individual interviews with primary health care centre managers and focus groups with twelve interdisciplinary teams including social insurance officers, physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers and coordinators. Results The results show that the teams have had problems with reaching a common understanding of their task, due to an inherent tension between the stakeholders. This tension is primarily a result of two factors: divergent perspectives on work ability between the health professionals and the Social Insurance Agency, and different approaches to cooperative work among physicians. Health professionals share a holistic view on work ability, relating it to a variety of factors. Social insurance officers, on the other hand, represent a reductionistic stance, where work ability is reduced to medical status. Assessments of work ability therefore tend to become a negotiation between insurance officers and physicians. Conclusions A suggestion from the study is that the teams, with proper education, could be used as an arena for planning and coordinating return-to-work, which would strengthen their potential in managing the prevention of work disability.
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| 6. |
- Johansson, Gunvi, et al.
(author)
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Young adults' views on dental care : a qualitative analysis
- 1996
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 10:4, s. 197-204
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to determine young adults' views on dental care. The gathered data were gleaned from interviews and analysed in accordance with comparative method. It was possible to discern the views from two perspectives: the patients' opinions regarding costs in relation to given functions within dental care, and the attitudes to given functions in dental care per se. Costs for information and service were deemed questionable, whereas the costs for examination and treatment were accepted. The patients' stance was active with respect to information and treatment, whereas a greater degree of passivity prevailed within the areas of examination and service. According to this report, maintaining cheap dental care rates was deemed important. The patients questioned having to pay for information perceived as irrelevant to dental care. They expressed a hidden wish to assume an active role while being given more information, and to exercise greater influence with reference to own dental care, but were not in the habit of stating their views to dental staff. Thus, continuous patient satisfaction studies are vital in order to meet this group's needs. One suggestion for further research is to study how young adults regard dental care based on the theory presented.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Ålander, Ture, et al.
(author)
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Abuse in Women and Men with and without Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
- 2008
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In: Digestive Diseases and Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0163-2116 .- 1573-2568. ; 53:7, s. 1856-1864
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We aimed to investigate the history of abuse in childhood and adulthood and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in women and men with FGID in the general adult population. A cross-sectional study in a random population sample (n = 1,537, 20-87 years) living in Osthammar municipality, Sweden, in 1995 was performed. Persons with FGID (n = 141) and a group of abdominal symptom-free controls (SSF, n = 97) were selected by means of a validated questionnaire assessing gastrointestinal symptoms (the ASQ). Abuse, anxiety and depression (the HADS) and HRQL (the PGWB) were measured. Women with FGID had a higher risk of having a history of some kind of abuse, as compared with the SSF controls (45% vs.16%, OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.01-3.9; SSF = 1), in contrast to men (29% vs. 24% n.s.). Women with a history of abuse and FGID had reduced HRQL 91 (95% CI 85-97) as compared with women without abuse history 100 (95% CI 96-104, P = 0.01, "healthy" = 102-105 on PGWB). Childhood emotional abuse was a predictor for consulting with OR = 4.20 (95% CI: 1.12-15.7.7). Thus, previous abuse is common in women with FGID and must be considered by the physician for diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.
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| 9. |
- Brattberg, Gunilla
(author)
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Internet-based rehabilitation for individuals with chronic pain and burnout : a randomized trial
- 2006
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In: International Journal of Rehabilitation Research. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0342-5282 .- 1473-5660. ; 29:3, s. 221-227
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study investigates utilization of the Internet in the rehabilitation of people on long-term sick leave with chronic pain and/or burnout. Fifty-five people were randomly assigned to two groups: a treatment group (n = 27) that participated in a rehabilitation course over the Internet and a waiting list group (n = 28). The goals were to improve participants' health and increase quality of life, and, for those who were not on permanent disability pensions, to increase work capacity, if possible. A 20-week program, based on 19 films on different themes, was supplemented with written material and a Socratic dialogue over the Internet. Upon completion of the rehabilitation course, statistically significant improvements were observed in the treatment group in comparison to the waiting list group, for variables such as depression, pain, vitality, social function, performance problems involving work or other activities due to physical illness and the presence of stress symptoms. Thirteen of 23 individuals (57%) also increased their work capacity. The number needed to treat regarding recovering from anxiety and depression was 2. For increased work capacity, the number needed to treat was 3. Rehabilitation of people on long-term sick leave carried out over the Internet is a good complement to other rehabilitation programs.
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| 10. |
- Andersson, Eva, 1955, et al.
(author)
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Incidence of asthma among workers exposed to sulfur dioxide and other irritant gases
- 2006
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In: European Respiratory Journal. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 0903-1936 .- 1399-3003. ; 27:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to investigate whether repeated peak exposure (gassings) to sulphur dioxide (SO2) and other irritant gases increases the risk of new-onset asthma. A questionnaire was sent to 4,112 sulphite workers, of whom 1,919 completed the questionnaire and 396 completed the short-form questionnaire, which was sent out as a last reminder. A sample of 130 nonrespondents completed a telephone interview using the short-form questionnaire. The incidence of adult-onset, physician-diagnosed asthma during employment duration was analysed in relation to exposure to SO2 and gassings giving rise to respiratory symptoms. Incidence rates, as well as incidence rate ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI), were calculated. Further Cox regression models were used allowing assessment of hazard ratios (HR) stratified for sex and adjusted for atopy, smoking habits and age. The incidence rate for asthma among sulphite mill workers reporting gassings of SO2 was 6.2 out of 1,000 person-yrs, compared with 1.9 out of 1,000 person-yrs among subjects unexposed to SO2 and any gassings (HR (95% CI) 4.0 (2.1-7.7)). Among males reporting gassings to SO2, the HR (95% CI) for asthma was 5.8 (2.6-13) compared with unexposed males. In conclusion, repeated peak exposure to sulphur dioxide increased the incidence of asthma during work in sulphite pulp mills, which supports the hypothesis of irritant-induced asthma.
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