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- Gerhardsson, Lars, 1952, et al.
(författare)
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Work ability in vibration-exposed workers.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Occupational medicine (Oxford, England). - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1471-8405 .- 0962-7480. ; 64:8, s. 629-634
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hand-arm vibration exposure may cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) including sensorineural disturbances.
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- Hartfiel, Ned, et al.
(författare)
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Yoga for reducing perceived stress and back pain at work.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 62:8, s. 606-612
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Stress and back pain are two key factors leading to sickness absence at work. Recent research indicates that yoga can be effective for reducing perceived stress, alleviating back pain, and improving psychological well-being. Aims To determine the effectiveness of a yoga-based intervention for reducing perceived stress and back pain at work. Methods Participants were recruited from a British local government authority and randomized into a yoga group who received one 50min Dru Yoga session each week for 8 weeks and a 20min DVD for home practice and a control group who received no intervention. Baseline and end-programme measurements of self-reported stress, back pain and psychological well-being were assessed with the Perceived Stress Scale, Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Results There were 37 participants in each group. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression showed that in comparison to the control group, the yoga group reported significant reductions in perceived stress and back pain, and a substantial improvement in psychological well-being. When compared with the control group at the end of the programme, the yoga group scores were significantly lower for perceived stress, back pain, sadness and hostility, and substantially higher for feeling self-assured, attentive and serene. Conclusions The results indicate that a workplace yoga intervention can reduce perceived stress and back pain and improve psychological well-being. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the broader efficacy of yoga for improving workplace productivity and reducing sickness absence.
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- Lewis, Charlotte A., et al.
(författare)
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Whole-body vibration exposure in metropolitan bus drivers
- 2012
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 62:7, s. 519-524
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Back injuries are common in transit drivers, and can result in substantial direct and indirect cost to the employer and employee. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is one risk factor for drivers. Standards have been adopted (ISO 2631-1) to guide researchers in measuring and analysing WBV levels. Lately, a new standard has been added (ISO 2631-5) that takes impulsive exposures into account. Aims The aims of this study were to determine the levels of vibration for bus drivers using both ISO 2631-1 and 2631-5 standards, and whether there are differences in vibration levels and seat transmissibility between different road types. Methods Thirteen bus drivers drove a 7-year-old bus, instrumented to measure WBV in the seat and floor. The 52 km long test route included freeway, city streets and speed humps. Additionally, for comparison, a subset of five drivers also drove a car over the same route. Results Road type had a significant effect on all the vibration parameters. Based on exposure limit values in the standards, the continuous z-A(w)(8) exposures exceeded the limit value on freeways, and the impulsive z-VDV(8) and S-ed exposures were above limit values in city streets and speed humps. Bus WBV exposures were about twice as high relative to the car and the bus seat amplified rather than attenuated WBV exposures. Conclusions Bus drivers are potentially being exposed to daily vibration levels higher than recommended especially on certain road types. The current seat in this study does not attenuate the vibration.
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- Moen, Bente E, et al.
(författare)
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Subjective health complaints and psychosocial work environment among university personnel
- 2013
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 63:1, s. 38-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundQuestionnaires are often used to study health problems in working populations. An association between self-reported symptoms and psychosocial strain has been suggested, but results from such studies are difficult to interpret, as a gender difference might be present. The knowledge in this area is not clear.AimsTo compare the prevalence of subjective health symptoms and their relation to psychosocial work strain among men and women in different age groups, all working as university staff.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was carried out among university personnel. The questionnaire included a subjective health complaint inventory consisting of 29 items about subjective somatic and psychological symptoms experienced during the last 30 days and psychosocial work factors. Regression analyses were performed.ResultsIn total, 172 (86%) of 201 eligible employees participated. Women had a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms than men. Significant differences were found between the genders for headaches, neck pain and arm pain. There was a significant relationship between musculoskeletal symptoms and work strain for both genders. This was found for both men and women below 40 years and among men above the age of 40. No significant difference was found between genders regarding pseudoneurological, gastrointestinal, allergic and flu-like symptoms.ConclusionsMore female than male university personnel reported musculoskeletal symptoms. The musculoskeletal symptoms were associated with high work strain in both genders, but, for women, this was limited to employees under the age of 40. The cause of this gender difference is unknown.
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- Nilsen, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Alcohol prevention in Swedish occupational health care
- 2011
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine. - Oxford : Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B / Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 61:7, s. 472-U19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Occupational health care (OHC) was part of the Swedish Risk Drinking Project, a government-supported continuing professional education (CPE) endeavour for health professionals, 2004-10. Aims To investigate OHC professionals perceived knowledge concerning patient counselling on alcohol, perceived efficiency in achieving patient changes, use of questionnaires and biomarkers, amount and content of their alcohol-related CPE, their reasons for participating in this CPE and improvements experienced in addressing alcohol issues in the last 3 years. Methods Baseline 2005 and follow-up 2008 data were collected by means of anonymous questionnaires to all physicians and nurses in OHC. Results Response rates ranged from 53 to 80%. The share of nurses and physicians who had taken part in greater than= 3 days training on risk drinking issues rose from 10 to 59% and from 7 to 59%, respectively. The OHC professionals perceived knowledge and efficiency concerning lifestyle counselling improved from 2005 to 2008, considerably more so for alcohol than the other lifestyle issues. The most competent nurses and physicians were more likely to have participated in training lasting greater than= 3 days. The most competent nurses and physicians had become better at initiating conversations about alcohol and at informing, providing advice and discussing alcohol with their clients. Conclusions There were major improvements in the OHC professionals perceived knowledge concerning alcohol counselling and efficiency in influencing patients alcohol habits after participation in a comprehensive CPE project. Overall, the nurses achieved more improvements than the physicians.
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- Schell, E., et al.
(författare)
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Work health determinants in employees without sickness absence
- 2013
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 63:1, s. 17-22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Working ability is known to be related to good physical condition, clear work tasks, positive feedback and other occupational, organizational and psychosocial factors. In Sweden, high levels of sickness absence are due to stress-related disorders and musculoskeletal pain. To identify work health characteristics in a working population with a large variety of professional skills and occupational tasks. Employers' data on occupation, sickness absence, age and gender in a working population of 11 occupational groups and questionnaire responses regarding work-organization, environment, work stress, pain, health, and socio-demographic factors were collected. Employees with no history of sick-leave were compared with those with a history of sick-leave (1182 days, mean 25 days). Of 2641 employees, 1961 participated. Those with no history of sick-leave reported less work-related pain, work-related stress, sleep disturbances, worry about their health, osick-presenteeism', monotonous work, bent and twisted working positions and exposure to disturbing noise than those with a history of sick-leave (P < 0.001). They also reported better health, support from superiors, having influence on their working hours and evening and week-end working, longer working hours per week (P < 0.001) and more regular physical training (P < 0.01). Socio-demographic factors were less important than gender, and differences in responses between occupational groups were also found. Workers without a history of sick-leave experienced less stress, sleep disturbances, worry about their own health and less neck, shoulder and back pain and more support from their superiors and influence on their working hours.
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- Vinnikov, D., et al.
(författare)
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Risk factors for occupational acute mountain sickness
- 2014
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Ingår i: Occupational Medicine-Oxford. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0962-7480 .- 1471-8405. ; 64:7, s. 483-489
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Studies of occupational acute mountain sickness (AMS) have not focused on the more severe end of the spectrum to date. Aims To examine risk factors associated with the development of occupational AMS severe enough to receive treatment in a compression chamber. Methods A nested case referent study in a cohort of high-altitude (4000 m) mine workers, comparing cases of severe, chamber-treated AMS to matched referents. Using logistic regression, we tested potential risk factors based on premorbid surveillance examinations, including cigarette smoking (current smoking, smoking intensity and exhaled carbon monoxide [CO]). Results There were 15 cases and 30 controls. In multivariate analysis including age, sex and place of residence, current smoking was associated with increased risk of severe AMS (odds ratio [OR] 10.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-67.4), taking into account any prior, less severe AMS event, which was also a potent risk factor (OR 33.3; 95% CI 2.8-390). Smoking intensity (cigarettes per day) and exhaled CO were also statistically significantly associated with severe AMS. Conclusions Cigarette smoking is a strong, previously under-appreciated risk factor for severe AMS. Because this is a modifiable factor, these findings suggest that workplace-based smoking cessation should be tested as an intervention to prevent such morbidity.
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