| 1. |
- Heiden, Marina, et al.
(författare)
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Autonomic activity, pain, and perceived health in patients on sick leave due to stress-related illnesses
- 2005
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Ingår i: Integrative Physiological & Behavioral Science. - 1053-881X .- 2168-7846. ; 40:1, s. 3-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of the present study was to compare autonomic activity, pressure-pain thresholds, and subjective assessments of health and behavior between patients with stress-related illnesses and healthy control subjects. Methods: Twenty sick-listed patients with stress-related disorders and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects performed tests of autonomic regulation and algometric tests, and completed questionnaires about physical and mental health and behavioral patterns. Results: Patients exhibited higher autonomic reactivity to cognitive and physical laboratory tasks (p<0.05), and had lower pressure-pain thresholds in the shoulders and lower back than healthy control subjects (p<0.05). Furthermore, the patients rated considerably poorer health and health behavior than the control subjects (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate an engagement of the autonomic nervous system in stress-related illnesses. Furthermore, they show that patients with stress-related illnesses experience strong symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, and it is therefore recommended that assessments of musculoskeletal pain be incorporated in the clinical examinations and the rehabilitation of patients with stress-related illnesses.
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| 2. |
- Heiden, Marina, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Group Treatment and Physical Activity for People with Stress-related Illnesses
- 2005
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Ingår i: Second ICOH International Conference on Psychosocial Factors at Work.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of cognitive behavioral group treatment and physical activity for patients with stress-related illnesses. Sixty patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups, so that each group contained twenty patients. Group A received cognitive behavioral group treatment, group B participated in physical activity, and group C constituted a control group thus receiving no treatment during the course of the study. Measurements of autonomic activity, pain sensitivity, and subjective health assessments were performed before and after a 10-week intervention period, consisting of two gatherings per week for the cognitive behavioral treatment group, and two exercise sessions per week for the physical activity group. Each of the two treatment groups assembled at 1.5, 3, and 6 months after the intervention, and follow-up measurements on all participants were performed at 6 and 12 months after the intervention. For comparison, measurements were performed at one occasion on healthy subjects of the same age and gender distribution as the patients. Patients exhibited higher autonomic reactivity to cognitive and physical laboratory tasks (p<0.05), had lower pressure-pain thresholds in the shoulders and lower back (p<0.05), and rated poorer health than healthy subjects (p<0.01). No overall effect of cognitive behavioral group treatment or physical activity was found on autonomic activity (p>0.06) or pressure-pain thresholds (p>0.71), although patients who received cognitive behavioral group treatment reported improved health (p<0.05). The results suggest little difference in effect of cognitive behavioral group treatment and physical activity on patients with stress-related illnesses
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| 3. |
- Nakata, Minori, et al.
(författare)
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Solving tangled cases of work-related musculoskeletal disorders by international scientific cooperation.
- 2005
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Ingår i: NEW SOLUTIONS. - 1048-2911 .- 1541-3772. ; 15:4, s. 343-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) have become a serious worldwide problem. At the same time a number of workers experience a problem in getting their WRMSDs acknowledged. As an attempt to solve these problems, Japanese school lunch cooks' working conditions were discussed at international scientific meetings and a detailed inspection was done at a Japanese school kitchen by Swedish researchers. It revealed that both national and international researchers' opinions coincided. Statements of medical views were written for several tangled cases in Japan and Sweden referring to both the national and international literature. As a result, these tangled cases were acknowledged officially as WRMSDs. New arbitrators and mediators of WRMSDs are required who can understand and communicate between the world of medical and labor sciences and also between the world of science and daily work life.
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| 4. |
- Okada, Naoki, et al.
(författare)
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Occupational stress among Japanese emergency medical technicians : Hyogo Prefecture.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Prehospital and disaster medicine: the official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the World Association for Emergency and Disaster Medicine in association with the Acute Care Foundation. - 1049-023X. ; 20:2, s. 115-21
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: As prehospital care became emphasized in emergency medical services in Japan, qualification as a "paramedic" was established in 1991 as a requirement for national qualification as a emergency medical technician (EMT). With recent increases in emergency transportation, the responsibilities of paramedics have become more complex and demand a higher level of competency; however, no method of evaluating occupational stress among Japanese EMTs currently exists. METHODS: A questionnaire survey of the working conditions and health of 2,017 EMTs in Hyogo Prefecture was conducted. To analyze stress levels among these EMTs, the survey was divided into two categories: (1) physical stress; and (2) mental stress. RESULTS: The number of responses was 1,551 (76.9%) and the average age of the respondents was 35.4 years. The lower back, neck, and shoulders were most frequently subjected to physical stress, which was related to the daily operations as an EMT. Mental stress was reported more frequently by those who were older or qualified paramedics. DISCUSSION: The high frequency of lower back pain suggests the need for improvement in the work environment and periodic education. CONCLUSIONS: Although job satisfaction among paramedics was high, they were exposed to greater mental stress. Therefore, systematic management of stress must be developed and established.
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