| 1. |
- Andersson, Maria J E, et al.
(författare)
-
The idiopathic environmental intolerance symptom inventory: development, evaluation, and application.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1536-5948 .- 1076-2752. ; 51:7, s. 838-47
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To develop, evaluate, and apply a questionnaire-based instrument for investigation of specific symptoms in idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI), called the Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance Symptom Inventory (IEISI). METHODS: Participants with IEI to chemicals responded to 82 candidate symptoms and to three subscales of the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) at a test (n = 207) and retest (n = 193) occasion. RESULTS: The 27 most commonly reported symptoms were selected and grouped into five symptom categories. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity were found to be satisfying. Cluster analysis identified two subgroups of IEI to chemicals. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide support for the IEISI being a reliable, valid, and fast tool for the study of specific symptom prevalence in IEI and encourage further study of subgroups.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Bakke, Jan Vilhelm, et al.
(författare)
-
Gender and the physical and psychosocial work environments are related to indoor air symptoms
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:6, s. 641-650
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: To assess gender differences in self-reported symptoms, psychosocial, subjective, and objective physical environments. Methods: Staff (N = 173) in four university buildings were investigated by questionnaires, blood samples, and objective assessment of indoor environment (temperature, air velocity, relative humidity, CO2, and dust [PM10]). Analyses were performed by linear and logistic regressions. Results: Women reported health symptoms more often than did men and complained more about physical but not psychosocial factors. Men's symptoms and complaints were more specifically associated to air velocity and humidity. For both genders, symptoms were related to both strain (P = 0.02) and perceived physical environments (P = 0.01). Lower relative humidity in the range of 15% to 35% was associated with perception of too low temperature and dry air. Conclusion: Gender, psychosocial, and physical environment factors were related to symptoms and perceived indoor climate.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bergström, G, et al.
(författare)
-
Sickness Presenteeism Today, Sickness Absenteeism Tomorrow? : A Prospective Study on Sickness Presenteeism and Future Sickness Absenteeism.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 51:6, s. 629-638
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To prospectively investigate whether sickness presenteeism (SP), ie, going to work despite illness, has an impact on future sickness absenteeism. Methods: Two study populations were used, one female dominated from the public sector that included 3757 employees, and one male dominated from the private sector comprising 2485 employees. Results: SP on more than five occasions during the baseline year (2000) was a statistically significant risk factor for future sick leave (2002 and 2003) of more than 30 days among both populations even after adjusting for previous sick leave, health status, demographics, lifestyle, and work-related variables (2002, public sector, relative risk = 1.40; private sector, relative risk = 1.51). Conclusions: SP may be an important phenomenon to consider when evaluating measures aimed at decreasing sickness absenteeism because more SP may lead to future sickness absence.
|
|
| 6. |
- Blessman, James, et al.
(författare)
-
Barriers to at-home-preparedness in public health employees : implications for disaster preparedness training
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:3, s. 318-326
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To assess "at-home" preparedness and barriers to preparedness in a cohort of public health employees. METHOD: Conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 100 employees attending emergency preparedness training that emphasized incident command training and included a segment on "at-home" preparedness. RESULTS: Fifteen percent of participants were rated as "better prepared," and only 8% of participants would be considered "most prepared." There was no relationship between the concern for bioterrorism and other disasters and preparedness. The principal barrier involved challenges in getting the task done versus lack of desire or knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: There is great potential for distraction of public health workers during an emergent event if they are not prepared at home and have concern for family members. At-home preparedness training efforts that emphasize what should be done and why are likely to have limited impact on changing behavior. Strategies that ensure that small steps are taken are likely to be more successful.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Cherniack, Martin, et al.
(författare)
-
The Hand-Arm Vibration International Consortium (HAVIC) : prospective studies on the relationship between power tool exposure and health effects.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:3, s. 289-301
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: The Hand-Arm Vibration International Consortium (HAVIC) is a collaboration of investigators from Europe and North America studying health effects from hand-arm vibration (HAV). Features include prospective design, cross-cohort exposure, and health assessment methods. METHODS: Two new cohorts (dental hygienists and dental hygiene students), two existing cohorts (Finnish forest workers, and Swedish truck cab assemblers), and a previous population (US shipyard workers) are included. Instruments include surveys, quantitative medical tests, physical examination, and work simulation and data logging to assess exposure. New methods were developed for nerve conduction and data logging. RESULTS: Findings on the relationship between nerve conduction and skin temperature in HAV-exposed subjects resulted in a new approach to subject warming. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating established cohorts has advantages over de novo cohort construction. Complex laboratory tests can be successfully adapted for field use.
|
|
| 9. |
- Ernstgard, L, et al.
(författare)
-
Acute effects of exposure to hexanal vapors in humans
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752. ; 48:6, s. 573-580
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
| 10. |
- Ernstgård, Lena, et al.
(författare)
-
Acute Effects of Some Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted From Waters-Based Paints
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:8, s. 880-889
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Acute effects during controlled exposure to some of the volatile organic compounds emitted from water-based paints were evaluated. METHODS: Healthy volunteers (10 atopics, 10 nonatopics, and 10 painters) were exposed to a mixture of propyleneglycol, texanol, diethyleneglycol monoethylether, diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, and dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether at a total concentration of 35 mg/m3 (G), a mixture of G and ammonia (15 mg/m3) (GA), and clean air (C). RESULTS: Subjective ratings of irritation in eyes, nose, throat, and dyspnea were significantly higher during the G and GA conditions, when compared with during the C condition. Nasal mucosal swelling was observed after G but not after GA exposure. No effects of the exposure on the pulmonary function, markers of inflammation in nasal lavages, and renal function in urine were seen. CONCLUSION: Exposure to G and GA caused mild irritation in eyes, nose, and airways.
|
|
| 11. |
- Falkenberg, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
Predicting Sickness Absence-Are Extended Health Check-ups of Any Value? : Comparisons of Three Individual Risk Models
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 51:1, s. 104-111
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To predict sickness absence by three health check-up models. METHODS: A study group of 821 participants from the public sector in Sweden where three health check-up models were compared 1) the limited variable model including smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, and cholesterol, 2) the several variable model including smoking, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, relation between low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins, serum triglycerides, and fitness test, and 3) Self-rated health measured by one single question. Sickness absence data during 1 year was delivered from the employer. RESULTS: The three models served their purpose to predict sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS: The self-rated health-model with one single question has as good quality in predestination as more complicated models. This may have an implication for cost-effective procedures in occupational health services.
|
|
| 12. |
- Hardell, Lennart, et al.
(författare)
-
Adipose tissue concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and the risk of prostate cancer
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 48:7, s. 700-707
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We sought to study the concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants with endocrine-disrupting properties in cases with prostate cancer and controls with benign prostate hyperplasia. METHODS: Adipose tissue was obtained from 58 cases and 20 controls. RESULTS: The median concentration among controls was used as cut-off in the statistical analysis. In the total material, a greater-than median concentration of PCB congener 153 yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 3.15 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.04-9.54 and one chlordane type, trans-chlordane, yielded OR 3.49 (95% CI = 1.08-11.2). In the group of case subjects with PSA levels greater than the median level of 16.5 ng/mL, PCB 153 was OR 30.3 (95% CI = 3.24-284), hexachlorobenzene OR = 9.84 (95% CI = 1.99-48.5), trans-chlordane OR = 11.0 (95% CI = 1.87-64.9), and the chlordane-type MC6 OR = 7.58 (95% CI = 1.65-34.9). The grouping of PCBs according to structural and biological activity was found to produce significantly increased risks for enzyme and phenobarbital-inducing PCBs and lower chlorinated PCBs in the case group with PSA levels greater than 16.5 ng/mL. CONCLUSIONS: These chemicals might be of etiologic significance but need to be further investigated. The biological relevance of the arbitrary cut-off point of PSA is unclear.
|
|
| 13. |
|
|
| 14. |
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
|
|
| 17. |
- Laestadius, Jasminka Goldoni, et al.
(författare)
-
Hot water for handwashing--where is the proof?
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752. ; 47:4, s. 434-5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A survey of the scientific literature found no evidence support for hot water to be more effective against respiratory viruses for hand-washing compared to warm water.
|
|
| 18. |
- Lohela, Malin, et al.
(författare)
-
Does a Change in Psychosocial Work Factors Lead to a Change in Employee Health?
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 51:2, s. 195-203
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim was to identify psychosocial factors at work that promote positive changes in employee health and factors that prevent negative changes in employee health. METHOD:: This study is part of a large longitudinal study and includes 1212 employees. Data for psychosocial work factors and self rated health was collected in 2000 and 2003. A modified Poisson regression was used to find factors of relevance for positive and negative changes in health. RESULTS:: A negative change in leadership, organizational commitment and reporting job strain increased the risk for negative change in health. Improved leadership and social climate increased the chance for positive changes in health. CONCLUSION:: By improving psychosocial factors at work, it is possible to promote employee health as well as prevent employee ill-health.
|
|
| 19. |
- Lope, V, et al.
(författare)
-
Occupation and thyroid cancer risk in Sweden
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752. ; 47:9, s. 948-957
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
| 20. |
- Lundström, Nils-Göran, et al.
(författare)
-
Lung cancer development in primary smelter workers: a nested case-referent study.
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 48:4, s. 376-80
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to study the impact of work-related exposure to mainly arsenic and lead versus smoking in primary smelter workers developing lung cancer. METHODS: In a cohort of 3979 primary smelter workers, 46 subjects had contracted respiratory malignancies. They were compared with 141 age-matched male referents by conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Cases showed a significantly higher smoking rate as compared with referents: odds ratio (OR) = 4.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-10.1; P = 0.003. When restricted to smokers (33 cases, 63 referents), the cumulative air arsenic exposure index, but not the lead exposure indices, was significantly higher among the cases: OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02-1.11; P = 0.005. CONCLUSIONS: Cumulative arsenic exposure and smoking were identified as risk factors for the development of lung cancer; lead exposure, however, was not.
|
|
| 21. |
- Morales-Suarez-Varela, M.M., et al.
(författare)
-
Occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides : A european multicenter caseg-control study
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 48:4, s. 390-393
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We sought to study the association between occupational sun exposure and mycosis fungoides (MF), a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. SUBJECTS and METHODS: A European multicenter case-control study including seven rare cases (one being MF) was conducted between 1995 and 1997. From the 118 accepted cases, 104 were interviewed, of which 76 were definite cases. Population controls were selected randomly from the regions of case ascertainment. Information based on occupational experiences was coded according to industry types. A job exposure matrix was created according to the expected exposure to sunlight. RESULTS: Once exposures to aromatic halogenated hydrocarbons were eliminated (odds ratio = 2.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.9-6.2), a high MF risk was associated with exposures to solar radiation. CONCLUSION: It would appear that workers exposed to sunlight have a higher risk of MF. However, this factor is not the only one involved. Copyright © 2006 by American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
|
|
| 22. |
|
|
| 23. |
- Schell, Elisabet, et al.
(författare)
-
Impact of a web-based stress management and health promotion program on neck-shoulder-back pain in knowledge workers? 12 month prospective controlled follow-up.
- 2008
-
Ingår i: J Occup Environ Med. - 1536-5948 .- 1076-2752. ; 50:6, s. 667-76
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Impact of a web-based stress management and health promotion program on neck-shoulder-back pain in knowledge workers? 12 month prospective controlled follow-up.Schell E, Theorell T, Hasson D, Arnetz B, Saraste H.Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, S-171 77 Sweden. e.schell@telia.comOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of a web-based stress management program on neck-shoulder-back pain and perceived pain-relatedness to stress in a prospective and controlled study. METHODS: Study points were baseline, after 6 months intervention and at 12 months follow-up on 226 news media employees in two study groups and one control group. RESULTS: Between groups no significant differences were found at any study point. Within groups, the study group with less intensive program improved in pain-relatedness to stress at follow-up. Between baseline and after intervention, the group with more intensive program showed decreased low back pain, and the control group showed less pain-relatedness to stress. Within group differences varied according to pain localization and were inconsistent. CONCLUSION: Present web-based stress management program did not influence neck-shoulder-back pain or perceived pain-relatedness to stress in stress-intensive occupations.
|
|
| 24. |
- Shaw, William S., et al.
(författare)
-
Patient clusters in acute, work-related back pain based on patterns of disability risk factors
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:2, s. 185-193
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To identify subgroups of patients with work-related back pain based on disability risk factors. METHODS: Patients with work-related back pain (N = 528) completed a 16-item questionnaire of potential disability risk factors before their initial medical evaluation. Outcomes of pain, functional limitation, and work disability were assessed 1 and 3 months later. RESULTS: A K-Means cluster analysis of 5 disability risk factors (pain, depressed mood, fear avoidant beliefs, work inflexibility, and poor expectations for recovery) resulted in 4 sub-groups: low risk (n = 182); emotional distress (n = 103); severe pain/fear avoidant (n = 102); and concerns about job accommodation (n = 141). Pain and disability outcomes at follow-up were superior in the low-risk group and poorest in the severe pain/fear avoidant group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute back pain can be discriminated into subgroups depending on whether disability is related to pain beliefs, emotional distress, or workplace concerns
|
|
| 25. |
- Svensen, Erling, et al.
(författare)
-
Health complaints and satisfied with the job? : A cross-sectional study on work environment, job satisfaction, and subjective health complaints
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 49:5, s. 568-573
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of subjective health complaints (SHCs) among satisfied and dissatisfied workers. The second aim was to evaluate whether any SHC differences were attributable directly to the work environment or mediated by the individual perception of the environment (satisfactory or not). METHOD: In a cross-sectional study of 458 employees (56% women) in 5 different organizations, work environment, job satisfaction, and SHC were measured. RESULTS: Satisfied workers reported an average of five to six subjective health complaints that correspond to the prevalence found in a Norwegian general population. Work environment explained 43% of the variance for job satisfaction and 9% of the variance in SHCs. CONCLUSION: SHCs are common among satisfied workers. Work environment has only a limited influence on this validated health indicator.
|
|
| 26. |
|
|
| 27. |
- Ulvestad, Bente, et al.
(författare)
-
Clara cell protein as a biomarker for lung epithelial injury in asphalt workers.
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752. ; 49:10, s. 1073-8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: We investigated if asphalt workers showed signs of lung epithelial injury as shown by increased Clara cell protein 16 (CC16) in serum after 6 months of exposure. METHODS: Asphalt pavers, asphalt plant operators, and asphalt engineers underwent lung function tests and blood samples before the start of the asphalt season. The tests were repeated before the end of the asphalt season. Blood samples were analyzed for concentration of CC16 and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: After adjustment for current smoking, the pavers had a significantly larger increase in CC16 concentrations after the season as compared with that of the engineers and plant operators. In pavers, the change in serum CC16 was correlated with the change in IL-6. CONCLUSION: CC16 increased over the season in pavers and appears to be a useful biomarker for lung epithelial injury in exposed workers.
|
|
| 28. |
- Wahlqvist, P, et al.
(författare)
-
Objective measurement of work absence and on-the-job productivity : a case-control study of US employees with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 50:1, s. 25-31
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To establish an association between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and increased work absence, as well as reduced productivity while at work, by using objective productivity measurements. METHODS: Retrospective case-control analysis of a database containing US employees' administrative health care and payroll data for employees (N = 11,653 with GERD; N = 255,616 without GERD) who were enrolled for at least one year in an employer-sponsored health insurance plan. RESULTS: Employees with GERD had 41% more sick leave days (P < 0.0001), 59% more short-term disability days (P < 0.0001), 39% more long-term disability days (P = 0.1910), 48% more workers' compensation days (P < 0.0001), 4.4% lower objective productivity per hour worked (P = 0.0481), and 6.0% lower annual objective productivity (P = 0.0391) than the employees without GERD. CONCLUSIONS: GERD is associated with a significant impact on employees' work absence and productivity while at work as measured using objective data.
|
|
| 29. |
|
|
