| 1. |
- Johansson, Gun, et al.
(author)
-
Return to work and adjustment latitude among employees on long-term sickness absence
- 2006
-
In: Journal of occupational rehabilitation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1053-0487 .- 1573-3688. ; 16:2, s. 181-191
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The aim was to study whether return to work (RTW) after long-term sickness absence is affected by adjustment latitude i.e. opportunities to adjust one's work to one's state of health by e.g. choosing among work tasks and deciding about work pace and working hours. We also studied whether the effect of adjustment latitude differed between those returning full-time and those returning part-time. Methods: Differences between men and women were also studied. A questionnaire was sent to 5,590 salaried employees who had been on sick leave for at least 90 days in 2000. The year after, 2001, they received a questionnaire which included questions about work status, working conditions, adjustment latitude and health. Results: The questionnaire was returned from 3056 persons. Among women 32% were fully back to work, 34% were partly back and 34% were still on sick leave. Comparable figures for men were 33%, 32% and 36%. Conclusion: For both men and women the likelihood to RTW increased with increasing number of opportunities to adjust. Adjustment latitude increased returning to part-time as well as full-time work. The study indicates that work organisation is important for RTW.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bergman, Peter N., et al.
(author)
-
Do job demands and job control affect problem-solving?
- 2012
-
In: Work. - : IOS Press. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 42:2, s. 195-203:42, s. 195-203
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The Job Demand Control model presents combinations of working conditions that may facilitate learning, the active learning hypothesis, or have detrimental effects on health, the strain hypothesis. To test the active learning hypothesis, this study analysed the effects of job demands and job control on general problem-solving strategies. Participants: A population-based sample of 4,636 individuals (55% women, 45% men) with the same job characteristics measured at two times with a three year time lag was used. Methods: Main effects of demands, skill discretion, task authority and control, and the combined effects of demands and control were analysed in logistic regressions, on four outcomes representing general problem-solving strategies. Results: Those reporting high on skill discretion, task authority and control, as well as those reporting high demand/high control and low demand/high control job characteristics were more likely to state using problem solving strategies. Conclusions: Results suggest that working conditions including high levels of control may affect how individuals cope with problems and that workplace characteristics may affect behaviour in the non-work domain.
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Blanco, Luis E., et al.
(author)
-
The determinants of dermal exposure ranking method (DERM) : A pesticide exposure assessment approach for developing countries
- 2008
-
In: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0003-4878 .- 1475-3162. ; 52:6, s. 535-544
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A new method for assessment of dermal exposure to pesticides in subsistence farmers by use of determinants of dermal exposure is described. The method, called the determinants of dermal exposure ranking method (DERM), is a combination of checklists and expert rating assessment. Thus, determinants are listed in a form, which is used to check their presence and to assess them using a simple algorithm based on two factors, the type of transport process (T value) and the area of body surface exposed (A value). In addition, the type of clothing worn during applications is included as a protection factor. We applied the DERM to real pesticide applications, characterizing dermal exposure and comparing DERM estimates with earlier developed semiquantitative visual scores based on fluorescent tracer, the total visual score (TVS) and contaminated body area (CBA). DERM showed a very good level of agreement with both the TVS (r = 0.69, P = 0.000) and the CBA (r = 0.67, P = 0.000). DERM allowed identification of the determinants that had the highest effect on exposure and the farmers with the highest exposure. In conclusion, DERM provided information on the determinants responsible for dermal exposure in a group of subsistence farmers. This can be useful to design monitoring and preventive programs, define priorities for intervention and prioritize and select most adequate measurement strategies. DERM promises to be a low-cost easy-to-use method to assess dermal exposure to pesticides in developing country conditions.
|
|
| 6. |
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Hultin, Hanna, et al.
(author)
-
Lack of Adjustment Latitude at Work as a Trigger of Taking Sick Leave : A Swedish Case-Crossover Study
- 2013
-
In: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 8:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectivesResearch has shown that individuals reporting a low level of adjustment latitude, defined as having few possibilities to temporarily adjust work demands to illness, have a higher risk of sick leave. To what extent lack of adjustment latitude influences the individual when making the decision to take sick leave is unknown. We hypothesize that ill individuals are more likely to take sick leave on days when they experience a lack of adjustment latitude at work than on days with access to adjustment latitude.MethodsA case-crossover design was applied to 546 sick-leave spells, extracted from a cohort of 1 430 employees at six Swedish workplaces, with a 3–12 month follow-up of all new sick-leave spells. Exposure to lack of adjustment latitude on the first sick-leave day was compared with exposure during several types of control periods sampled from the previous two months for the same individual.ResultsOnly 35% of the respondents reported variations in access to adjustment latitude, and 19% reported a constant lack of adjustment latitude during the two weeks prior to the sick-leave spell. Among those that did report variation, the risk of sick leave was lower on days with lack of adjustment latitude, than on days with access (Odds Ratio 0.36, 95% Confidence Interval 0.25–0.52).ConclusionsThis is the first study to show the influence of adjustment latitude on the decision to take sick leave. Among those with variations in exposure, lack of adjustment latitude was a deterrent of sick leave, which is contrary to the à priori hypothesis. These results indicate that adjustment latitude may not only capture long-lasting effects of a flexible working environment, but also temporary possibilities to adjust work to being absent. Further studies are needed to disentangle the causal mechanisms of adjustment latitude on sick-leave.
|
|
| 9. |
- Hultin, Hanna, et al.
(author)
-
Low level of adjustment latitude : a risk factor for sickness absence
- 2010
-
In: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 20:6, s. 682-688
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The prerequisite for obtaining sickness benefit is reduced work ability for medical reasons in combination with work demands which cannot be adjusted accordingly. The aim of this study was to investigate if low levels of adjustment latitude, defined as the possibility to temporarily adjust work demands in case of ill health, influence sickness absence. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 1420 employees (47% participation, aged 19-68; 56% women) was conducted at six Swedish workplaces. Exposure to two general and nine specific types of adjustment latitude was ascertained at baseline. Outcome was defined as the first new employer-reported sick-leave spell during a follow-up of 3-12 months. Hazard ratios (HR) of sick leave, with 95% confidence intervals (CI), were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: The incidence of sickness absence was 2.85/1000 person-days. The self-reported reasons for sick leave were mainly minor complaints such as colds, influenzas and headaches. Employees lacking adjustment latitude had an adjusted HR of sickness absence of 1.51 (95% CI 1.08-2.11). Among specific adjustment latitude types, those not having the possibility to work from home generated an HR of 1.86 (95% CI 1.31-2.64). The effects of lack of adjustment latitude were similar for men and women but seemed to vary between different occupations. Conclusion: A low level of adjustment latitude at work is a risk factor for sickness absence.
|
|
| 10. |
- Hultin, Hanna, et al.
(author)
-
Low Workload as a Trigger of Sick Leave Results From a Swedish Case-Crossover Study
- 2012
-
In: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. - : Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. - 1076-2752 .- 1536-5948. ; 54:2, s. 202-209
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To investigate if exposure to an unusually low workload when ill can trigger taking sick leave. Methods: A case-crossover design was applied to 546 sick-leave spells obtained from a cohort of 1430 employees within six Swedish workplaces. New sick-leave spells were reported from the workplaces during 3 to 12 months follow-up. Exposure was assessed in structured participant interviews at sick leave. Case and control periods from the same individual were sampled according to the matched-pair and usual-frequency approaches. Results are presented as odds ratios with surrounding 95% confidence intervals. Results: The odds ratio of sick leave on a day with an unusually low workload was 2.57 (confidence interval, 1.07-6.16). Conclusions: Becoming ill on a day with a lower workload than usual can trigger the decision to take sick leave.
|
|
