Veterans' attitudes toward work and disability compensation: Associations with substance abuse

Introduction

Veterans deemed disabled for conditions resulting from, or aggravated by, their service in the military are eligible for service-connected disability payments. Despite many positive effects of disability payments, one concern is that Veterans with psychiatric conditions who receive disability payments are less likely to be employed compared to those who are denied benefits. Little is known about the attitudes of substance using Veterans, for whom work is a particularly important part of recovery, toward work and disability compensation.

Methods

This study compared the responses of Veterans with (n = 33) and without substance use problems (n = 51) to questions about work's significance and its relationship to disability payments. T- and chi-square tests were conducted to determine if Veterans with substance use problems differed from the others on work-related attitudes and perceptions of the relation between work and Veterans' benefits.

Results

Veterans endorsed high levels of agreement with statements that working would lead to loss of benefits. Veterans with substance use agreed more strongly that they would rather turn down a job offer than lose financial benefits.

Conclusions

The greater preference for disability payments among substance-using Veterans may reflect a realistic concern that they are particularly likely to have difficulty maintaining employment. The widespread concern among Veterans that work will lead to loss of VA disability payments is striking given the ambiguity about how likely loss of benefits actually is, and should be addressed during the service-connection application process.     

以就业为导向的卫生信息管理专业课程体系探究

以福建省某高职院校为例,结合其2013-2018届学生的就业情况,对卫生信息管理专业成立8年来的课程体系变化进行研究,分析其变化趋势及原因,指出目前课程体系存在的不足之处,提出课程体系的设置应以就业岗位与市场需求为导向,要重视强化实践教学环节;与时俱进,探索多形式课程体系改革模式;构建核心课程体系,培养适合市场需求的高素质技能型专门人才。     

Which features of Parkinson's disease predict earlier exit from the workforce?

IntroductionFew objective data exist regarding predictors of leaving the workforce (LWF) in Parkinson's disease (PD).MethodsEmployed PD patients were followed prospectively. Baseline demographics, disease duration, and measures of disease severity, cognition, disability, and mental health were compared between patients working at last follow-up versus those who left the workforce using student's t-tests and multivariate analyses controlling for age, gender, and PD duration.ResultsOf 419 employed patients, 224 had left the workforce by last follow-up. Patients who left the workforce were more likely to be older, female, have lower-income, and have longer PD duration. LWF patients had greater baseline depression, anxiety, and overall psychiatric distress. PD severity did not differ between groups.ConclusionDemographics, disease duration, and mental health contribute to LWF, but not motor severity. Age, gender and income contributions are difficult to modify but important to recognize. Worse baseline mental health is associated with LWF, suggesting a potential target for intervention.     

国内外高等医学院校毕业生就业状况监测指标体系比较研究

高等医学院校毕业生的就业状况在世界各国均颇受重视,良好的就业状况是本国人才储备与社会发展的根基。本文针对当前国内外高等医学院校毕业生就业状况监测指标体系开展比较研究,总结就业状况监测的改善方向,进一步提出针对我国高等医学院校毕业生就业状况的最佳监测指标体系,从而保证就业状况监测工作的有效性,为评价高等医学院校就业状况提供准确的判断依据。     

临床医学专业本科毕业生基层就业观调查分析

目的分析2所医学高等院校临床医学专业本科毕业生的基层就业观,探讨推进高校毕业生面向基层就业的对策。方法在安徽省2所医学院校781名2007届临床医学专业应届本科毕业生中,以问卷方式调查毕业生的一般情况、工作落实情况、是否同意在基层工作及不愿意去基层工作的原因等择（就）业观念,进行基本的统计学分析。结果毕业生择业意向偏高,对于服务基层热情不高,而阻碍毕业生下基层的主要原因是相应的体制瓶颈,同时与毕业生对服务基层相关政策的了解程度也存在相关性。结论通过改变毕业生的主观认识,改进政策体制、医疗设施等服务基层的客观环境,充分实现毕业生服务基层。     

Managing arthritis and employment: Making arthritis‐related work changes as a means of adaptation

Objective

To understand arthritis‐related workplace changes, including occasional work loss and changes to the type and hours of work, and the factors associated with them using theories of adaptation and behavior change as a framework.

Methods

Participants were 492 employed individuals with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. They completed an interview‐administered, structured questionnaire assessing demographic, workplace, and psychosocial variables, as well as such work transitions as changes to the hours, type, and nature of work. Hypotheses were examined using multiple linear regression.

Results

Seventy percent of respondents made at least 1 work change. Younger participants and those with greater workplace activity limitations reported more changes. Work changes were associated with greater depression. A hypothesized 3‐way interaction among people's perceptions of their capacity, their future job expectations, and whether they had told their employer about their arthritis was significant.

Conclusion

This study extends arthritis employment research by examining a range of work changes. It highlights the dynamic interplay among arthritis, workplace, and psychosocial variables to understand adaptation to arthritis disability.

     

Functional and environmental factors affecting work status in individuals with longstanding poliomyelitis

Introduction

Remunerative employment is a major concern of individuals with chronic disabilities, among them, those with longstanding poliomyelitis (LSP). Although LSP is not rare there are almost no data related to work participation.

Purpose

The aims of the current study were to determine the effects of a number of social and functional variables as barriers or facilitators to work participation in persons with LSP.

Patients and methods

Charts of 123 LSP patients of working age that were seen in the post-polio outpatient clinic, between the years 2000 and 2005 were reviewed for the study. Data on age, gender, family status, level of function in activities of daily living, basic, and extended (B-ADL and E-ADL), and mobility were then analyzed for correlation to the vocational status.

Results

Seventy-two people (58.5%) were employed at the time of the survey. Gender and marital status were not found to significantly differ as regard to employment. Using assistive devices for mobility or being dependent for basic ADL were associated with lower levels of employment. Driving was positively associated with the employment status of the LSP individuals.

Conclusion

Persons with LSP encounter important barriers to work participation, particularly on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) components of activity and environment.     

护理学专业社区方向本科生就业情况及其影响因素研究

目的调查某护理学院护理学专业社区方向本科生就业现状及影响因素。方法采用问卷和团体访谈方法对33名护理学专业社区方向本科毕业生进行调查。结果 33名学生中没有到社区卫生服务机构就业的。学生都认可社区卫生服务机构是专业对口单位,但"社区卫生服务机构不招聘或招聘时间太晚""发现工作内容与意愿不一致"以及社区实习教学中存在的问题影响学生的就业选择。结论护理学专业社区方向本科毕业生没有选择对口的社区卫生服务机构就业,应引起护理教育者足够的重视,并采取措施解决问题。