Job strain and sick leave among Japanese employees: a longitudinal study

Objectives: The present study is an investigation of the association between job stress, determined on the basis of a demand–control model or worksite social support at the baseline, and absence due to illness among employed Japanese males and females. Methods: We analyzed 448 male and 81 female subjects who had taken no sick leave in the year preceding the baseline (1997) and observed them all until 1999. A self-administered questionnaire was the source information collected. It consisted of questions on socio-demographic variables, occupations, health-related behavior, a Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire, and the number of absences in the year preceding both the baseline and follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine how the characteristics of a job at the baseline affected sickness absence of 5 days or longer per year; controls were established for the gender, age, level of education completed, occupation, number of cigarettes smoked daily, and the amount of alcohol consumed weekly. Results: Compared to the lowest tertile of the ratio of demand to control (job strain), the highest tertile was significantly associated with an increased risk of sickness absence of 5 days or longer per year (odds ratio 3.02; 95%CI 1.00–9.16) at follow-up. The dose–response relationship was supported (p for trend <0.05). However, individual variables of job demand, job control, and worksite social support were not significantly associated with the risk of absence from illness. Conclusions: The study provided prospective evidence that job strain leads to an increased risk of sick leave among Japanese employees.     

Validation of sick leave measures: self-reported sick leave and sickness benefit data from a Danish national register compared to multiple workplace-registered sick leave spells in a Danish municipality

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Previous validation studies of sick leave measures have focused on self-reports. Register-based sick leave data are considered to be valid; however methodological problems may be associated with such data. A Danish national register on sickness benefit (DREAM) has been widely used in sick leave research. On the basis of sick leave records from 3,554 and 2,311 eldercare workers in 14 different workplaces, the aim of this study was to: 1) validate registered sickness benefit data from DREAM against workplace-registered sick leave spells of at least 15 days; 2) validate self-reported sick leave days during one year against workplace-registered sick leave. METHODS: Agreement between workplace-registered sick leave and DREAM-registered sickness benefit was reported as sensitivities, specificities and positive predictive values. A receiver-operating characteristic curve and a Bland-Altman plot were used to study the concordance with sick leave duration of the first spell. By means of an analysis of agreement between self-reported and workplace-registered sick leave sensitivity and specificity was calculated. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals (95% CI) were used. RESULTS: The probability that registered DREAM data on sickness benefit agrees with workplace-registered sick leave of at least 15 days was 96.7% (95% CI: 95.6-97.6). Specificity was close to 100% (95% CI: 98.3-100). The registered DREAM data on sickness benefit overestimated the duration of sick leave spells by an average of 1.4 (SD: 3.9) weeks. Separate analysis on pregnancy-related sick leave revealed a maximum sensitivity of 20% (95% CI: 4.3-48.1).The sensitivity of self-reporting at least one or at least 56 sick leave day/s was 94.5 (95% CI: 93.4 -- 95.5) % and 58.5 (95% CI: 51.1 -- 65.6) % respectively. The corresponding specificities were 85.3 (95% CI: 81.4 -- 88.6) % and 98.9 (95% CI: 98.3 -- 99.3) %. CONCLUSIONS: The DREAM register offered valid measures of sick leave spells of at least 15 days among eldercare employees. Pregnancy-related sick leave should be excluded in studies planning to use DREAM data on sickness benefit. Self-reported sick leave became more imprecise when number of absence days increased, but the sensitivity and specificity were acceptable for lengths not exceeding one week.     

Screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors among employees of a hospital]

A health promotion and screening program for the detection of the major risk factors for ischemic heart disease was carried out in 1990 among the employees (n = 4,521; 70% female) of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV). The prevalence of risk factors among the 1,425 employees (73% female) who took part in the study (participation rate: males 29%, females 33%) was compared with the prevalence of risk factors within three other populations: 1) new CHUV employees, who are systematically screened (n = 424: 71% female); 2) a representative sample of the general population; and 3) a group of employees from 44 companies located in the same region. Smoking was the most common of the three main risk factors; its prevalence was lowest among CHUV employees and highest among employees of the 44 firms. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and high blood pressure was variable among the different populations. These variations could partly be due to differences in methodologies and measurement conditions, but could not totally be explained in this way.     

Risk factors and reported sick leave among employees of Saab-Scania, Link?ping, Sweden, between the ages of 50 and 59

An investigation group, consisting of all 1313 employees in the age range 50-59 years, in 1975 was called during working time to the Company's Physical Training Centre to have certain risk factors assessed. The evaluation included an interview which covered risk factors such as smoking and exercise habits and measurements such as systolic blood pressure, height, weight and certain anthropometric measurements. Information was also obtained from the personnel records regarding sex, age, form of employment, education code and reported sick leave in 1974 and 1975 for the workers, and between 1970 and 1975 for the salaried employees. The total number of dropouts was 238, or 18%. Absenteeism among those who did not participate in the interview and measurements was markedly higher than for those who did. The fact that this group dropped out of the investigation implies a high risk and a need for preventive programmes. The single risk factor that showed the strongest connection with absenteeism was a low degree of physical activity during leisure hours. The design of this study as a cross-section investigation limits its use to assessing the current degree of correlation between different risk factors and absenteeism. We cannot, then, predict future illness on the basis of these findings.     

Team climate,intention to leave and turnover among hospital employees: Prospective cohort study

Background  

In hospitals, the costs of employee turnover are substantial and intentions to leave among staff may manifest as lowered performance. We examined whether team climate, as indicated by clear and shared goals, participation, task orientation and support for innovation, predicts intention to leave the job and actual turnover among hospital employees.     

Evaluation of the relationship between sick building syndrome complaints among hospital employees and indoor environmental quality

Background:Sick building syndrome (SBS) is defined as a condition occurring in people who live or work in a modern building and who suffer from complaints such as headache, fatigue, lack of concentration, and irritation of the skin and mucous membranes.Objectives:The aim of this study is to examine the complaints associated with SBS in the employees of our hospital and evaluate the relationship between the characteristics of the work environment and the complaints of SBS.Methods:890 workers participated in the study. The complaints of the participants were rated and the sum of all complaints was recorded as the Total Complaint Score (TCS). The mean TCS of the participants was compared according to demographic characteristics and work environment characteristics.Results:The most common complaints among the employees were fatigue (40%), and general muscle and joint pain (31.4%). There was a statistically significant difference in TCS according to the position (p < 0.001). The mean TCS was significantly higher in females [13 (0–81)] than in males [6 (0–59)] (p < 0.001). The mean TCS increased with the presence of odor, new wall paint, the presence of fungus/mold on walls, and the presence of rotting/mold smell (p < 0.001, for all). TCS positively correlated with stress level, social relationship, noise level, comfort, cleanliness, number of employees in the same room, presence of odor, new wall paint, presence of rotting/mold, and use of chemical materials for cleaning in the room (p < 0.001, for all), and negatively correlated with room size and number of windows (p = 0.006, p < 0.001, respectively).Discussion:The present study found that the female gender, a high level of education, a high level of stress, a low level of social relationships and work environment characteristics were associated with the complaints of SBS among the employees. Accordingly, we believe that hospital management should be informed in order for the managers to take precautions and make new regulations.     

Organisational and occupational risk factors associated with work related injuries among public hospital employees in Costa Rica

Aims: To explore the relation between occupational and organisational factors and work related injuries (WRI) among public hospital employees in Costa Rica.     

企业员工工作满意度及影响因素分析

目的 了解企业员工工作满意度状况,探讨影响工作满意度的主要因素。方法 采用横断面调查,于2010年9月,随机抽取沈阳市某企业的1 000名员工进行问卷调查;采用明尼苏达满意度问卷(MSQ)测量工作满意度,付出-回报失衡问卷(ER I)测量职业紧张,组织支持感量表(POS)测量组织支持感。应用分层回归分析影响员工工作满意度的因素。结果 该企业员工总体满意度平均为(63.81±11.44),分层回归显示,工作状况变量、职业紧张变量及组织变量对工作满意度解释的变异量分别为15.7%、9.9%、8.6%。结论 该企业员工的总体满意度不高,主要影响因素为工作状况、职业紧张及组织支持感。     

Unintended pregnancy and its risk factors among university students in eastern China

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and contraceptive use, and factors associated with unintended pregnancy among Chinese university students. STUDY DESIGN: A self-administered questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was administered among students in two universities in Ningbo, China, in November-December 2003. Sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with unintended pregnancy were identified in both genders using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Of sexually active students, 10.6% of male and 11.6% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of pregnancy; 10.0% of male and 11.3% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of induced abortion. The risk factors for unintended pregnancy identified among males by multivariate analysis were older age [odds ratio (OR), 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-3.88], initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.36-4.44), reported lack of condom use in first sexual activity (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.64), multiple sexual partners (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.06-2.23), and often used condoms during their lifetime (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.01-3.81). The identified risk factors among females were initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 1.49-17.68), non-consensual sexual intercourse as first sex (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.08-2.90), multiple partners (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.61-4.71), and sometimes/never (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.16-7.87) or often (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.43-10.73) used condoms during their lifetime. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions in this population indicates a need for better and targeted sex education and family planning services.     

Worker-on-worker violence among hospital employees

Violence toward hospital workers is an internationally recognized occupational hazard. While patients are frequently perpetrators of physical violence, other employees are often responsible for acts of nonphysical violence. However, few hospitals have systems for documenting and monitoring worker-on-worker violence. This study encompassed all incidents of worker-on-worker violence recorded by employees in a hospital system database over a six-year period. Incidence rates per 100 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and rate ratios (RR) were calculated by year, hospital, and job category. The majority (87%) of worker-on-worker incidents involved nonphysical conflict. The overall incidence rate was 1.65/100 FTEs, ranging among the six hospitals from 0.54 to 3.42/100 FTEs. Based on multivariate analysis, no single professional group was at increased risk for worker-on-worker violence. Co-worker violence threatens the well-being of hospital employees and should be regularly tracked with other forms of workplace violence so that suitable intervention programs can be implemented and assessed.     

Downsizing of staff is associated with lowered medically certified sick leave in female employees

Methods: The 5720 employees (aged 18–65) were from the WOLF study of cardiovascular risk factors in working men and women in greater Stockholm during the years 1992–95. From the medical examination a cardiovascular score was calculated for each participant. The WOLF study base was linked to a Statistics Sweden registry of economic and administrative activities. Sick leave spells lasting for at least 15 days during the calendar year following downsizing/expansion were identified for each subject.

Results: In multiple logistic regression an increased likelihood of having no medically certified sick leave (15 days or more) was found in women during the year following both downsizing and expansion. These analyses were adjusted for age and cardiovascular score. A high cardiovascular risk score reduced the likelihood of having no medically certified sick leave. The inclusion of psychosocial work environment variables did not change the results markedly. Separate analyses of women with and without high cardiovascular score showed that downsizing had a more pronounced effect on reduced long term sick leave among those with high than among those without low cardiovascular score. There were no consistent findings in men.

Conclusions: There is evidence of a reduction of long term sick leave in women after downsizing and this is particularly evident among those with high cardiovascular score.

     

A multivariate analysis of risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection among hospital employees screened for vaccination

Previous studies of risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection among hospital employees have been based on surveys in single institutions or have been analyzed with univariate techniques. From November 1980 through August 1981, the authors performed a multi-institutional seroepidemiologic survey of hospital employees screened for entrance into a hepatitis B vaccine trial who represented groups at high risk for hepatitis B infection. Using a logistic regression model for the analysis of risk factors, the investigators determined the relative odds and 95% confidence intervals for risk of hepatitis B infection to be as follows: race (nonwhite/white: 3.4; 2.4-4.8) (p less than 0.001); history of acute viral hepatitis of an unspecified type (3.6; 2.2-5.9) (p less than 0.001); and employment at hospitals 1 through 5 as compared with hospital 6 (1.8; 1.1-2.9) (p = 0.015). In addition, certain job categories and the duration of employment within some of these categories were associated with increasing risk for hepatitis B infection over time. Laboratory workers (1.4; 1.2-1.7), surgical staff (1.2; 1.1-1.4), and medical staff (1.3; 1.1-1.5) had significant (p less than 0.05) increased risk of prior infection with longer duration of employment. Such time-job interaction was not demonstrable for nursing staff, anesthesiology staff, dental personnel, pathology staff, or ancillary personnel. The logistic regression model also shows that the highest gradient of risk for laboratory workers, surgeons, and medical staff occurs during the first five years of employment. An effective preventive strategy, such as the use of hepatitis B vaccine, should be targeted for these groups at the time of initial employment.     

Reading fiction during sick leave,a multidimensional occupation

Background: In bibliotherapy, the therapeutic gains of reading fiction are ascribed to the literature. Viewing reading fiction as an occupation may give other explanations of its therapeutic function. Aim: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of reading fiction among women during a period of sick leave. Material and methods: A qualitative approach was applied. Eight women who had been reading fiction during sick leave were interviewed. Results: An overarching theme: Supporting one’s active self, comprised five categories of experiences: a prospect of ordinary life, a place of refuge, a life together with others, a source of power, and as supporting an active life. Conclusion and significance: Based on the categories, reading fiction is seen to comprise intentional, functional, mental, relational, and personal dimensions. A tentative model of supporting one’s active self is proposed, which may be helpful in clarifying the mechanisms of the process of change. The health-related dimensions of reading fiction suggest that reading fiction should be regarded as a significant occupation comparable with other, more highlighted ones. Understood in this way, it is argued that the results add to the knowledge base in occupational therapy focusing on how meaningful occupations connect to occupational life trajectories.     

Work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave in patients with neck or upper extremity complaints

Objectives To study work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for sick leave among patients who have visited their general practitioner for neck or upper extremity complaints. Methods Three hundred and forty two patients with neck or upper extremity complaints completed self-report questionnaires at baseline and after 3 months. Cox regression models were used to investigate the association between work-related risk factors and sick leave (i.e., lost days from work due to neck or upper extremity complaints in 3 months). Effect modification by sick leave at baseline, sex, worrying and musculoskeletal co-morbidity was evaluated by adding product terms to the regression models. Results In the subgroup of patients who scored high on the pain copying scale “worrying” the hazard ratio of sick leave was 1.32 (95% CI 1.07–1.62) per 10% increase in heavy physical work. The subgroup of patients who were sitting for long periods of time had a reduced risk of sick leave as compared to patients who did not spend a lot of time sitting, again only in patients who scored high on the pain coping scale “worrying” (adjusted HR = 0.17, 95%-CI 0.04–0.72). Other work-related risk factors were not significantly related to sick leave. Conclusions Heavy physical work increased the risk of sick leave and prolonged sitting reduced the risk of sick leave in a subgroup of patients who worried much about their pain. Additional large longitudinal studies of sufficiently large size among employees with neck or upper extremity complaints are needed to confirm our results.