bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of shiftwork related fatigue on the family life of	train operators: Implications for safety and health professionals
Authors: Holland Dennis W.
Published: December 2024

Drawing upon an original research study about the effects of fatigue on train operators, the present article focuses upon family issues as having the most significant impact on the participants. Family support, for example, represents an important mechanism for managing and coping with fatigue. Family support comprises understanding of the physiological and emotional issues surrounding shiftwork and erratic work schedules.

This article explores the impact of fatigue upon a variety of family and relational issues. This inquiry describes the impact of family on the broader employee view of managing fatigue that considers such comprehensive issues as perception of the work environment, emotional stability, personal control concerns and other positive attributes. These issues ultimately impact the health, productivity and performance of employees. Final discussion includes implications for workplace application of the research findings.
Reliability of normalisation methods for EMG analysis of neck	muscles
Authors: Netto Kevin J. , Burnett Angus F.
Published: December 2024

Acceptable reliability of normalisation contractions in electromyography (EMG) is paramount for testing conducted over a number of days or if normal laboratory strength testing equipment is unavailable. This study examined the reliability of maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and sub-maximal (60%) isometric contractions for use in neck muscle EMG studies. Surface EMG was recorded bilaterally from eight sites around the neck at C4/5 level from five healthy male subjects. Subjects performed MVIC and sub-maximal normalisation contractions using an isokinetic dynamometer (ID) and a portable cable dynamometer with attached strain gauge (PCD) in addition to a MVIC against a manual resistance (MR). Subjects were tested in flexion, extension, left and right lateral bending and were retested by the same tester within a two-week period. Intra class correlation co-efficients (ICC) were calculated for each testing method and contraction direction and a mean ICC was calculated across all contraction directions. All normalisation methods produced excellent within-day reliability (mean ICC >0.80) but only the MVICs using the ID and PCD had acceptable reliability when assessed between-days. This study confirmed the validity of using MVICs elicited using the ID and PCD as reliable reference contractions for the normalisation of neck EMG.
Return to work still possible after several years as a disability	pensioner due to musculoskeletal disorders: A population-based study after new	legislation in Sweden permitting "Resting disability pension"
Authors: Edén Lena , Andersson Ingemar H. , Ejlertsson Göran , Ekström Britt Inger , Johansson Yvonne , Leden Ido , Petersson Jan
Published: December 2024

Different strategies have been used to stimulate a return to work (RTW) among individuals suffering from long-term ailments. In Sweden a new law on "resting disability pension" permits disability pensioners to go back to work without jeopardising their benefits. In this study different variables related to RTW during 2000 by means of this legislation were identified among disability pensioners with musculoskeletal disorders. Individuals in the study group, when compared to a control group, had more often been disability pensioners for several years, had additional education, estimated their previous job to have been physically strenuous to a lesser degree, were more satisfied with the treatment at the social insurance office and had a more positive self-image. This study shows that it may be meaningful to continue/resume rehabilitation efforts and to try to motivate an individual suffering from musculoskeletal disorders to return to work even after several years as a disability pensioner.
How can cooperation between rehabilitation professionals in	rehabilitation planning be improved? A qualitative study from the employer's	perspective
Authors: Gard Gunvor , Larsson Agneta
Published: December 2024

Research shows that there are often problems with cooperation between rehabilitation professionals within vocational rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to describe employers' experiences of how cooperation between different rehabilitation professionals can be improved in a vocational rehabilitation planning process. Ten employers who had sent their employees to vocational rehabilitation at a rehabilitation centre in the north of Sweden during 2000 and 2001 participated in the study. Qualitative interviews were performed and analysed by thematic content analysis. The employers' cooperation with clients could be improved by a focus on clients' needs and participation in the rehabilitation process. The employers cooperation with Social Insurance companies could be improved by, 1) early prevention and intervention, 2) knowledge of each other's roles, responsibilities and opportunities and 3) priority making. The employers' cooperation with rehabilitation professionals could be improved by, 1) early identification of rehabilitation needs and goals and early rehabilitation and, 2) increased focus on own responsibilities from each part in the process.
Job matching and return to work: Occupational rehabilitation as	the link
Authors: Isernhagen Susan J.
Published: December 2024

Return to work after injury or illness is important for the worker and the employer. Medical providers manage and treat the worker with the illness or injury. Except in cases of focused specialists, the medical professional's role is to take care of a patient, rather than empower a worker. As much as there is promotion of the workers compensation health care system to be similar to sports medicine, there are significant dissimilarities. One major barrier is that the medical caregivers do not know the demands of jobs as they would know the details of sports. Thus, there is a gap in returning a worker to function as the medical professional cannot accurately match the worker to specific jobs. A new model of job function matching, based on research and skills of occupational rehabilitation professionals, is proposed to bridge the gap between the medical community, the employers and the workers.
The influence of a Functional Capacity Evaluation on fitness for	work certificates in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain
Authors: Oesch Peter R. , Kool Jan P. , Bachmann S. , Devereux J.
Published: December 2024

Background: Comprehensive medical assessments in the majority of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) have failed to assess working capacity. Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) has become increasingly popular in the evaluation of working capacity in CLBP patients. This study investigates the influence of functional testing on decision making concerning medical fitness assessments for work.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial comparing the effect of a function-centred (FCT) versus a pain-centred treatment (PCT) in patients with CLBP was performed. According to the legal requirements physicians issued Fitness for Work Certificates (FWCs) after rehabilitation. In the FCT group physicians were in possession of the results of FCE while this was not the case in the PCT group. Three experts assessed the FWCs and rated the quality and the information provided regarding working capacity in the previous work.

Results: Rating of the issued FWCs proved reliable (ICC=0.77–0.92). Quality of FWCs and information regarding working capacity in the previous work differed significantly between the two groups (chi-square, p=0.03, resp. =0.008). There was a trend towards a higher attested work capacity in the FCT group (Mann-Whitney, p=0.071).

Conclusions: Functional Capacity Evaluation positively influences quality and information regarding working capacity of medical Fitness for Work Certificates in patients with chronic low back pain.
Cultural diversity for health professions
Authors: Glazner Linda K.
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this article is to help focus attention on why clinical health professionals need to be concerned about cultural diversity. It is not intended to be an exhaustive report on cultural diversity. Rather, attention is focused on the practitioner and how this provider can and should use and understand cultural diversity. While most of the examples in this article come from the press in the United States, the information has a much broader, universal and global implication.
A review of employability and worksite interventions for persons	with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
Authors: Mahalik John , Shigaki Cheryl L. , Baldwin Diana , Johnstone Brick
Published: December 2024

Arthritis has a significant effect on the US workforce. Significant economic effects and racial disparities have been found in treatment and health outcomes for persons with arthritis. This literature review focuses on the most commonly studied forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), summarizing literature on employability trends, risk factors, and worksite health interventions for these conditions. Recommendations and future implications for research are given in relation to goals from Healthy People 2010. A brief description is provided of a worksite comparative study at the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC), seeking to improve long-term employability and functional outcomes for persons with arthritis.
Utilizing research in professional practice
Authors: Koch Lynn C. , Cook Bryan G. , Tankersley Melody , Rumrill Phillip
Published: December 2024

A review of the rehabilitation, disability studies, and allied health literature suggests the presence of numerous factors that impede the utilization of research by practitioners. The purpose of this article is to describe these factors and offer potential solutions that could enable rehabilitation professionals to integrate research findings into their practice. Specifically, the authors recommend strategies to (a) contextualize research throughout pre-service curricula, (b) establish researcher-stakeholder partnerships, (c) increase the accessibility of research to practitioners, and (d) establish professional and peer support for implementing research in field practice.
The use of the coefficient of variation in detecting sincerity of	effort: A meta-analysis
Authors: Shechtman Orit , Anton Stephen D. , Kanasky Jr. William F. , Robinson Michael E.
Published: December 2024

The coefficient of variation (CV) is used to determine sincerity of effort of strength measurements. However, there is a controversy in the literature concerning its validity and effectiveness. We used a meta-analytic approach and calculated the effect size between maximal and submaximal efforts for the CV of grip, elbow flexion and knee extension. We summarized findings concerning stability, sensitivity and specificity of the CV. We found large effect sizes (d ⩾ 0.8) for all comparisons indicating that submaximal efforts were more variable than maximal efforts. We also found large error rates and low stability of the CV. The error rates and stability values of the CV are unacceptable from both a clinical and a medico-legal standpoint. Therefore, the use of the CV for assessing sincerity of effort needs to be questioned.
Risk of disability pension in relation to gender and age in a	Swedish county; a 12-year population based, prospective cohort study
Authors: Karlsson Nadine , Borg Karin , Carstensen John , Hensing Gunnel , Alexanderson Kristina
Published: December 2024

Residents of the county of Östergötland, Sweden, who were 16–64 years of age in December 1984 and not pensioned (n=229,864), were followed in a prospective, cohort, study of data collected between 1985 and 1996. Using survival methods as the method of analysis, the likelihood of being granted a disability pension was 14% for women, 11% for men, and increased with age. Women less than 54 years of age were at higher risk than men (P<0.001), 69% of disability pensions granted were full-time and 31% were part-time, more women received part-time pensions (P<0.001). Whether the differences observed are due to gender bias in social insurance practices, to disease patterns, to occupational and work-related factors, or to a cohort effect has yet to be determined.
In-house work opportunities: Implications for housing	organizations serving persons living With HIV/AIDS
Authors: Egan Brad E. , Hoagland Joanne
Published: December 2024

Finding work and/or re-entering the workforce can be extremely challenging for persons living with HIV/AIDS. Also difficult is assisting them in the process, mostly because there is little documentation or resources about programs that provide vocational services specifically for this population. In response to this dilemma and because it was perceived as a win/win situation, three urban residential community organizations serving the HIV/AIDS population, decided independently to create in-house work opportunities for their clients. All of these organizations are a variation of the same theme: transitional/supportive housing for persons with HIV/AIDS that were formerly homeless and are now interested in becoming increasingly self-sufficient. This article will present a program description that addresses unique manner in which these three sites created in-house job programs in the areas of receptionist, kitchen, and maintenance work. More specifically, this paper will address the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations that guided program development.
Living long-term with HIV/AIDS: Exploring impact in psychosocial	and vocational domains
Authors: Vetter Charlene J. , Donnelly James P.
Published: December 2024

In the last decade, new treatments for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have led to improved health and longer life expectancies for many HIV-positive individuals. Coping with HIV/AIDS as a chronic, rather than terminal illness presents new challenges for those living with the disease and for service providers. This review of HIV/AIDS-related literature attempts to address the major medical, psychological and psychosocial challenges related to living long-term with HIV/AIDS and consider how they may present obstacles to attainment of educational and vocational goals for HIV-positive individuals. Implications for service providers and suggestions for future research are discussed. An exploratory study of needs assessment is proposed.
Return to work for individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus	(HIV) disease: Dichotomous outcome variable or personally-constructed narrative	challenge?
Authors: Presnell Scott
Published: December 2024

Advances in the management of HIV disease have increasingly focused attention on the possibilities of return to employment for individuals with HIV disease. However whilst mortality has decreased and life expectancies have lengthened, life for the individual with HIV remains both complex and unpredictable. This article explores the notion of return to work as narrative theme. A case study highlighting the narrative nature of how return to work might be conceptualised by the HIV positive individual is presented; ahead of a brief discussion as to how the lived reality of combination therapy may impact upon the individual's conceptualisation of employment in the broader context of their life story.
Psychometric properties of the Worker Role Interview
Authors: Forsyth Kirsty , Braveman Brent , Kielhofner Gary , Ekbladh Elin , Haglund Lena , Fenger Kristjana , Keller Jessica
Published: December 2024

Objectives. This study examined the psychometric properties of the rating scale of the Worker Role Interview (WRI). The study also asked whether the scale's items formed a valid measure of the construct, psychosocial capacity for work, and whether they were targeted to and could effectively discriminate between persons at different levels of psychosocial ability for work.

Method of study. Data were collected from 21 raters on 440 participants from the United States, Sweden and Iceland. A many-faceted Rasch model was used to analyze the data.

Results. Most items of the scale worked effectively to measure the underlying construct for which the WRI was designed. In addition, the items were ordered from least to more of the underlying construct as expected. The scale validly measured 90.23% of the participants, who varied by nationality, culture, age and diagnostic status. The scale's items distinguished participants into approximately three different strata and were appropriately targeted to the participants. Seventeen of the 21 raters used scale in a valid manner.

Conclusions. The WRI scale and items are valid across ages, diagnoses, and culture and effectively measure a wide range of persons.
Worker role identity development of women with disabilities who	experience domestic violence
Authors: Helfrich Christine A. , Badiani Chaula , Simpson Emily K.
Published: December 2024

This two-year longitudinal qualitative study explored worker role identity development of seven women with disabilities who experienced domestic violence. Yearly semi-structured interviews and monthly follow up calls elucidated the meaning of work in women's lives and the development of role identity during transitions from shelters to the community. Participants aged 26–47, were from two domestic violence shelters and an independent living center in the Midwestern United States. Data analyses, using constant comparative methods, a peer team and member checking, revealed that women's work roles remained in a state of identity diffusion. Identity diffusion in the worker role was delineated into three themes: role ambivalence, impact of disability, and relationship of the worker role to other roles. Study findings suggest a conflict between staff urgency to support women's return to work and economic self-sufficiency, and women's readiness to assume stronger work identities.
Workplace accommodations: Evidence based outcomes
Authors: Schartz Helen A. , Hendricks D.J. , Blanck Peter
Published: December 2024

One central component to meaningful employment for people with disabilities is the ADA's workplace accommodation provision that allows qualified individuals to perform essential job functions. Little empirical evidence is available to evaluate the costs, benefits, and effectiveness of accommodations. Previous research has focused on direct costs. This article advocates an inclusive accommodation cost/benefit analysis to include direct and indirect costs and benefits and to differentiate disability-related accommodation costs from typical employee costs. The inclusive cost/benefit analysis is applied to preliminary data from interviews with employers who contacted the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). Results suggest that accommodations are low cost, beneficial and effective.
Information technology (IT) accessibility: Implications for	employment of people with disabilities
Authors: Bruyère Susanne M. , Erickson William , VanLooy Sara
Published: December 2024

Online technology has made significant inroads into human resource (HR) processes such as recruitment, benefits, and training, yet many web sites are inaccessible to people with disabilities. Cornell University surveyed 433 HR representatives regarding their organizations' use of information and Web technology in HR processes. Survey results report that nine of the ten organizations use Web processes for job postings, eight of ten for online benefits information dissemination, and about six out of ten for online benefits self service and online employee training. Employee use of computers was extensive, with the majority using computers more than half the workday. Knowledge of assistive technologies for computer users with disabilities and of Web accessibility considerations was low, but nearly half the respondents reported having made some type of adaptation to make a computer accessible to an employee with a disability. Very few organizations had trained any of their staff in Web accessibility topics or in making computers accessible, and the majority desired more information on those topics. These findings have implications not only for people with disabilities, but for the general workforce, which is aging.
Including employees with disabilities in emergency evacuation	plans: 9/11's Effect on the demand for information
Authors: Loy Beth , Hirsh Anne , Batiste Linda Carter
Published: December 2024

Interest in emergency evacuation planning has increased since the September 11 terrorist attacks (9/11). In turn, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) started receiving more questions about how to include employees with disabilities in such plans. JAN case data on the emergency evacuation of people with disabilities were reviewed. Case data from the four years prior to 9/11 (from September 11, 1997, to September 11, 2001) were compared to case data from the four years after 9/11 (from September 11, 2001, to September 11, 2005).
Constituents of healthy workplaces
Authors: Arwedson Ingrid Lindin , Roos Susanne , Björklund Anita
Published: December 2024

The aim of the study presented here was to identify and characterize the constituents of a healthy workplace from the viewpoints of employees at four different companies with low rate of absenteeism due to illness. A non-randomized, purposive selection was made of 27 respondents – four department heads, 16 white-collar workers, and seven blue-collar employees. The respondents were told to describe in writing how they experience factors contributing to good health at their workplace. The data analysis was carried out with a phenomenographic approach. Four main categories of health-related factors emerged: Good Work Environment, Active Keep-Fit Measures, Functional Leadership and Individual Responsibility. The employers fulfil demands for a good physical working environment, but the need for improvements in the psychosocial environment remains. The most promising finding is that the respondents' accept personal responsibility for maintaining their own good health.
The impact of procedure type, jurisdiction and other factors in	workers' compensation on work-disability outcomes following carpal tunnel	surgery
Authors: Wasiak Radoslaw , Pransky Glenn
Published: December 2024

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is often work-related and associated with prolonged disability. While surgical treatment is common, an alternative endoscopic procedure has been promoted as a way of achieving better outcomes. However, little is known about typical use of the procedure and whether it actually achieves outcomes in community settings. From workers' compensation claims reported to an insurer in six jurisdictions during 1995–1999, we identified 1697 individuals with a single CTS surgery, 17% were treated using the endoscopic procedure. Bivariate analyses of post-surgical outcomes demonstrated that post-surgical work disability was shorter for those with endoscopic procedures (median 27 vs. 34 days, mean 62 vs. 85 days; p< 0.01). Medical costs following the procedure were also lower in the case of endoscopic procedure for those with any post-surgical medical costs (median $1,201 vs. $1,717, mean $5,733 vs. $7,084; p< 0.01). However, controlling for jurisdiction and other factors, these differences disappeared, suggesting that in CTS the type of care received was not a major determinant of outcomes. These findings reinforce the importance of community-based evaluations which include potential confounders to accurately evaluate the impact of medical technologies on work disability in occupational conditions.
Association between clinician-assessed lifting ability and	workplace tolerance and patient self-reported pain and disability following	work conditioning
Authors: Hart Dennis L. , Kirk Marian , Howar Julie , Mongeon Sheila
Published: December 2024

Objective: We investigated the association between clinician-assessed performance-based measures of improvement in lifting ability and workplace tolerance and patient self-reported improvement in pain and perceived disability following work conditioning (WC).

Methods: A sample of 76 patients (42 ± 9 yrs, 21 to 60 yrs, 74% male) was selected from a retrospective database because they had lumbar spine impairments and received treatment in a WC program. Patients completed self-report surveys for perceived disability (Oswestry), pain intensity (visual analog pain scale – VAS), and pain concerns (McGill short form) before initial functional capacity evaluation (FCE) and after termination of the WC program. During the FCE and during the WC, therapists assessed patient workplace tolerance (WT) and ability to lift from floor to waist (PDL).

Results: Over the WC program that averaged 19 (6 SD) days, Oswestry and VAS scores improved (P< 0.05), but the McGill scores did not (P=0.334). 72% of patients improved their PDL, and 64% met their WT goals. None of the associations between patient self-report scores and performance-based measures were significant (P>0.05).

Conclusions: In spite of continuing pain complaints, patients decreased their perceived disability and pain intensity, increased their lifting ability, and improved their workplace tolerance while participating in a work-conditioning program.
Worker satisfaction with a workplace injury prevention and	return-to-work program in a large Canadian hospital: The importance of an	integrated approach
Authors: Ouellette Veronic , Badii Maziar , Lockhart Karen , Yassi Annalee
Published: December 2024

Background: Workplace injuries cause considerable morbidity, requiring intervention programs with strong stakeholder support and effective interdisciplinary practitioner involvement. Such a program, called Prevention and Early Active Return-to-Work Safely (PEARS), decreased time loss and costs in a large Canadian hospital. However, it only attracted 39% of workers who reported injuries. This triggered a study of utilization and satisfaction with PEARS to determine areas to further enhance the program.

Methods: The hospital's occupational health department records identified 758 workers who reported a musculoskeletal injury (MSI) during the first year of PEARS, along with demographic and injury details. All were telephoned regardless of participation in the PEARS program.

Results: Of the 335 survey respondents, 136 had used PEARS. The most common reason justifying non-participation was perception of the injury as minor (45%). PEARS participants accessed significantly more resources than non-participants – including accessing physiotherapy (82.8% of participants versus 33.3% of non-participants) and physicians (74.8% versus 64.3%), and workplace assessments (37.9% versus 11.4%). Workplace assessment was the only component of the program that was perceived to be significantly more successful by PEARS participants (64.9%) versus non-participants (35.3%) (p=0.002).

Conclusion: The fact that the only significant difference in satisfaction of services between those who accessed PEARS versus those who did not related to the workplace assessments underscores the value of proving workplace assessments in the context of an integrated approach to primary and secondary prevention, in which there is a direct link to knowledgeable medical and rehabilitation professionals who provide clinical advice that dovetails with the reality of the workplace setting. A program that emphasizes workplace assessment as an important complement to medical advice and physiotherapy is, therefore, advisable to decrease work disability.
Introducing a school-to-work transition model for youth with	disabilities in South Africa
Authors: Nel Leonora , van der Westhuyzen Colette , Uys Kitty
Published: December 2024

Historically, transition from the school into sustainable employment has been the outcome for very few who completed their schooling at the Pretoria School for Learners with Special Educational Needs. This resulted in the development of a transition model, based on models successfully implemented in the United States of America, which addresses the range of transition needs of youth with disabilities in the South African context. This article gives a short description of the content of the program, and the context within which it functions.
Functional capacity evaluation: An essential component of South	African occupational therapy work practice services
Authors: Buys Tania , van Biljon Hester
Published: December 2024

South African occupational therapists have been involved in the delivery of work practice services since the inception of the profession in this country. Initial development in this area of practice appeared slow but following the acceptance of South Africa's first democratic Constitution in 1996, many opportunities for service delivery were facilitated by the implementation of disability equity legislation. One of the key services offered by practitioners is Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE). Although the outcomes of FCE are many, the process in essentially the same. This entails: referral, the initial interview, evaluation of performance components and ADL, vocational evaluation, obtaining collateral and the closure interview, the work visit, hypothesis testing and reporting. This article reports on the Functional Capacity Evaluation process as followed by South African occupational therapists in various contexts.
Occupational therapy students' contribution towards enabling	potential in a semi-rural community
Authors: Olivier Marlene , Oosthuizen Lauri , Casteleijn Daleen
Published: December 2024

Occupational therapy students at the University of Pretoria engage in a 7-week service learning fieldwork in their fourth year. This fieldwork takes place in a semi-rural community. The article reports on a successful project where the students enabled adult learners with disabilities to improve their engagement in meaningful activities and trained the learners in selected prevocational skills. The students included a teacher from the center and she was given the opportunity to expand her skills in teaching as well.

The ZOPP model of community project planning was used and proved to be a useful tool for students who have limited time for planning, implementation and evaluation of a project.
Health professionals' attitudes and practices in relation to	Functional Capacity Evaluations
Authors: James Carole , Mackenzie Lynette , Higginbotham Nick
Published: December 2024

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE's) are part of practice in work injury prevention and rehabilitation, and are designed to define an individual's functional abilities or limitations in the context of safe, productive work tasks.

Qualitative research methodology was used to investigate the attitudes and behaviours of health professionals in relation to FCE use. The study aimed to identify why health professionals chose a particular FCE, and to identify what factors influence health professionals' clinical judgements when providing results and recommendations for the individual being assessed. Five health professionals from the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, participated in semi-structured, individual interviews using a phenomenological approach. Following inductive analysis of the data, four themes reflecting participants' attitudes and behaviours of FCE use emerged: i) referrals and expectations, including why and when the assessment is completed ii) outcomes, – what the results aim to provide iii) workplace/practice/usage issues and iv) skills of the assessor.

The results indicate the need for further research on the clinical utility of FCE's. A large scale quantitative study would allow results to be generalised to a wider community of FCE users.
After fifteen years: The response of small businesses to the	Americans with Disabilities Act
Authors: Moore Dorothy Perrin , Moore Jamie Wallace , Moore Jamie L.
Published: December 2024

This study reports findings from field research on the perceptions of small business owners and managers of the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on their firms. Binary Logistic Regression analyses indicate that the majority of owners have positive attitudes toward the act and exhibit high levels of compliance. Firm support for the ADA and participation in carrying out its requirements is driven by both positive and negative factors and extends well beyond the group of businesses that under the law are required to comply with Titles I and III of the legislation. The results suggest strongly positive impacts of the ADA in the areas of accommodating customers with disabilities and disabled employees who are already on the job. Specific factors influencing compliance decisions and accommodations spending are incorporated in a proposed model of firm behavior.
Evidence-based practice in occupational health: Description and	application of an implementation effectiveness model
Authors: Sheldon Michael R.
Published: December 2024

Work-related muscuoloskeletal disorders (WMSDs) continue to represent the most costly category of occupational diseases. There is a growing body of literature regarding the causal nature of these injuries and effective intervention strategies. In this context, the consistent utilization of evidence-based practice (EBP) to address these problems can be viewed as one indicator of occupational health effectiveness. However, the routine integration of EBP remains elusive in occupational and physical therapy practice, including the occupational health arena. This article describes an implementation effectiveness model from the field of organizational management and applies it to the implementation of EBP within the occupational health practice arena. As a predictive or evaluative tool regarding implementation success, the model can assist clinic managers and clinicians in developing targeted approaches to EBP initiatives within any health care facility.
Further validation of Hanson's Learning Profile Indicator and	Silver, Hanson, and Strong's Teaching Style Inventory
Authors: Carifio James , Everritt Amy
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to validate Hanson's Learning Profile Inventory (LPI) and Teaching Style Inventory (TSI) further, and to assess the degree to which self-reported style preferences on these scales corresponded to actual observable learning and teaching style behaviors of students and teachers in differing instructional situations. No significant differences were found between the reported and observed learning and teaching style preferences of students and their instructors. Further, student and teacher classifications on the GEFT test of field independence/dependence corresponded to their classifications on the introversion/extroversion scale of the LPI and TSI further clarifying and validating this component of this scale on these two measures. This study was a formative study with a small sample (N=12) due to the burdens of observational ratings, which needs to be replicated with a confirmatory study.
A systems theory approach to career decision making
Authors: Zimmerman Angela L. , Kontosh Larry G.
Published: December 2024

Many career development studies have linked career indecision, an inability to make a decision about the vocation one wishes to pursue, to interpersonal and intrapersonal processes. Systems theory can help to explain the processes behind these concepts in a way that other theories have not been able to explain. Systems Theory Framework, (STF, Patton and McMahon, 1997), incorporates both the contextual system, e.g., parents and peers, and the individual system (i.e., STF's content component). Process, the second component, identifies the presence of recursive interaction processes within the individual and the context, as well as, between the individual and the context. STF brings back the value of interdependence. Specific systemic constructs are useful in career decision-making and can add a practical dimension on to the counseling process.
Work place issues surrounding healthcare professionals with	disabilities in the current labor market
Authors: Kontosh Larry G. , Fletcher Ina , Frain Michael , Winland-Brown Jill
Published: December 2024

Healthcare professionals, nurses with and without disabilities, administrators and personnel directors were surveyed to explore hiring practices and attitudes towards working with nurses with disabilities employed in clinical settings. Specifically the purpose of the study was to gather and analyze data regarding the perceptions of two groups towards nurses with disabilities: 1) employers and 2) other nurses (with and without a disability). The study defined a nurse with a disability as an RN who has an activity limitation, specifically an altered activity capability which limits mobility, ambulation, strength, coordination, or equilibrium. Findings suggest that nurses are more likely to be willing to work with an RN with a disability if they had worked with one in the past. However, overall acceptance of RNs with disabilities was not broad.
Problem gambling in the workplace, characteristics of employees	seeking help
Authors: Hawley Carolyn E. , Glenn Margaret K. , Diaz Sebastian
Published: December 2024

Few rigorous research studies exist to define the impact problem gambling may have on the workforce and the workplace. This study is an initial attempt to address this void by exploring the vocational patterns and demographics of callers with self report gambling problems to a state helpline. It utilizes Chi-squared Automatic Interaction (CHAID) Technique analysis to assess 1072 working age callers with gambling related problems. The goal of this exploratory investigation is to determine if the issue of problem gambling in the workplace warrants further research and, potentially, design of interventions. Discussion centers on the use of the information for development of employer based prevention and intervention efforts.
An ecological approach to facilitate successful employment	outcomes among people with multiple chemical sensitivity
Authors: Koch Lynn , Rumrill Phillip , Hennessey Mary , Vierstra Courtney , Roessler Richard T.
Published: December 2024

Many adults with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) must prematurely exit the workforce because of the severity of their MCS symptoms, the resulting disability stigma, and their unmet needs for on-the-job accommodations. To help individuals with MCS continue working or re-enter employment, rehabilitation professionals must understand the barriers resulting in unemployment and implement interventions to reduce or remove those barriers. In this article, the Ecological Model of Career Development is presented as a scheme for identifying barriers and implementing rehabilitation interventions to improve the employment outcomes among people with MCS.
Situational leadership and persons with disabilities
Authors: Cubero Christopher G.
Published: December 2024

Does situational leadership style impact workers with disabilities? Situational leadership as a model and style of organizational management is defined. With a concentration on workers with disabilities, employer and employee perceptions of the workplace environment are analyzed as a contributing factor to the choice of leadership styles. Leadership style and its potential impact on workers with disabilities are included. Advantages of situational leadership style as an organizational model for managers that matches the intricate needs of workers with disabilities are argued. Methods for increasing awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities in the workplace and improving leadership models are discussed. Implications and potential outcomes for workers with disabilities based on the use of situational leadership by managers are discussed.
A new model for vocational rehabilitation at an organizational	level – A pilot study with promising results
Authors: Sjöbom V. , Marnetoft S.-U.
Published: December 2024

Sick leave has negative economic consequences for companies. The aim of this study was to implement the model Organizational Rehabilitation in two departments at an industrial company in the county of Jämtland, Sweden, to see if it was possible to reduce the costs due to sick leave. The rehabilitation model consisted of three steps and combined economy and productivity with a good psychosocial work environment, measuring the result in costs. Step 1 consisted of a problem inventory among all co-workers, step 2 semi structured interviews with all co-workers regarding how they experience their work environment and step 3 individual agreements regarding rehabilitation interventions, i.e. interventions where the individual's specific needs and wishes outlined the foundation for rehabilitation measures with the objective of increasing work capacity. The costs were measured at the start and end of the project. The study showed that it is indeed possible to reduce both sick leave and costs. During the study, the organization reduced current sick leave from 12% (2003) to 3% (Nov. 2004) and the costs per employee from €1 860 per month (2003) to €440 per month (Nov. 2004). This will make an estimated saving for 2005 of €470 000. It should be noted that the study is small and should not be generalized, but may be seen as a positive indication regarding the model organizational rehabilitation. Further research is needed.
Control and participation for employees within geriatric care:	Does ownership make a difference?
Authors: Höckertin Chatrine
Published: December 2024

The welfare sector in Sweden has undergone extensive changes during the last 15 years, and private and cooperative actors have entered the public market. In the light of high sick-leave rates, especially in female-dominated professions, it is important to identify factors that can help to improve the working conditions and promote health among employees. The purpose of this study was to compare how two of these factors, participation and control, are perceived by employees in three different forms of ownership: public, cooperative and private. In all, 186 employees working at seven geriatric care institutions with three ownership forms were invited to participate in the study. 82% responded to a questionnaire containing issues related to working conditions, e.g. control and participation. The one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis were used to analyse the findings among the three groups of employees working in public, cooperative or private setting. Results showed that employees in cooperatives experienced more participation than employees working in the public and private sectors in two out of four variables – employee's voice concerning work environment issues and sympathetic response from the manager and decision-making concerning work activities at large. As expected, there were no difference in perceived control between ownership forms, which might be explained by the fact that the work nature in geriatric care is rather regulated, restricted and formalized, regardless of ownership form, resulting in limited freedom over the work situation for the individual employee.
A five year retrospective analysis of occupational injuries and	incidence reported at a research intensive Canadian university
Authors: Cann Adam P. , Baker Anne Marie , Hansen Ally , Massie Deanna , Vandervoort Anthony A.
Published: December 2024

Limited information of occupational injury statistics within academic settings exists. Universities and colleges are an important and insightful work environment due to the varied nature of the work performed by employee groups. The objective of this study was to describe occupational injuries for all work groups in a large research intensive university. A retrospective database analysis was conducted on 2029 employee incident reports over a five year period (2000–2004) to determine general and departmental prevalence of injury types, locations, and mechanisms. Demographic analysis revealed an average age of 42 years and 9 years of work experience. Overall, the most frequent injuries were to the hand (40%), were musculoskeletal in nature (42%), and resulted from being "struck or contacted by" (33%). The greatest number of incidents occurred in food services, followed by physical plant and staff services. Closer examination of incidents reported by food services indicated 53% of injuries occurred to the hand and 72% required first aid. Notable too was that 19% of physical plant injuries occurred to the back, but these reports accounted for 40% of total back injuries and 50% of all lost time claims in the total database. Further epidemiological research in academic institutions is needed to better understand the inherent injury risk in this work sector.
Lay versus expert understandings of workplace risk in the food	service industry: A multi-dimensional model with implications for participatory	ergonomics
Authors: Cann Adam P. , MacEachen Ellen , Vandervoort Anthony A.
Published: December 2024

The recent trend towards cooperative management and prevention of workplace injuries has introduced numerous health and safety actors to the workplace with varying amounts and types of expertise. The purpose of this qualitative research project was to explore the understandings of risk as experienced by food service workers (FSW) and how these compare with an 'expert' in risk assessment. In total 13 FSW, selected based on age, work location, and gender, and one experienced Ergonomist participated in the study. In-depth semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with each participant and transcripts of the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis by drawing on methods closely related to grounded theory. The findings of this study indicated that the risks for occupational injury as experienced by FSW were multi-dimensional in nature representing not only the physical requirements of the individual's job, but also the social interactions of the FSW with their coworkers, management, and the organization. FSW were also found to be a rich source of knowledge and experience concerning occupational risk and may be under-utilized when designing interventions. The results of this study support a cooperative team approach to reduce the risks of injury in the workplace, with a specific emphasis on inclusion of the worker.
Decreasing occupational injury and disability: The convergence of	systems theory, knowledge transfer and action research
Authors: Guzman Jaime , Yassi Annalee , Baril Raymond , Loisel Patrick
Published: December 2024

Many work injuries and their associated disabilities are preventable, but effective prevention requires coordinated action by multiple stakeholders. In trying to achieve coordinated action occupational health practitioners can learn valuable lessons from systems theory, knowledge transfer and action research. Systems theory provides a broad view of the factors leading to injury and disability and a means to refocus stakeholder energies from mutual blaming to effective strategies for system change. Experiences from knowledge transfer will help adopt a stakeholder-centered approach that will facilitate the concrete application of the best and most current occupational health knowledge. Action research is a methodology endorsed by the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control, which provide methods for successfully engaging stakeholders needed to attain sustainable change. By combining concepts from the three fields we propose MAPAC (Mobilize, Assess, Plan, Act, Check), a five-step framework for developing projects aimed at decreasing occupational injury and disability. Although most practitioners would be familiar with some of the concepts, we believe an explicit framework linked to transferable knowledge from these diverse fields can help design and implement effective programs. We provide examples of model application in workers compensation and in the healthcare workplace.