bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategies used when conducting work-related assessments
Authors: Innes Ev , Straker Leon 
Published: December 2024

The attributes of work-related assessments have been found to differ between types of assessment. This suggests that there may also be strategies that are more appropriately used with some assessments than with others. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine: the reported frequency with which strategies were actually and ideally used when conducting each of three types of work-related assessment (workplace assessment (WPA); functional capacity evaluation (job) (FCEJ); functional capacity evaluation (no job) (FCENJ)); if there were differences between the strategies used with each type of work-related assessment; and the barriers, if any, that existed to achieving ideal practice when conducting work-related assessments. Study Design: A questionnaire was sent to all accredited occupational or vocational rehabilitation providers in Australia, targeting occupational therapists and physiotherapists who conducted work-related assessments. The response rate was 25.3%, and 132 questionnaires were analysed. Results: MANOVAs revealed there were significant differences between the 3 forms of work-related assessments for the strategies actually used $F_{78,40}=3.47; p&lt;0.001$ ) and ideally used ( $F_{78,24}=2.36; p=0.010$ ). For both actually and ideally used strategies there was a core of strategies with no significant difference and shared by all forms of assessment. Several patterns of difference emerged. The largest group was where WPAs were different from both forms of FCE. A smaller group of strategies showed a difference between FCENJs and both WPAs and FCEJs. There were also some strategies that were different for all forms of assessment. Reliability analysis revealed 7 constructs which reflected the process of conducting work-related assessments. The major barrier to achieving ideal practice was time/cost. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that there were significant differences between 3 forms of work-related assessments (WPAs, FCEJs & FCENJs) for the reported actual and ideal use of strategies. These strategies were associated with more qualitative or quantitative forms of assessment. This appeared to represent a continuum of work-related assessments that ranged from WPAs demonstrating strategies most associated with qualitative approaches to FCENJs demonstrating strategies most associated with quantitative approaches, with FCEJs between the two. By using strategies appropriate to each type of assessment, clinicians will be able to enhance the excellence of their practice.
Perception differences between groups of employees identifying the	factors that influence a return to work after a work-related musculoskeletal	injury
Authors: Fisher Thomas F. 
Published: December 2024

Employee health and productivity losses as a result of work-related injury are estimated to be $1.2 trillion annually to US companies. This is approximately 14.3% of the gross domestic product [6,8,11,35]. Workers' compensation, medical care, and short and long-term disability are a part of these costs. Controlling or eliminating these costs is a problem for US employers [3,6,14,21,29]. The study discussed in this article examined the perceptions of manufacturing employees in identifying factors that influence a return to work after a work-related musculoskeletal injury. The classification of employees who participated in this study were safety professionals, supervisors and workers from the manufacturing industry in central Kentucky. The worker group consisted of material handlers, assembly line workers and quality control inspectors. The participants completed a developed survey instrument, the Return to Work Perception Survey. This survey instrument examined the perception of the participants on factors related to return to work: company policies and procedures, job satisfaction, worker relationships and work environment. The results indicated safety professionals and supervisors perceptions differ from workers on the variables of job satisfaction, worker relationships and work environment. Their perceptions did not differ on the variable relating to company policies and procedures. In addition, the safety professional and supervisor groups rated the items addressing job satisfaction higher than did the worker group. The worker group did not differ from one another on any of the factors. Implications of this study for manufacturing companies suggest (a) identifying those issues contributing to employee job satisfaction, (b) developing a plan for achieving increased job satisfaction and employee recognition at the workplace among all workers, and (c) consider allowing employees to develop new capacities and new learning, thus fostering motivation and job satisfaction [18,20].
Caregiver role strain of older workers
Authors: Beitman Candace L. , Johnson Jennifer L. , Clark Adrienne L. , Highsmith Sharon R. , Burgess Amy L. , Minor Megan C. , Stir Aimee L. 
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to measure role strain in older adult workers who were also caregivers of frail elders according to Komarovsky's role strain theory, and to determine whether different patterns of role strain exist for male worker-caregivers than females. Method: Researchers developed the Job-Caregiver Role Strain Scale Survey, which was adapted from a survey that measured role strain in working parents and spouses. Surveys were distributed to 11 male and 34 female older workers who were also caregivers. Results: A factor analysis was completed, which isolated four factors of role strain. Researchers named the factors time management and arrangements, health and competing role demands, low rewards, and reactions to perceptions. Role strain in older adult worker-caregivers is complex and involves multiple variables. A discriminant function analysis predicted differences in the way older male and female worker-caregivers perceived role strain. Use of role strain theory can assist employers and occupational therapists in developing and maintaining work environments that support not only the older employee's work performance, but participation in the role of elder caregiver as well.
A multi-method approach to assessing deadlines and workload	variation among newspaper workers
Authors: Beech-Hawley L. , Wells R. , Cole D.C. , the Worksite Upper Extremity Group  
Published: December 2024

Objectives: Working under frequent deadlines was previously found to be associated with upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in newspaper workers. Further investigation was required so that concrete recommendations for change could be offered to the workplace parties (labour and management of a large metropolitan newspaper). Study design: The assessment was based on three methods. A questionnaire was used to clarify time-related aspects of work on deadlines for a larger group of workers. Experience sampling was used to document temporal variation in various aspects of physical and psychological demands over work shifts and deadline cycles. Focus groups were also conducted. Results: Differences were found between the "High" and "Low" deadline groups: Those working with frequent deadlines more frequently were required: to work together with others, to perform tasks on a specific schedule and specific order, to work at a fast paced, to perceive their work as hectic and "hard". Experience sampling showed differential trends in workload across daily, weekly, and no deadline days. The lack of breaks for extended periods of time leading up to a deadline was noticeable. The focus groups were useful in highlighting issues not addressed by the other two methods and to understand the feasibility of various possible interventions. Conclusions: The integration of results from all methods lead to recommendations for issues upon which to focus prevention related activities where deadlines are present: delays in work flow from others, interruptions from technology related problems, excessive work, insufficient staff/insufficient time, extra/unexpected work, compromising of work quality for speed, and lack of time for breaks.
Outsourcing in the public refuse collection sector: Exploiting old	certainties or exploring new possibilities?
Authors: Gustafsson Ove , Saksvik Per Øystein 
Published: December 2024

An outsourcing process in a medium-size city, by Norwegian standards, provided the background for our study. In 1996, the city council decided to contract out the refuse collection in half of its total area (the western part of the city), and to let the public refuse collection enterprise continue to collect in the other half of the area. The public enterprise also participated in the competitive tender, without success, however. The bid submitted by the public refuse collection enterprise was used as the basis for a benchmarking process performed by the chief administrative officer of the city in May 1999. The process resulted in the requirement that the public enterprise downsize its number of refuse collectors by 27 per cent. The city thus acquired a more cost-effective refuse collection system both in the western part, now run by a private company, and in the rest of the city, where the collection remained the responsibility of the public enterprise, in its newly pared-down and reorganized version. Detectable changes in the refuse collectors' health status in the three-year period immediately following the outsourcing constitute our main focus in this study. We found that the downsizing and reorganization of the public enterprise had a negative impact on the refuse collectors' health status. One year after the downsizing, six of the 27 refuse collectors remaining in the public enterprise had been diagnosed with heart problems or musculoskeletal pains that were sufficiently serious to form the basis of their individual approaches to secure a disability pension, which all six were in the process of acquiring. The registered sick leave among the refuse collectors showed a dramatic increase during the same period. We found clear indications that the refuse collectors remaining in the employment of the public enterprise had no alternatives in the labour market. Although not the focus of this study, we found that the totality of costs and benefits, not only for the enterprise in question, but also for local and national authorities, needs to be considered in any realistic assessment of the impact of public sector outsourcing of activities.
Children's computer usage: Are they at risk of developing	repetitive strain injury?
Authors: Ramos Erlynn Mae Ang , James Christine A. , Bear-Lehman Jane 
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine the average time school children spend on computers and electronic games, the positions they assume, and any associated discomfort related to their use. A twenty three-point questionnaire was distributed to 476 children in first to eighth grade from three parochial schools in one of the New York City boroughs. The findings of this study suggest that children use the computer and electronic games differently than adults and that more boys than girls engage in electronic game playing. Results clearly indicated that children are experiencing discomfort from the use of computers or electronic games, and that the discomfort is largely concentrated in the neck region. Occupational therapy could be instrumental in terms of educating the children, their parents/guardians, and their teachers on proper body mechanics, applications of ergonomically suited workstations, and the use of rest/stretch breaks while engaged in computing and electronic game playing.
The meaning of work in the US for two Latino immigrants from	Colombia and Mexico
Authors: Dale Lucinda , Albin Raeanne , Kapolka-Ullom Shelley , Lange Annjanette , McCan Megan , Quaderer Kacey , Shaffer Nikki 
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of work for two Latino adults working in US industry. Method: Two adults from Latin countries who worked in industry participated in a qualitative research design during which data were gathered through interviews, observations, and record reviews. Results: Workers adapted to the language barrier by limiting socialization at work and during leisure, learning only the English needed to perform the job, and maintaining traditional spiritual and leisure activities outside of work. The financial rewards of working temporarily in the US supported their goals to further their vocations in their home countries. Conclusion: Occupational therapists must provide services that recognize the uniqueness of Latino workers who must adapt to challenges in performing work and maintaining valued occupations outside of work.
Gender-age environmental associates of middle school students' low	back pain
Authors: Chiang Hsin-Yu , Jacobs Karen , Orsmond Gael 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe adolescents' low back pain, investigate its prevalence and explore its associations with backpack load, time spent carrying loads, time sitting, and time playing sports, to determine whether relationships exist among these variables. Method: One hundred urban middle school students in Manchester, New Hampshire completed a questionnaire (55% response rate). Participants were between 13–14 years old. Weights of students, loaded backpacks, backpack contents, and students' heights were measured separately. Results: Eighty-nine percent of the participants wore the two-straps backpack. Over eighty percent of them preferred to carry the load over two shoulders. The average load weighed 4.9 kg (approximating 9.6% of the participants' body weight). There was a significant association found between backpack carrying time and adolescent' low back pain. Conclusion: Daily backpack carrying is a frequent cause of musculoskeletal discomfort for adolescents. The association between backpack carrying time and low back pain may provide the impetus for parents, teachers, and school administrators to decrease the prolonged carrying of backpacks. Further investigations should be conducted to evaluate the intervention effectiveness after implementation of controls.
Comparison of seven measures of sickness absence based on data	from three counties in Sweden
Authors: Borg K. , Goine H. , Söderberg E. , Marnetoft S.-U. , Alexanderson K. 
Published: December 2024

The objective was to compare the applicability of and results provided by the two measures of sickness absence used most often within the Swedish social insurance administration (that is, unadjusted sick-leave rate and adjusted sick-leave rate) and five measures suggested by epidemiological researchers. Data consisted of four cross-sectional data sets of registry sick-leave data covering four separate years (1997–2000) in three counties. In total 454,000 persons qualified for sickness insurance and aged 20–64 years were included. The two measures used within the social insurance administration and three of the five measures suggested by epidemiological researchers revealed sex-related dissimilarities in absence patterns that indicated that women had more sickness absence than men. However, in marked contrast to those results, two of the epidemiologically based measures (i.e., length of sickness absence and duration of sickness absence) instead showed highly comparable rates of sick leave for men and women, and such information is seldom obtained, albeit definitely of importance, when trying to make a correct assessment of sickness absence. The measure of sickness absence that is used influences the findings and should therefore be chosen with care. Complementing the measures used in the social insurance administration by five measures suggested by epidemiological researchers provided a more informative and comprehensive picture of sickness absence in a population. Further investigations into the effect of using different measures is needed, as well as international consensus on what to call different measures.
Job structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians
Authors: Kushnir Talma , Cohen Avner Herman 
Published: December 2024

Background. Burnout is an occupational disease that impairs both quality of health care and physicians' health. It is associated with emotional distress, absenteeism, reduction in personal effectiveness, and increased risk for health problems. Burnout has rarely been investigated among pediatricians. Objectives. We investigated the association between work structure and burnout among primary care pediatricians. Work structure was conceptualized as the discrepancy between perceived workload and satisfaction from specific professional activities. Methods. 126 Israeli pediatricians at child healthcare community clinics (63% response rate) responded anonymously to a self-report questionnaire assessing workload, satisfaction and burnout. Results. Burnout was associated significantly with workload/satisfaction discrepancy. The highest discrepancy involved administrative duties and the lowest was found for regular office visits, consultations concerning child development and inoculations, and continuing medical education. Conclusions. Burnout was associated with infrequent performance of satisfying activities (e.g. research, tutoring medical students); and frequent engagement in disliked duties (e.g. administrative work). Burnout may be reduced by modifying work structure to include more involvement in professional interactions with other professionals, more varied and challenging activities such as teaching medical students, participating in research and community health promotion.
Development of normative data for hand strength and anthropometric	dimensions in a population of automotive workers
Authors: Kunelius Amanda , Darzins Susan , Cromie Jean , Oakman Jodi 
Published: December 2024

Objectives: (1) To develop a normative data set for hand strength and anthropometric dimensions in automotive trim line workers. (2) To examine the relationship between trim line worker demographics and hand strength. Background: Work tasks inherent in the automobile manufacturing industry such as forceful gripping and pinching, place physical demands upon the hands and fingers. This places workers at risk of developing a musculoskeletal injury. To reduce the risk of injury it is necessary to apply user strength data in the design phase of hand intensive tasks in order to create a fit between the person and the task. Method: Demographic variables, anthropometry and maximal grip and pinch strength were measured for one hundred and sixty-one trim line automotive workers. Their data were analyzed to examine the associations between the variables. Results: Significant hand strength differences were found in relation to age, gender, hand dominance and anthropometry. The workers in this study had significantly lower strength values than previously used reference data. Discussion: The disparity between the present study's strength data and that of Mathiowetz et al. [22] may be due to the different demographic pools from which the populations were drawn. A training effect appeared to exist in trim line workers which may have reduced the disparity in hand strength between the hands as the number of years worked on the line increased. Conclusion: Caution should be taken when applying international normative data sets to the design of hand tools/workstations, as global differences in hand strength are likely to exist.
Physical, social and emotional function after work accidents: A	medicolegal perspective
Authors: Holtedahl Robin , Veiersted Kaj Bo 
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to analyse social and functional consequences of work accidents in a group of workers' compensation claimants who had been referred from the National Insurance Administration for a medicolegal assessment. The injured workers were evaluated on average 3 years after their accidents. Their medical records were analysed, and each injury was scored according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Participants completed the Short Form Questionnaire (SF-36). Factors relating to outcome on SF-36 were analysed using univariate and multivariate methods. 191 claimants returned the SF-36 (62%), 83% of the respondents had an AIS score of less than two, 33% reported working full time. Compared to population-based norms, the respondents reported significantly reduced health on all eight scales of SF-36. Better health and function was mainly associated with a higher level of education and more serious injuries. The extent of social support in the workplace after the accident was only partly related to outcome. The importance of psychosocial factors when making injury assessments in a medicolegal setting is highlighted.
An investigation into the immediate effects on comfort,	productivity and posture of the Bambach™ saddle seat and a standard	office chair
Authors: Gadge Karla , Innes Ev 
Published: December 2024

Background: This study was prompted by the prevalence of back injury and pain in the working population, particularly amongst workers who are increasingly exposed to sedentary work in industrialised countries, and the corresponding limited evidence regarding the effectiveness of seating designs currently used in the workplace. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in comfort, productivity, and posture between the Bambach™ saddle seat and a standard office chair (two chair designs used within the workplace today). Method: A single system, multiple-baseline research design across a sample of four subjects was used. A withdrawal A $_{1}$ B $_{1}$ A $_{2}$ B $_{2}$ design was utilised, with the ordering of the sequence varying with each subject. "A" represented the standard office chair, and "B" the Bambach™ saddle seat. Results: Discomfort ratings tended to increase over time regardless of the seat being used. However, while the saddle seat provided reduced levels of lower back discomfort, it demonstrated higher discomfort in the lower limbs, particularly the hips and buttocks. There were no significant differences identified in productivity between the two chairs. The saddle seat consistently promoted a greater trunk-to-thigh angle for all subjects, a position associated with optimum sitting posture. Conclusion: This study has implications for the treatment of low back injury and pain at work, as well as other daily activities that involve prolonged static sitting, such as those incorporated in self maintenance, leisure and rest activities. This study provides health professionals with a systematic investigation of the immediate effects of using both the Bambach™ saddle seat and standard office chair in sitting. The findings of this study should be considered in future research.