Go to navigation Go to content
[ Go to home page ]
Accessibility
Set colour scheme:
Normalnormal  High Contrasthigh contrast

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional Valid CSS!

 

Return to Research Plus past issues

Research Plus: August/September 2008

Work-related depression

A systematic review suggests an elevated risk of major depression in both men and women due to a perception of adverse psychosocial factors at work; however, limitations in study design prevent any conclusions on causal factors. The strongest and most consistent associations were found for job strain (high demand and low decision latitude) among men. Common limitations in research design included lack of independent measures of exposure and outcome, and potential confounding factors. A meta-analysis was ruled out owing to the heterogeneity between study designs.

Nurses working while pregnant

There is no increased risk of low birth weight or pre-term delivery for nurses working through pregnancy, compared with office employees working while pregnant; however, there is a higher risk of small-for-gestational-age newborns. The study was part of the Finnish Prenatal Environment and Health Study and was based on pregnancy outcomes of 128 nurses and 559 office workers as the reference group. The adjusted odds ratio for small-for-gestational-age was 1.99 (95% confidence interval 1.10–3.59) indicating that working as a nurse during pregnancy can reduce foetal growth.

Shift work linked to weight gain

A longitudinal cohort study adds to previous research evidence that shift work is an independent risk factor for weight gain. The study was carried out over a 14-year period (1991–2005) on Japanese male steel workers, all of whom were given annual health assessments. It followed 4,328 regular day workers and 2,926 alternating-shift workers. Type of job schedule was significantly associated with BMI gain. Regular health checks and lifestyle advice is recommended.

Obese perceptions

UK adults’ perception of being overweight has fallen despite a dramatic rise in average body weight and health campaigns to address obesity. The findings are based on two omnibus surveys: 1,894 interviews in 1999; and 1,998 in 2007. In 1999, 43% of the population were overweight/obese, of whom 81% perceived themselves to be overweight. But in 2007, 53% were overweight/obese, with only 75% considering themselves as overweight. The statistically significant decline in overweight ‘self-diagnosis’ highlights the importance of heath professionals making individuals aware of their overweight and obesity.

Police and prison officers’ needlestick risks

An analysis of emergency department records in Rhode Island, USA, identified just 105 cases of a police or prison officer presenting because of an occupational blood or body fluids exposure over a 6.5 year period, though most (86%) were to an unknown HIV-status source. The annual incidence rate was 4.4 exposures per 1,000 officers; however, the vast majority of exposures did not carry a significant risk of HIV transmission – just 10% were percutaneous injuries and 6% were blood-to-mucous membrane splashes.

Early intervention

A randomised controlled trial on financial workers in the Netherlands demonstrates the value of targeted early intervention by an OH professional. A total of 299 employees identified using a validated questionnaire as being at high risk for long-term sickness absence were randomised to one of two groups: structured early consultation with the occupational physician before sickness absence; or follow-up in a control group receiving ‘usual care’. The early consultation included an explanation of the relationship between symptoms and risk of future absence and the benefits of early treatment, and, where appropriate, a targeted intervention. In a one-year follow-up, both sickness absence duration (p = 0.007) and proportion of spells lasting more than 28 days (p = 0.048) were significantly lower in the intervention group.

Chronic health versus accident risk

A systematic literature review unearthed 38 papers relevant to an investigation of whether common health conditions – and their treatments – increase the risk of occupational injury. Fifteen studies examined risks associated with hearing conditions, 11 with mental health and 10 with vision problems. A ‘moderate’ increase in risk was associated with impaired hearing, neurotic illness, diabetes, epilepsy and use of sedating medication; however, there were many gaps in the evidence base and just two of the papers (both covered use of medication) were rated as of ‘excellent’ quality. A meta-analysis of pooled results was not possible. Better research is needed to provide an evidence base to underpin fitness-for-work decisions.

Healthcare workers cause needlestick injuries in waste handlers

A study of clinical waste handling at a UK specialist waste treatment facility found deficiencies in worker practice that increased their risk of a sharps or needlestick injury. More significant was the finding  that ‘serious errors’ by healthcare staff through the incorrect disposal of used hypodermic needles and other sharps in thin-walled plastic waste sacks place waste handlers at risk of infection with bloodborne viruses. The study comprised confidential questionnaires, structured interviews and discrete observations of waste handlers, as well as a review of accident and injury records. Forty sharps injuries (37 from hypodermic needles) had been recorded in a
3.5-year period – 34 from careless discarding of sharps into waste sacks and six from incorrect closure of sharps boxes. Fifteen waste handlers received hepatitis B immunoglobulin and two received HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.

Return-to-work predictors

A systematic review was undertaken to identify psychosocial factors that might predict a failure to return to work in people with non-chronic non-specific low back pain (NSLBP), defined as lasting less than three months – 24 studies met inclusion criteria. An expectation of recovery was predictive of return to work (strong evidence from nine studies; four of high quality). There was strong evidence that depression, job satisfaction and stress were not predictive of work outcome. There was moderate evidence that fear-avoidance beliefs were predictive, and that anxiety was not predictive of work outcome. Psychosocial assessment in the non-chronic phase of NSLBP should focus on recovery expectation and fear-avoidance beliefs and behaviours.

See past issues of Research Plus:

BROWSE PAST ISSUES:


back to top arrowBack to top


Site by Livewire

© Copyright 2010 The At Work Partnership Limited. 19 Bishops Avenue, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3LZ