Promoting Employees’ Recovery During Shift Work: Protocol for a Workplace Intervention Study

Background Shift work can be demanding owing to disturbances in the biological and social rhythms. This can cause short-term negative effects in employees, such as increased fatigue and reduced alertness. A potential way to counteract these negative effects is to enhance employees’ recovery from work during working hours. Objective The aim of this study is to develop and implement an intervention that focuses on promoting “on-job” recovery of shift workers. Methods This study is performed in 2 department units with shift workers at a multinational company in the steel industry. For each department, an intervention will be developed and implemented through an iterative process of user-centered design and evaluation. This approach consists of various sessions in which employees and a project group (ie, researchers, line managers, human resource managers, and occupational health experts) provide input on the intervention content and implementation. Intervention effects will be evaluated using pretest and posttest web-based surveys. Digital ecological momentary assessment will be performed to gain insight into the link between the intervention and daily within-person processes. The intervention process and participants’ perception of the interventions will be assessed through a process evaluation. Intervention results will be analyzed by performing mixed model repeated measures analyses and multilevel analyses. Results This study is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research Work and Health Research Program, which is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, program number 19.204.1-3. This study was approved by the institutional review board on February 7, 2019. From June to August 2019, baseline data were collected, and from November to December 2019, the first follow-up data were collected. The second follow-up data collection and data analysis are planned for the first two quarters of 2020. Dissemination of the results is planned for the last two quarters of 2020. Conclusions A strength of this study design is the participatory action approach to enhance the stakeholder commitments, intervention adherence, and compliance. Moreover, since the target group will be participating in the development and implementation of the intervention, the proposed impact will be high. In addition, the short-term as well as the long-term effects will be evaluated. Finally, this study uses a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods. A limitation of this study is that it is impossible to randomly assign participants to an intervention or control group. Furthermore, the follow-up period (6 months) might be too short to establish health-related effects. Lastly, the results of this study might be specific to the department, organization, or sector, which limits the generalizability of the findings. However, as workplace intervention research for shift workers is scarce, this study might serve as a starting point for future research on shift work interventions.

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Promoting Employees’ Recovery During Shift Work: Protocol for a Workplace Intervention Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17368 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Irene M W Niks ◽

Alwin van Drongelen ◽

Elsbeth M de Korte

Keyword(s):

Shift Work ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Research Work ◽

Workplace Intervention ◽

Control Group ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Starting Point

BACKGROUND Shift work can be demanding owing to disturbances in the biological and social rhythms. This can cause short-term negative effects in employees, such as increased fatigue and reduced alertness. A potential way to counteract these negative effects is to enhance employees’ recovery from work during working hours. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to develop and implement an intervention that focuses on promoting “on-job” recovery of shift workers. METHODS This study is performed in 2 department units with shift workers at a multinational company in the steel industry. For each department, an intervention will be developed and implemented through an iterative process of user-centered design and evaluation. This approach consists of various sessions in which employees and a project group (ie, researchers, line managers, human resource managers, and occupational health experts) provide input on the intervention content and implementation. Intervention effects will be evaluated using pretest and posttest web-based surveys. Digital ecological momentary assessment will be performed to gain insight into the link between the intervention and daily within-person processes. The intervention process and participants’ perception of the interventions will be assessed through a process evaluation. Intervention results will be analyzed by performing mixed model repeated measures analyses and multilevel analyses. RESULTS This study is supported by the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research Work and Health Research Program, which is funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and supported by the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, program number 19.204.1-3. This study was approved by the institutional review board on February 7, 2019. From June to August 2019, baseline data were collected, and from November to December 2019, the first follow-up data were collected. The second follow-up data collection and data analysis are planned for the first two quarters of 2020. Dissemination of the results is planned for the last two quarters of 2020. CONCLUSIONS A strength of this study design is the participatory action approach to enhance the stakeholder commitments, intervention adherence, and compliance. Moreover, since the target group will be participating in the development and implementation of the intervention, the proposed impact will be high. In addition, the short-term as well as the long-term effects will be evaluated. Finally, this study uses a unique combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods. A limitation of this study is that it is impossible to randomly assign participants to an intervention or control group. Furthermore, the follow-up period (6 months) might be too short to establish health-related effects. Lastly, the results of this study might be specific to the department, organization, or sector, which limits the generalizability of the findings. However, as workplace intervention research for shift workers is scarce, this study might serve as a starting point for future research on shift work interventions. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT DERR1-10.2196/17368

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Effectiveness of Abdominal and Gluteus Medius Training in Lumbo-Pelvic Stability and Adductor Strength in Female Soccer Players. A Randomized Controlled Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041528 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1528

Author(s):

Héctor Guerrero-Tapia ◽

Rodrigo Martín-Baeza ◽

Rubén Cuesta-Barriuso

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Gluteus Medius ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Extrinsic Factors ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Limb Injuries ◽

Experimental Group

Background. Abdominal and lumbo-pelvic stability alterations may be the origin of lower limb injuries, such as adductor pathology in soccer players. Imbalance can be caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial over 8 weeks, 25 female footballers were randomly allocated to an experimental group (isometric abdominal training and gluteus medius-specific training) or a control group (isometric abdominal training). Evaluations were performed at baseline, at the end of the intervention and after a 4-week follow-up period. The exercise protocol in common for both groups included three exercises: Plank, Lateral plank and Bird dog. Specific exercises for the gluteus medius were: Pelvic drop and Stabilization of the gluteus medius in knee valgus. Outcome measures were lumbar-pelvic stability and adductor strength. Results: After the intervention, there was an increase in lumbo-pelvic stability in both groups, being greater in the control group than in the experimental group (mean differences [MD]: 4.84 vs. MD: 9.58; p < 0.01) with differences in the analysis of repeated measures (p < 0.001), but not in group interaction (p = 0.26). Changes were found in adductor strength in the experimental group (MD: −2.48; p < 0.001 in the left adductor; MD: −1.48; p < 0.01 in right adductor) and control group (MD: −1.68; p < 0.001 in the left adductor; MD: −2.05; p < 0.001 in the right adductor) after the intervention, with differences in the analysis of repeated measures in left (p < 0.001) and right (p < 0.001) adductor strength. Conclusions: An abdominal and gluteal training protocol shows no advantage over a protocol of abdominal training alone for lumbo-pelvic stability and adductor strength, while improvements in both variables are maintained at four weeks follow-up.

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Objective assessment of nasal resistance among electronic cigarette users

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology ◽

10.1017/s0022215121001432 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

S W Lim ◽

AB Zulkiflee

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Smoking ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Airway Resistance ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Control Group ◽

Nasal Airway ◽

Nasal Resistance ◽

Short Term ◽

Nasal Airway Resistance

Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes have been a popular alternative to tobacco smoking. The effect of tobacco smoking on nasal airway resistance has been investigated before; however, the effect of the aerosol generated by electronic cigarettes is still unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of e-cigarettes on nasal airway resistance. Methods Sixty-one participants were recruited into a vapers group and a control group. The vapers group was instructed to smoke for 5 minutes, and their nasal resistance was measured pre-procedure and at 1 and 5 minutes post-procedure. The results were compared between both groups. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that vaping has no statistically significant effect on total nasal airway resistance. Conclusion Although the differences between both groups were not statistically significant overall, the vapers group showed a reduction in nasal airway resistance in the short term.

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Three-month and six-month outcomes of patients with COVID-19 associated hyperinflammation treated with short-term immunosuppressive therapy: follow-up of the CHIC study

RMD Open ◽

10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001906 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. e001906

Author(s):

Marlou THF Janssen ◽

Sofia Ramiro ◽

Rémy LM Mostard ◽

Cesar Magro-Checa ◽

Robert BM Landewé

Keyword(s):

Immunosuppressive Therapy ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Normal Population ◽

Immunosuppressive Treatment ◽

Control Group ◽

Medium Term ◽

Short Term ◽

Function Tests ◽

Patient Reported

ObjectivesTo prospectively investigate differences in medium-term patient-reported outcome measures and objective functional outcome measures, between patients receiving and those not receiving intensive short-term immunosuppressive therapy for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19)-associated hyperinflammation.MethodsPatients previously included in the COVID-19 High-intensity Immunosuppression in Cytokine storm syndrome (CHIC) study who received immunosuppressive treatment versus standard of care for COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation were invited for follow-up at 3 and 6 months after hospitalisation. At both visits, patients were assessed by a pulmonologist, completed quality of life (QoL) questionnaires and performed pulmonary and exercise function tests. At 3 months, patients additionally completed questionnaires on dyspnoea, anxiety, depression and trauma. Outcomes were compared between patients receiving and those not receiving intensive short-term immunosuppressive therapy for COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation.Results131 (66.5%) patients survived hospitalisation due to COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation and 118 (90.1%) were included. QoL questionnaires, pulmonary- and exercise function tests showed improvement between 3 and 6 months after discharge, which was similar in both groups. Assessed patients reached levels that were close to levels predicted from the normal population. In contrast, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide was disturbed in both groups: 69.6% predicted (SD 16.2) and 73.5% predicted (SD 16.5) in control group and treated group, respectively.ConclusionsNo differences in medium-term outcomes are demonstrated in survivors of COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation treated or not treated with methylprednisolone with or without tocilizumab during the acute phase. Short-term benefits of this therapy, as showed in the baseline CHIC study analysis, are thus not hampered by medium-term adverse events.

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Effect of Carnatic Music Listening Training on Speech in Noise Performance in Adults

Journal of Audiology & Otology ◽

10.7874/jao.2020.00255 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 22-26

Author(s):

Raksha Amemane ◽

Archana Gundmi ◽

Kishan Madikeri Mohan

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Functional Organization ◽

Control Group ◽

Music Listening ◽

Noise Performance ◽

Short Term ◽

Speech In Noise ◽

Carnatic Music ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Control

Background and Objectives: Music listening has a concomitant effect on structural and functional organization of the brain. It helps in relaxation, mind training and neural strengthening. In relation to it, the present study was aimed to find the effect of Carnatic music listening training (MLT) on speech in noise performance in adults.Subjects and Methods: A total of 28 participants (40-70 years) were recruited in the study. Based on randomized control trial, they were divided into intervention and control group. Intervention group underwent a short-term MLT. Quick Speech-in-Noise in Kannada was used as an outcome measure.Results: Results were analysed using mixed method analysis of variance (ANOVA) and repeated measures ANOVA. There was a significant difference between intervention and control group post MLT. The results of the second continuum revealed no statistically significant difference between post training and follow-up scores in both the groups.Conclusions: In conclusion short-term MLT resulted in betterment of speech in noise performance. MLT can be hence used as a viable tool in formal auditory training for better prognosis.

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Abstract 16237: Zero Fluoroscopy Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Safety and Feasibility Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.16237 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Luigi Di Biase ◽

Rodney Horton ◽

Chintan Trivedi ◽

Prasant Mohanty ◽

Sanghamitra Mohanty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Pulmonary Veins ◽

Radiation Risk ◽

Control Group ◽

Short Term ◽

Af Ablation ◽

And Control ◽

Zero Fluoroscopy

Introduction: Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is performed under fluoroscopic guidance and therefore carries radiation risk exposure for the both the patient and the operator. Three-dimensional mapping systems and newer technologies to allow non-fluoroscopic catheter visualization together with intracardiac echo have reduced but not abolished the fluoroscopy exposure. We aim to demonstrate the feasibility, the safety and the efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation without the use of fluoroscopy. Methods: A totally fluoro-less approach was developed for AF ablation at our Institution. 94 consecutive AF patients underwent zero fluoroscopy catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. In the zero fluoroscopy cases, the fluoroscopy arm was kept far away from the patient table. Access including double trans-septal, mapping with the Carto 3 system and ablation were all performed without fluoroscopy with the use of ICE and the Carto 3 system. These 94 patients were compared with 94 control patients matched for age, sex and type of AF who underwent AF ablation by the same operator with the use of fluoroscopy. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between fluoroless (N=94, Age=64.5 ± 10.1, 75.5% male, 48% paroxysmal) and control (N=94, Age=65.1 ± 9.9, 72.3% male, 50% paroxysmal) group. Non-PV triggers were detected and ablated in 51 (54.3%) and 56 (59.6%) patients in fluoroless and control group respectively (p=0.5). Average fluoro time in control group was 10.1 ± 4.7 minutes. Procedure duration was comparable (120.4 ± 25.8 vs. 122.2 ± 28.7, p =0.6). After the short term median follow-up of 4.5 (4 – 6.5) months, 10 (10.6 %) patients in flourless and 9 (9.6%) patients in control group experienced recurrences (p=0.8).One pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocenteis occurred in the fluoroless group. Conclusions: Our series show that zero fluoroscopy ablation of atrial fibrillation with the use of newer technologies is feasible, safe and efficacious at the short term follow up. Importantly in our series the double transeptal was performed without fluoroscopy and the ablation was not limited to the pulmonary veins only but included ablation of the posterior wall, the coronary sinus and the left atrial appendage.

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Use of IoT and Different Biofeedback to Measure TTH

Handbook of Research on Disease Prediction Through Data Analytics and Machine Learning - Advances in Medical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Care ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-2742-9.ch025 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 486-525

Author(s):

Rohit Rastogi ◽

Devendra Kumar Chaturvedi ◽

Mayank Gupta

Keyword(s):

Random Sampling ◽

International Headache Society ◽

Research Work ◽

Time Duration ◽

Visual Biofeedback ◽

Starting Point ◽

Sf 36 ◽

Selection Of

This chapter applied the random sampling in selection of the subjects suffering with headache, and care was taken that they ensure to fulfill the International Headache Society criteria. Subjects under consideration were assigned the two groups of GSR-integrated audio-visual feedback, GSR (audio-visual)- and EMG (audio-visual)-integrated feedback groups. In 10 sessions, the subjects experienced the GSR and EMG BF therapy for 15 minutes. Twenty subjects were subjected to EEG therapy. The variables for stress (pain) and SF-36 (quality of life) scores were recorded at starting point, 30 days, and 90 days after the starting of GSR and EMG-BF therapy. To reduce the anxiety and depression in day-to-day routine, the present research work is shown as evidence in favor of the mindful meditation. The physical, mental, and total scores increased over the time duration of SF-36 scores after 30- and 90-days recordings (p<0.05). Intergroup analysis has demonstrated the improvement. EMG-audio visual biofeedback group also showed highest improvement in SF-36 scores at first and third month follow up. EEG measures the Alpha waves for the subjects after meditation. GSR, EMG, and EEG-integrated auditory-visual biofeedback are efficient in solution of stress due to TTH with most advantage seen.

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Low Mortality of Larval Lampreys from Electrofishing, Suction-pumping, Anesthesia, and Handling

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management ◽

10.3996/052017-jfwm-046 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 640-647 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jeffrey C. Jolley ◽

Christina T. Uh ◽

Gregory S. Silver ◽

Timothy A. Whitesel

Keyword(s):

Pacific Northwest ◽

Control Group ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Important Species ◽

Pacific Lamprey ◽

The Pacific ◽

Delayed Mortality

Abstract Native lamprey populations are declining worldwide. In the Pacific Northwest focus on conservation and management of these ecologically and culturally important species has increased. Concern has emerged regarding the effects of sampling and handling of lamprey, with little to no attention given to the larval lifestage. We monitored the survival of larval Pacific Lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus and Lampetra spp. after backpack electrofishing, deepwater electrofishing and suction-pumping, anesthesia, and handling. We performed survival trials on wild-caught lamprey (n = 15 larvae in each trial) collected from the Clackamas River drainage in Oregon, USA, coupled with control group trials from lamprey sourced from a hatchery (n = 10 larvae). Short-term (96 h) survival was >98% with only one observed mortality. Delayed mortality (1 wk) was observed for four individuals that had fungus; two of those were positive for the bacteria Aeromonas hyrdrophila. We recorded blood hematocrit as a secondary measure of stress. The baseline, nonstressed larvae hematocrit levels did not differ from those of fish that had undergone stress through electrofishing, suction-pumping, and handling without anesthesia. Electrofishing, suction-pumping, and anesthesia showed no short-term negative effects on larval lamprey although potential long-term effects remain unstudied. These techniques appear to provide efficient and relatively safe methods for collecting and surveying larval lamprey.

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Effects of Three Months of Detraining on the Health Profile of Older Women after a Multicomponent Exercise Program

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16203881 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (20) ◽

pp. 3881 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Luis Leitão ◽

Ana Pereira ◽

Mauro Mazini ◽

Gabriela Venturini ◽

Yuri Campos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Older Women ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Pulmonary Ventilation ◽

Exercise Program ◽

Control Group ◽

Health Profile ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Negative Effects

Physical exercise results in very important benefits including preventing disease and promoting the quality of life of older individuals. Common interruptions and training cessation are associated with the loss of total health profile, and specifically cardiorespiratory fitness. Would detraining (DT) promote different effects in the cardiorespiratory and health profiles of trained and sedentary older women? Forty-seven older women were divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) (EG: n = 28, 70.3 ± 2.3 years; CG: n = 19, 70.1 ± 5.6 years). Oxygen uptake (VO2) and health profile assessments were conducted after the exercise program and after three months of detraining. The EG followed a nine-month multicomponent exercise program before a three-month detraining period. The CG maintained their normal activities. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant increases in total heath and VO2 (p < 0.01) profile over a nine-month exercise period in the EG and no significant increases in the CG. DT led to greater negative effects on total cholesterol (4.35%, p < 0.01), triglycerides (3.89%, p < 0.01), glucose (4.96%, p < 0.01), resting heart rate (5.15%, p < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (4.13%, p < 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (3.38%, p < 0.01), the six-minute walk test (7.57%, p < 0.01), Pulmonary Ventilation (VE) (10.16%, p < 0.01), the Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) (9.78, p < 0.05), and VO2/heart rate (HR) (16.08%, p < 0.01) in the EG. DT may induce greater declines in total health profile and in VO2, mediated, in part, by the effectiveness of multicomponent training particularly developed for older women.

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Endoscopic sutured gastroplasty in addition to lifestyle modification: short-term efficacy in a controlled randomised trial

Gut ◽

10.1136/gutjnl-2020-322026 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. gutjnl-2020-322026

Author(s):

Vincent Huberty ◽

Ivo Boskoski ◽

Vincenzo Bove ◽

Pauline Van Ouytsel ◽

Guido Costamagna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Randomised Trial ◽

Body Weight Loss ◽

Total Body Weight ◽

Control Group ◽

Short Term ◽

Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveEndoscopic suture gastroplasty (ESG) has been developed as an alternative treatment for moderately obese patients. We present our results of a short-term randomised controlled trial on a new suturing technique, the Endomina system (E-ESG, Endo Tools therapeutics, Belgium).DesignEligible patients (body mass index 30–40 kg/m2) were randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive lifestyle modification plus E-ESG or lifestyle modification alone (control group); dietetic counselling and follow-up were identical. Endpoints included a mean excess weight loss (EWL) of more than 25% 12 months after E-ESG and a 15% EWL difference at 6 months between groups. At 6 months, a cross-over to E-ESG was offered to the control group. All patients were followed for a total of 12 months after E-ESG.ResultsOf the 71 patients included (five male, mean age 40 years), mean EWL at 6 months was significantly higher in the treatment (38.6%, n=45) than in the control group (13.4%, n=21; p<0.001). At 6 months, satiety tests demonstrated a higher decrease in mean volume (41% vs 2.5%, p<0.001), and mean quality of life (QoL) was also higher in the treatment group (52.8 vs 45.1 p<0.05). No procedure-related or device-related severe adverse events were observed. Twelve months follow-up after E-ESG showed a mean EWL of 45.1%, which translated into a total body weight loss of 11.8%.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that E-ESG is safe and effective, providing a 25% better EWL at 6 months than lifestyle modification alone. This weight loss was maintained and resulted in a significant improvement in QoL up to 18 months after treatment.Trial registration numberNCT03255005.

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