The Effect of Wellness Programs on Long-Term Contract Employees' Workplace Stress, Absenteeism, and Presenteeism

Author(s):  
Desree S. Valentine ◽  
Susan Ferebee ◽  
Keri L. Heitner

The quasi-experimental study reported in the present article is aimed at increasing the understanding of the effects of long-term contract employees participating in wellness programs. The reported study examines the effect (if any) that a wellness program has on workplace stress, absenteeism, and presenteeism for long-term contract employees participating in a wellness program. A one group pretest-posttest design was used. Convenience sampling was conducted in a hospital in the New York City Metro area. Data was collected from 19 participants. Paired sample t-test and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to determine if there was a significant statistical difference before and after a dance aerobic exercise intervention. The instruments used to gather data were the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the World Health Organization Health Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). The results indicated a statistical difference for workplace stress, but no statistical difference for absenteeism and presenteeism.

2022 ◽  
pp. 1196-1207
Author(s):  
Desree S. Valentine ◽  
Susan Ferebee ◽  
Keri L. Heitner

The quasi-experimental study reported in the present article is aimed at increasing the understanding of the effects of long-term contract employees participating in wellness programs. The reported study examines the effect (if any) that a wellness program has on workplace stress, absenteeism, and presenteeism for long-term contract employees participating in a wellness program. A one group pretest-posttest design was used. Convenience sampling was conducted in a hospital in the New York City Metro area. Data was collected from 19 participants. Paired sample t-test and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to determine if there was a significant statistical difference before and after a dance aerobic exercise intervention. The instruments used to gather data were the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the World Health Organization Health Performance Questionnaire (HPQ). The results indicated a statistical difference for workplace stress, but no statistical difference for absenteeism and presenteeism.


2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (5) ◽  
pp. 817-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F. Chang ◽  
Justin S. Smith ◽  
Susan M. Chang ◽  
Kathleen R. Lamborn ◽  
Michael D. Prados ◽  
...  

Object Hemispheric low-grade gliomas (LGGs) have an unpredictable progression and overall survival (OS) profile. As a result, the objective in the present study was to design a preoperative scoring system to prognosticate long-term outcomes in patients with LGGs. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review with long-term follow-up of 281 adults harboring hemispheric LGGs (World Health Organization Grade II lesions). Clinical and radiographic data were collected and analyzed to identify preoperative predictors of OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and extent of resection (EOR). These variables were used to devise a prognostic scoring system. Results The 5-year estimated survival probability was 0.86. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated that 4 factors were associated with lower OS: presumed eloquent location (hazard ratio [HR] 4.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–10.42), Karnofsky Performance Scale score ≤ 80 (HR 3.53, 95% CI 1.56–8.00), patient age > 50 years (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.47–3.77), and tumor diameter > 4 cm (HR 3.43, 95% CI 1.43–8.06). A scoring system calculated from the sum of these factors (range 0–4) demonstrated risk stratification across study groups, with the following 5-year cumulative survival estimates: Scores 0–1, OS = 0.97, PFS = 0.76; Score 2, OS = 0.81, PFS = 0.49; and Scores 3–4, OS = 0.56, PFS = 0.18 (p < 0.001 for both OS and PFS, log-rank test). This proposed scoring system demonstrated a high degree of interscorer reliability (kappa = 0.86). Four illustrative cases are described. Conclusions The authors propose a simple and reliable scoring system that can be used to preoperatively prognosticate the degree of lesion resectability, PFS, and OS in patients with LGGs. The application of a standardized scoring system for LGGs should improve clinical decision-making and allow physicians to reliably predict patient outcome at the time of the original imaging-based diagnosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bulent Koçer ◽  
Tevfik Kaplan ◽  
Nesimi Günal ◽  
Bilge Gönenli Koçer ◽  
Yucel Akkaş ◽  
...  

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of R0 resection of thymoma to identify prognostic factors for long-term outcomes. Methods Data of 62 patients (28 male, 34 female) with a mean age of 47.26 ± 14.42 years, who underwent R0 resection for thymoma and were followed-up between February 2004 and March 2016, were analyzed retrospectively. Results Eight patients had a video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy and 54 had a transsternal extended thymectomy. During a mean follow-up of 128.67 ± 7.95 months, regional recurrence of thymoma was observed in 9 (14.5%) patients. Overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 85.36% and 78.20%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival rates in patients aged < 50 years were significantly better than in those aged ≥ 50 years (92% and 72% vs. 88% and 39%, p < 0.0001). The 10-year overall survival of patients in Masaoka stage I and II was better than those in stage III (88.9%, 78.4%, 69.8%, respectively, log-rank p < 0.001). The 10-year survival of patients with World Health Organization histological type A, AB, and B1 thymomas was better than those with type B2 and B3 (log-rank test p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, age < 50 years ( p = 0.001), Masaoka stage ( p = 0.006), histological type ( p = 0.001), and recurrence ( p = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusion Our study indicates that age < 50 years, Masaoka stage, histological type, and recurrence are the determinants of survival in surgically resected cases of thymoma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 902-902
Author(s):  
Mary Pagan

Abstract Consistent exercise provides a multitude of physical, social, and emotional benefits. Common barriers to regular exercise for older adults include time, transportation, risk of injury, existing limitations, and negative experiences or attitudes about exercise. Fit for the Next Fifty is a comprehensive exercise and wellness program designed to address barriers and excuses. The program , based in CNY, has an impressive 25 year history of providing a unique mix of aerobic, strength training, yoga, and balance-based ballet. Participants (100-120) attend up to 5 classes per week at no charge during summer months and continue through winter months for a small fee. Developing and sustaining funding partnerships has been critical to the long-term success of Fit for the Next Fifty. Participants, ages 60-96, are active providers of feedback and suggestions, a key component to keeping the music, movements, and fellowship enjoyable and meaningful for over two decades. Program details, participant pictures and testimonials, research results, surveys across the years, and partnering/funding strategies provided. Of special interest is the social support dimension of the program. Participants have developed a sophisticated network to support each other outside of the exercise and wellness programs provided by Fit for the Next Fifty.


2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinand Vogt ◽  
Anke Kowert ◽  
Andres Beiras-Fernandez ◽  
Martin Oberhoffer ◽  
Ingo Kaczmarek ◽  
...  

<p><b>Objective:</b> The use of homografts for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is an alternative to mechanical or biological valve prostheses, especially in younger patients. This retrospective comparative study evaluated our single-center long-term results, with a focus on the different origins of the homografts.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> Since 1992, 366 adult patients have undergone AVR with homografts at our center. We compared 320 homografts of aortic origin and 46 homografts of pulmonary origin. The grafts were implanted via either a subcoronary technique or the root replacement technique. We performed a multivariate analysis to identify independent factors that influence survival. Freedom from reintervention and survival rates were calculated as cumulative events according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were tested with the log-rank test.</p><p><b>Results:</b> Overall mortality within 1 year was 6.5% (21/320) in the aortic graft group and 17.4% (8/46) in the pulmonary graft group. In the pulmonary graft group, 4 patients died from valve-related complications, 1 patient died after additional heterotopic heart transplantation, and 1 patient who entered with a primary higher risk died from a prosthesis infection. Two patients died from non-valve-related causes. During the long-term follow-up, the 15-year survival rate was 79.9% for patients in the aortic graft group and 68.7% for patients in the pulmonary graft group (<i>P</i> = .049). The rate of freedom from reoperation was 77.7% in the aortic graft group and 57.4% in the pulmonary graft group (<i>P</i> < .001). The reasons for homograft explantation were graft infections (aortic graft group, 5.0%; pulmonary graft group, 6.5%) and degeneration (aortic graft group, 7.5%; pulmonary graft group, 32.6%).</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Our study demonstrated superior rates of survival and freedom from reintervention after AVR with aortic homografts. Implantation with a pulmonary graft was associated with a higher risk of redo surgery, owing to earlier degenerative alterations.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Iyen ◽  
Stephen Weng ◽  
Yana Vinogradova ◽  
Ralph K. Akyea ◽  
Nadeem Qureshi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although obesity is a well-recognised risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the impact of long-term body mass index (BMI) changes in overweight or obese adults, on the risk of heart failure, CVD and mortality has not been quantified. Methods This population-based cohort study used routine UK primary care electronic health data linked to secondary care and death-registry records. We identified adults who were overweight or obese, free from CVD and who had repeated BMI measures. Using group-based trajectory modelling, we examined the BMI trajectories of these individuals and then determined incidence rates of CVD, heart failure and mortality associated with the different trajectories. Cox-proportional hazards regression determined hazards ratios for incident outcomes. Results 264,230 individuals (mean age 49.5 years (SD 12.7) and mean BMI 33.8 kg/m2 (SD 6.1)) were followed-up for a median duration of 10.9 years. Four BMI trajectories were identified, corresponding at baseline, with World Health Organisation BMI classifications for overweight, class-1, class-2 and class-3 obesity respectively. In all four groups, there was a small, stable upwards trajectory in BMI (mean BMI increase of 1.06 kg/m2 (± 3.8)). Compared with overweight individuals, class-3 obese individuals had hazards ratios (HR) of 3.26 (95% CI 2.98–3.57) for heart failure, HR of 2.72 (2.58–2.87) for all-cause mortality and HR of 3.31 (2.84–3.86) for CVD-related mortality, after adjusting for baseline demographic and cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusion The majority of adults who are overweight or obese retain their degree of overweight or obesity over the long term. Individuals with stable severe obesity experience the worst heart failure, CVD and mortality outcomes. These findings highlight the high cardiovascular toll exacted by continuing failure to tackle obesity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 705
Author(s):  
Hideki Houzen ◽  
Takahiro Kano ◽  
Kazuhiro Horiuchi ◽  
Masahiro Wakita ◽  
Azusa Nagai ◽  
...  

Reports on the long-term survival effect of edaravone, which was approved for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2015 in Japan, are rare. Herein, we report our retrospective analysis of 45 consecutive patients with ALS who initially visited our hospital between 2013 and 2018. Of these, 22 patients were treated with edaravone for an average duration of 26.6 (range, 2–64) months, whereas the remaining patients were not treated with edaravone and comprised the control group. There were no differences in baseline demographics between the two groups. The primary endpoint was tracheostomy positive-pressure ventilation (TPPV) or death, and the follow-up period ended in December 2020. The survival rate was significantly better in the edaravone group than in the control group based on the Kaplan–Meier analysis, which revealed that the median survival durations were 49 (9–88) and 25 (8–41) months in the edaravone and control groups, respectively (p = 0.001, log-rank test). There were no serious edaravone-associated adverse effects during the study period. Overall, the findings of this single-center retrospective study suggest that edaravone might prolong survival in patients with ALS.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-chang Chen ◽  
Keh-chung Lin ◽  
Chen-Jung Chen ◽  
Shu-Hui Yeh ◽  
Ay-Woan Pan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Joint contractures, which affect activity, participation, and quality of life, are common complications of neurological conditions among elderly residents in long-term care facilities. This study examined the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales in a population with joint contractures. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used. The sample included elderly residents older than 64 years with joint contractures in an important joint who had lived at one of 12 long-term care facilities in Taiwan for more than 6 months (N = 243). The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales for joint contractures was generated from the English version through five stages: translation, review, back-translation, review by a panel of specialists, and a pretest. Test-retest reliability, internal consistency reliability, construct validity, and criterion validity were evaluated, and the results were compared with those for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Results The Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales had excellent reliability, with a Cronbach α coefficient of 0.975 (mean score, 28.98; standard deviation, 17.34). An exploratory factor analysis showed three factors and one factor with an eigenvalue > 1 that explained 75.176 and 62.83 % of the total variance in the Activity subscale and Participation subscale, respectively. The subscale-to-total scale correlation analysis showed Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.881 for the Activity subscale and 0.843 for the Participation subscale. Pearson’s product-moment correlation revealed that the correlation coefficient (r) between the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule was 0.770, whereas that for the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale was − 0.553; these values were interpreted as large coefficients. Conclusions The underlying theoretical model of the Chinese version of the PaArticular Scales functions well in Taiwan and has acceptable levels of reliability and validity. However, the Chinese version must be further tested for applicability and generalizability in future studies, preferably with a larger sample and in different clinical domains.


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