Association of perceived work pace and physical work demands with occupational accidents: a cross-sectional study of ageing male construction workers in Denmark

Background Occupational accidents continue to be a significant public health challenge worldwide. Construction workers in particular are at high risk of occupational accidents, and thus it is of major importance to identify possible predictors of occupational accidents among construction workers. We aimed to investigate the association between self-reported work pace and physical work demands and occupational accidents among ageing male construction workers in Denmark. Methods Data on perceived work pace, physical work demands, and occupational accidents was acquired from questionnaires sent to ageing construction workers in Denmark in 2016 as part of the ALFA project (ALdring og Fysisk Arbejde; Ageing and Physical Work). A sample of 1270 Danish male construction workers above 50 years of age was included in the present study. Multiple logistic regression models were applied, with adjustments for age, smoking, body mass index, musculoskeletal disorders, occupation, work experience, and support at work. Results Of 1270 construction workers, 166 (13.1%) reported an occupational accident within the last 12 months. There was no significant association between perceived work pace and occupational accidents, but physical work demands were associated with higher odds for occupational accidents, with an odds ratio of 2.27 (95% confidence interval 1.26–4.10) for medium physical work demands and 2.62 (95% confidence interval 1.50–4.57) for high physical work demands. Conclusions Ageing male construction workers with high physical work demands had statistically significant higher odds of having an occupational accident. By contrast, perceived work pace was not associated with occupational accidents in this large cross-sectional study.

Post Pandemic Era – Adopting Tele-dentistry

Dentistry, the field of medicine where the communication sets standards for success. A continuous patient and dentist as well multidisciplinary dental communication leads to accuracy in diagnosis, increased efficiency as well as better patient satisfaction and long term positive outcomes. However the COVID-19 has brought a hindrance in the regular dental practice. The dental work demands a close proximity between the dentists with the patient which pitches them at a higher risk of being affected by the virus. Hence, international as well as national policy making associations and organizations have suggested only emergency and minimal aerosols generating treatment procedures. The dentists have almost been in hibernation, along with the waves of the pandemic and the constant lockdowns, carrying out free consultations for regular patients of their practices, through the phone and even chats. Can this be an opportunity to include tele-communication tools in routine dental practice?

Estrés laboral y percepción de competencias parentales en padres que trabajan

Work stress is related to the perception of parental skills in working parents, it is a cross-sectional, associative study with correlational predictive design (Ato, López & Benavente, 2013), 177 parents participated (55.7% women), who worked at least 30 hours per week and who have children between 3 and 12 years old. The instruments used were the Inventory of the demands-control-support model (Rosario-Hernández & Rovira, 2016) and the Perceived Parental Competence Scale (Vera-Vásquez, Zaragoza-Tafur & Musayón-Oblitas, 2014). The results found show significant and positive correlations between the dimension of support with assumption of the role and shared leisure (.27). In the same way, the support dimension is positively related to school involvement (.28); as well as the dimension of control with assumption of the role and shared leisure (.22). A positive and moderate correlation was also found between work demands and hours worked (.34). It has been possible to compare the results with previous studies that reaffirm the idea that due to the amount of work commitments, the parents' stay at home is more difficult. In conclusion, people who perceive stress in their work will have a lower perception of parental competences, since they do not find a balance between the functions of both roles.

RESILIENCY QUOTIENT PERAWAT DI RUMAH SAKIT DI JAKARTA [NURSES’ RESILIENCE QUOTIENT IN A JAKARTA HOSPITAL]

<p><strong>BAHASA INDONESIA </strong>Perawat merupakan kelompok tenaga kesehatan yang berisiko mengalami tekanan kerja, apabila tidak dapat diadaptasi akan menimbulkan stress kerja dan jika berlangsung lama dengan intensitas yang tinggi dapat berujung pada burnout. Oleh sebab itu, perawat membutuhkan resiliensi untuk dapat bertahan dalam menghadapi berbagai masalah dan tuntutan pekerjaan di rumah sakit. Penelitian tentang resiliensi pada perawat di Indonesia masih sangat sedikit, begitu juga di satu rumah sakit swasta di Jakarta penelitian mengenai resiliensi belum pernah dilakukan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui gambaran <em>resiliency quotient</em> pada perawat di rumah sakit swasta di Jakarta. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan desain penelitian deskriptif. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah perawat di satu rumah sakit swasta di Indonesia. Sampel penelitian berjumlah 156 perawat dengan menggunakan metode <em>Convenience Sampling</em>. Pengambilan data menggunakan kuesioner R<em>esiliency Quotient</em> (RQ) Russell dan Russell (2007) dengan jumlah pertanyaan sebanyak 32 item (<em>Cronbach’s Alpha </em>0,951). Analisis data menggunakan teknik analisis deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa mayoritas perawat masuk dalam kategori resilient yaitu sebanyak 137 perawat (87,82%),18 perawat (11,54%) sangat resilient, dan satu perawat (0,64%) sedikit resilient. Pada penelitian selanjutnya diharapkan untuk menggali lebih dalam faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi resiliensi pada perawat.</p><p><strong>BAHASA INGGRIS </strong><em>Nurses are a group of healthcare workers who are at risk of experiencing work pressure which mightl cause job stress and in turn might lead to burnout. Therefore, nurses need to be resilient to be able to face various problems and work demands in the hospital. Research on resiliency of nurses in Jakarta is still insufficient, as is in a private hospital in western Indonesia where research on resiliency has never been done. Purpose: This study aimed to describe nurse’s resiliency quotient. This was a descriptive quantitative study. The population was nurses in a private hospital in western Indonesia, obtaining 156 respondents. The instrument used was Resiliency Quotient (RQ) questionnaire by Russell and Russell (2007) with 32 questions. The result showed that the majority (87,82%) of nurses were resilient, 18 (11.54%) nurses were very resilient, and only 1 (0.64%) who was slightly resilient. It is expected that the next study will explore in depth about factors contributing to nurses’ resiliency.</em></p>

Weight-based stereotype threat in the workplace: consequences for employees with overweight or obesity

Background/Objectives Employees with overweight or obesity are often stereotyped as lazy, unmotivated, and less competent than employees with normal weight. As a consequence, employees with overweight or obesity are susceptible to stereotype threat, or the concern about confirming, or being reduced to, a stereotype about their group. This survey study examined whether employees with overweight or obesity experience stereotype threat in the workplace, whether it is associated with their perceived ability to meet their work demands (i.e., work ability), and whether high levels of knowledge about one’s self (i.e., authentic self-awareness) can offset a potential negative association. Subjects/Methods Using a correlational study design, survey data were collected from N = 758 full-time employees at three measurement points across 3 months. Employees’ average body mass index (BMI) was 26.36 kg/m² (SD = 5.45); 34% of participants were employees with overweight (BMI between 25 and <30), and 18% of participants were employees with obesity (BMI > 30). Results Employees with higher weight and higher BMI reported more weight-based stereotype threat (rs between 0.17 and 0.19, p < 0.001). Employees who experienced higher levels of weight-based stereotype threat reported lower work ability, while controlling for weight, height, and subjective weight (β = −0.27, p < 0.001). Authentic self-awareness moderated the relationship between weight-based stereotype threat and work ability (β = 0.14, p < 0.001), such that the relationship between stereotype threat and work ability was negative among employees with low authentic self-awareness (β = −0.25, p < 0.001), and non-significant among employees with high authentic self-awareness (β = 0.08, p = 0.315). Conclusions The findings of this study contribute to the literature by showing that weight-based stereotype threat is negatively associated with employees’ perceived ability to meet their work demands, particularly among those employees with low authentic self-awareness.

ASSESSING THE DETERMINANTS OF SAFETY CULTURE IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY

This paper presents the study approach, findings and the way forward of an Australian Linkage Council funded collaborative research project. The research was conducted by a group of researchers from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Curtin University and the University of Queensland, focusing on safety culture. More than 1,000 seafarers from 197 ships comprising 23 flag States were surveyed. The survey assessed safety culture, work demands, fatigue, mental health, and well-being and safety performance. Results show that although safety culture was viewed positively, a number of risk factors were also reported that could have a negative influence on safety. For example, the data indicates that work demands are high and negatively impact seafarers’ recovery and long term wellbeing. Similarly, the negative types of safety compliance behaviours reported by participants are an indicator of reduced levels of safety culture. The findings are being used to implement a set of recommendations to improve safety on board ships. The recommendations center on a) improving the quality of work procedures; b) introduction of effective fatigue management systems; and c) improving the quality of work design and organisational support. The findings of this study have been presented at a range of industry forums, briefings, and at the International Maritime Organization.

Gender Differences in the Work and Home Spheres for Teachers, and Longitudinal Associations with Depressive Symptoms in a Swedish Cohort

The high level of stress among teachers is a frequently reported problem globally but less is known about how demands and resources among teachers affect depressive symptoms, and to what extent gender differences in these conditions can explain potential differences in depressive symptoms. The present study investigated gender differences in teachers’ self-reported depressive symptoms, and differences in their demands and resources in both work and home spheres. Associations between demands and resources, respectively, and depressive symptoms as well as gender differences in these associations were examined. Results from univariate and parallel growth modelling (N = 1,022), using data from six time points (2008 to 2018), found higher levels of depressive symptoms, higher emotional and quantitative work demands, and more time doing unpaid work among female teachers, whereas male teachers reported more time on leisure activities. Emotional and quantitative work demands were associated with depressive symptoms at baseline, and these associations also developed in parallel over time. Leisure time had a negative association with depressive symptoms at baseline. There were no gender differences in the strength of these associations. Findings suggest that gender differences in teachers’ depressive symptoms could be attributable to women’s greater demands in the work sphere and fewer resources in the home sphere than men as opposed to their being more vulnerable to workplace stressors.

Racial and Age Group Disparities in the Effect of Social Distancing on Health Status

African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at younger ages than Whites. Social distancing (SD) prevents the spread of the virus, but because of work demands, transportation needs, and living arrangements SD may be difficult for many African Americans, many of whom are experiencing higher unemployment, poverty, food insufficiency, and social isolation. This study will determine if the health of African Americans and Whites are differentially impacted by SD measures. SD rules can increase or decrease health disparities by: (a) directly impacting the symptoms and progression of chronic health conditions; (b) influencing availability of protective factors and exposure to risk factors; and (c) mitigating or exacerbating the effects of sources of disparities. These hypotheses will be tested using data from the Understanding America’s COVID Study. Findings can advance understanding of how public health requirements can reduce or increase health disparities and identify protective factors to facilitate adherence to public health guidelines.