Work - Volume 25, issue 3

Article Type: Other

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 185-185, 2005

Authors: Dale, Lucinda | Albin, Raeanne | Kapolka-Ullom, Shelley | Lange, Annjanette | McCan, Megan | Quaderer, Kacey | Shaffer, Nikki

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: 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. Show more

Keywords: Industry, meaning, adaptation, Spanish-speaking

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 187-196, 2005

Authors: Jack, Robert J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The ability of a foam-padded and air-bladder glove to significantly attenuate hand-arm vibration compared to an individual's bare hands (after the effect of adipose content of the distal upper extremity had been removed) was studied. Subjects consisted of 3 male and 8 female university students' aged 20 to 22 years. After the effect of adipose content of the distal upper extremity was removed, the effect of the gloves on transmissibility was significant with F_{2,959} …= 5.27, p<0.000. The effect of the frequencies was significant with F_{31,959} = 8.80, p<0.000. There was no significant interaction between the gloves and frequencies on transmissibility with F_{62,959} = 0.22, p = 1.000. Post-hoc analysis revealed that there was a significant difference was between bare hand and foam-padded glove conditions, F_{1,1052} = 8.13, p = 0.004, where foam-padded gloves had significantly greater transmissibility. Post-hoc analysis of the frequencies indicated that there were significant differences between frequencies at with the highest transmissibility occurring at 100 Hz. Show more

Keywords: Hand-arm vibration, transmissibility, anti-vibration gloves, and adipose content

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 197-203, 2005

Authors: Burnett, Angus F. | Naumann, Fiona L. | Price, Ryan S. | Sanders, Ross H.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objective: To compare two neck strength training modalities. Background: Neck injury in pilots flying high performance aircraft is a concern in aviation medicine. Strength training may be an effective means to strengthen the neck and decrease injury risk. Methods: The cohort consisted of 32 age-height-weight matched participants, divided into two experimental groups; the Multi-Cervical Unit (MCU) and Thera-Band tubing groups (THER), and a control (CTRL) group. Ten weeks of training were undertaken and pre-and post isometric …strength testing for all groups was performed on the MCU. Comparisons between the three groups were made using a Kruskal-Wallis test and effect sizes between the MCU and the THER groups and the THER and CTRL groups were also calculated. Results: The MCU group displayed the greatest increase in isometric strength (flexion 64.4%, extension 62.9%, left lateral flexion 53.3%, right lateral flexion 49.1%) and differences were only statistically significant (p<0.05) when compared to the CTRL group. Increases in neck strength for the THER group were lower than that shown in the MCU group (flexion 42.0%, extension 29.9%, left lateral flexion 26.7%, right lateral flexion 24.1%). Moderate to large effect sizes were found between the MCU and THER as well as the THER and CTRL groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the MCU was the most effective training modality to increase isometric cervical muscle strength. Thera-Band tubing did however, produce moderate gains in isometric neck strength Show more

Keywords: Neck, strength training, isometric, +Gz force, high performance pilots

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 205-210, 2005

Authors: Droeze, Ester Haver | Jonsson, Hans

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Objectives: An ergonomic intervention program was implemented in the Netherlands to reduce musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) in dental clinics. The aim of this study was to improve preventional methods by evaluating the secondary prevention programme from the dentists' point of view; investigating the dentists ability to implement the recommendations; identifying barriers and facilitators for implementation; ascertaining whether implementation of these recommendations led to a perceived reduction of their MSD. Method: A questionnaire survey was …conducted. The questionnaire, specially developed for this research was mailed to 57 dentists who went through the intervention program. They all returned the questionnaire. Results: Over 50% of the dentists implemented the recommendations given during the intervention fully or nearly fully, and 40% implemented the recommendations partially. Barriers that made change difficult included changing old routines and financial aspects. Important facilitators were motivation, pain and individualized recommendations. The dentists saw a clear relation between their implementation of recommendations and a reduction in MSD.; 72% of the dentists reported a reduction or disappearance of the main complaint. Conclusions: The study shows that even in a highly motivated group recommendations to reduce MSD will often be only partially implemented. This obviously influences the effectiveness of intervention programmes. Improving our understanding of barriers and facilitators to the implementation of ergonomic measures may result in a class of guidelines dealing with implementation issues. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, musculoskeletal disorders, compliance and dentistry

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 211-220, 2005

Authors: de Urríes, F.B. Jordán | Verdugo, M.A. | Jenaro, C. | Crespo, M. | Caballo, C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to improve supported employment programs analyzing the relationships between different variables involved in its development on job outcomes. One important variable is typicalness (understood as the degree to which the job of the person with a disability is similar in its different characteristics to that of co-workers without a disability). It also compares sheltered employment and supported employment in employment outcomes. The results showed more length of service in the …job and salary for supported employment workers. As regards the developmental variables, time of external support, type of support, and adaptations are critical to get better outcomes. Finally, the need to finely balance the typicalness of the job and the characteristics of the worker involved is stressed. Show more

Keywords: Supported employment, typicalness, job outcomes

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 221-229, 2005

Authors: Hansen, Annie | Edlund, Curt | Bränholm, Inga-Britt

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: There are increasing numbers of people on long-term sick leave, especially with stress-related ill health and musculoskeletal disorders. The main purpose of this study is to, early on in the sick leave, find predictors of individual resources for a return to work. The study group consists of women and men on sick leave compared with reference groups of healthy persons. A questionnaire was used regarding diagnosis given on the doctor's certificate, self-reported symptoms, residential area, education, …and kind of work. It also contained open questions about consequences in daily life and beliefs about future. Checklists concerning life satisfaction, sense of coherence, locus of control, coping resources and sick leave information over a four-year period have been used. Significant differences between the study group and the reference groups were found, relating to sense of coherence, locus of control, life satisfaction and coping resources. More than half of the study group were still on sick leave at a two-year follow-up. Important predictive factors turned out to be: previous sick leave, own belief about future and self-reported symptoms. Show more

Keywords: Sick leave, sense of coherence, locus of control, coping, life satisfaction

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 231-240, 2005

Authors: Phillip Muñoz, Jaime | Reichenbach, Diana | Hansen, Anne Marie Witchger

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The homeless population in the US has dramatically increased in the past two decades. People who are homeless often lack skills sets such as stress management and social skills, independent living skills, and skills for vocational and leisure engagement. Best practice vocational education and training programs for individuals who are homeless recognize that success in the worker role often hinges on a person's capacity to manage day-to-day living. Life skills and pre-employment training are essential components …of vocational programs but no more important than interpersonal skill development including anger management, developing self esteem and motivation, building goal setting capacity, and skills for money management, personal budgeting and self-advocacy. These areas of performance have all been traditionally included in occupational therapy's domain of practice. This article describes Project Employ, a grant funded supportive employment program that has grown out of collaboration between Duquesne University's Department of Occupational Therapy and Bethlehem Haven, an emergency shelter and residential recovery program and primary service provider for homeless people in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The purpose of this article is to describe the history, structure and outcomes of Project Employ. Show more

Keywords: Supported employment, community programming, community-university partnership

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 241-252, 2005

Authors: Rolander, Bo | Karsznia, Alek | Jonker, Dirk | Öberg, Tommy | Bellner, Anna-Lena

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In an earlier questionnaire study, dentists reported high experienced physical work load in their profession, but low to moderate complaints from their musculoskeletal system. The correlation between reported physical work load and pain from the musculoskeletal system was weak. This discrepancy could not be satisfactorily explained. Therefore, a second study was undertaken, in which the same 27 dentists who reported musculoskeletal problems were video recorded during one hour of clinical work, and the records …were later analyzed using PEO (Portable Ergonomic Observation). PEO is a frequency analysis method which allows observation of work in real time using a portable computer or video recordings. PEO can be adjusted for registration of single or multiple work operations. Output data are presented as frequency, duration, and sequence of the various work operations. The aim of the present study was to investigate if there was a relation between observed work load recorded with PEO, and subjectively estimated work load and musculoskeletal complaints recorded with a questionnaire based on Visual Analogue Scales. Sitting and standing postures, and head, trunk and arm movements were analyzed. The PEO observations showed that dentists generally perform their clinical work in a sitting position, with the head bent forward almost half of the time. Only weak to moderate correlations (r =0.0–0.6) were found between observed physical work load and subjective estimations of experienced physical work load and musculoskeletal complaints. These findings support the results in our previous study, but they do not explain the large difference between the observed low work load and the subjectively experienced high work load. The study will be followed up by EMG measurements and free interviews, where both muscular load and psychosocial factors will be evaluated. Show more

Keywords: Ergonomics, muscle fatigue, work load, musculoskeletal complaints, dental clinics, musculoskeletal disorders, physical demands

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 253-262, 2005

Authors: Wingrat, Jennifer K. | Exner, Charlotte E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Schoolchildren spend much of their day sitting in classroom furniture that is often too large or too small. To assess the impact of the size and fit of school furniture on the sitting and task behaviors of schoolchildren, 63 fourth-graders were observed while seated in 2 different sizes, types, and arrangements of furniture in their classroom. A correlated group design was used to compare the sitting and task behaviors of the students while seated in their …traditional classroom furniture consisting of tables and chairs, and while sitting in smaller, appropriately sized desks and chairs, arranged in clusters and then in rows. The results indicate that the children sat better and were on task more when seated in the smaller furniture, as indicated by a significant main effect for condition, F = 51.478 (4, 330), p<0.05. There was no difference in sitting and task behaviors with the new furniture arranged in clusters compared to rows. Girls showed a slightly greater improvement compared to boys, and there was a significant correlation between better sitting positions and being on-task (r = 0.549, p<0.01). These findings indicate that students would likely benefit from sitting in smaller furniture that fits their size better. Show more

Citation: Work, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 263-272, 2005