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ISSN 1051-9815 (P)
ISSN 1875-9270 (E)
Impact Factor 2024: 1.7
WORK: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment & Rehabilitation is an interdisciplinary, international journal which publishes high quality peer-reviewed manuscripts covering the entire scope of the occupation of work. The journal's subtitle has been deliberately laid out: The first goal is the prevention of illness, injury, and disability. When this goal is not achievable, the attention focuses on assessment to design client-centered intervention, rehabilitation, treatment, or controls that use scientific evidence to support best practice.
WORK occasionally publishes thematic issues, but in general, issues cover a wide range of topics such as ergonomic considerations with children, youth and students, the challenges facing an aging workforce, workplace violence, injury management, performing artists, ergonomic product evaluations, and the awareness of the political, cultural, and environmental determinants of health related to work.
Dr. Karen Jacobs, the founding editor, and her editorial board especially encourage the publication of research studies, clinical practice, case study reports, as well as personal narratives and critical reflections of lived work experiences (autoethnographic/autobiographic scholarship),
Sounding Board commentaries and
Speaking of Research articles which provide the foundation for better understanding research to facilitate knowledge dissemination.
Narrative Reflections on Occupational Transitions, a new column, is for persons who have successfully transitioned into, between, or out of occupations to tell their stories in a narrative form. With an internationally renowned editorial board,
WORK maintains high standards in the evaluation and publication of manuscripts. All manuscripts are reviewed expeditiously and published in a timely manner.
WORK prides itself on being an author-friendly journal.
WORK celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015.
*WORK is affiliated with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)* *WORK is endorsed by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA)* *WORK gives out the yearly Cheryl Bennett Best Paper Award*
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Based on the high prevalence of people with problems in the wrist and hand simultaneously, it is of its importance to clarify whether hand joints exert extra motion to compensate for wrist motion while immobilized. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to measure the compensatory movement of the thumb and index finger when people perform daily activities with an immobilized wrist. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers were recruited in this study. A wrist splint,…the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and the OptoTrak Certus motion tracking system were used. Seven inter-digit mean joint angles of the index finger and thumb were calculated. Paired sample t-test was used. RESULTS: (1) The compensatory motions were noted in the Metacarpophalangeal and Carpometacarpal joints of the thumb, and the proximal interphalangeal joints of the index finger; (2) The manifestation of compensatory motion was related to type of activity performed except when picking up light and heavy cans. CONCLUSIONS: The compensatory motions appeared while the wrist was immobilized and were found to be disadvantageous to the progression of disease. In the future, studies need to be done to understand how to select products with correct ergonomic design to enable people to reap greater benefits from wearing wrist splints.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Firefighting is a dangerous occupation with a high incidence of low back pain and injury. Abnormal back muscle function and morphology has been linked to low back pain and poor physical performance. The effect of exercise training on back muscle size and symmetry has not been investigated in firefighters. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of worksite exercise training for eliciting lumbar multifidus muscle hypertrophy in firefighters.…METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with healthy, career firefighters (n=64) from a medium-sized fire department. Participants were randomized by fire station to exercise training (n=36) (supervised back and core exercise performed on duty, 2X/week, 24 weeks) or control (n=28). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the L4 and L5 lumbar multifidus muscle was assessed with ultrasonography at baseline and following the intervention. RESULTS: At 24 weeks, no significant differences were noted between the groups in the adjusted (by baseline scores and body mass) L4 and L5 lumbar multifidus muscle CSA and asymmetry values. CONCLUSIONS: A worksite exercise training program targeting the back and core is not effective for eliciting hypertrophy of the lumbar multifidus muscle in healthy firefighters.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Social-cognitive deficits have a significant impact on the community and vocational functioning of persons with schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the relationship between social-cognitive abilities and vocational functioning in a Chinese population. METHOD: We recruited 30 outpatients with schizophrenia to participate. We administered the Chinese Social Cognition and Screening Questionnaire (C-SCSQ) to assess Theory of Mind (ToM), attributional bias, and neurocognition; the Facial Expression Identification Test (FEIT) to assess…emotion perception (EP) ability, and the Chinese Work Personality Profile (CWPP) to assess work performance in a simulated work setting. RESULTS: ToM showed a significant negative correlation with attributional bias. The neurocognitive measure displayed a significant positive correlation with ToM and EP. The structural equation model was a good fit to the data (CFI=0.91, RMSEA=0.12), and showed that social-cognitive abilities had a significant impact (−0.41) on work performance. Of the four social-cognitive domains, ToM and paranoid attributional style (PAS) contributed significantly to variations in work performance. These results support the theory that social-cognitive abilities have an impact on work performance. ToM has a positive impact whereas PAS has an adverse effect. CONCLUSION: Persons with schizophrenia present specific deficits in their social-cognitive abilities, which have significant impact on their work performance and employability.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Profound changes are taking place in the Swedish welfare state. The general population's attitudes are important insofar changes will be perceived as fair and effective to become implemented. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study attitudes to the strictness of the sick-leave rules, relocation to other work tasks after 3 months of sick leave and applications for new jobs after 6 months of sick leave. METHODS: Eligible for this questionnaire study were 1,140 individuals aged 19 to…64 years. Their attitudes were analyzed in relation to age, gender, political ideology and health status. Health status was measured as sick-leave experiences, self-reported health and level of symptoms. RESULTS: Showed that 42% considered the sick-leave rules to be too strict, 60% found relocation to other work tasks to be good while 35% found that applications for new work were good. In logistic regression analyses, high sick-leave experience was associated with increased odds of finding the sick-leave rules too strict and disagreement with relocation to other work tasks or application for new jobs. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, strong support was found for relocation to other work tasks with the present employer. Earlier research on returning to work has found workplace interventions to be efficient. From a policy perspective it seems relevant to promote such interventions given the strong public opinion in their favor.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Slips and falls contribute to occupational injuries and fatalities globally. Both floor slipperiness and floor roughness affect the occurrence of slipping and falling. Investigations on fall-related phenomena are important for the safety and health of workers. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to: compare the perceived floor slipperiness before and after walking on the floor; compare the perceived floor slipperiness with and without shoes for males and females; discuss the perceived floor…roughness based on barefoot walking; and establish regression models to describe the relationship between perceived floor slipperiness and actual friction of the floors. METHODS: Male and female subjects walked on 3 m walkways with or without shoes. The perceived floor slipperiness ratings both before and after their walk were collected. RESULTS: The perceived floor slipperiness both before and after walking were significantly affected by both floor and surface conditions. Gender, floor, surface, and footwear conditions were all significant factors affecting the adjustment of perceived floor slipperiness. The subjects made more adjustment on perceived floor slipperiness rating when they had shoes on than when they were barefooted. CONCLUSION: Regression models were established to describe the relationship between perceived floor slipperiness and floor coefficient of friction. These models may be used to estimate perceived floor slipperiness, or in reverse, the coefficient of friction of the floor, so as to prevent slipping and falling in workplaces.
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Keywords: Slips and falls, subjective rating, coefficient of friction
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Efficient use of space and passenger comfort in aircraft interiors are major issues. There is not much research available about the flying experience regarding passengers' personal belongings. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to explore concepts within the current aircraft seats which improve the passenger experience related to their personal belongings like wallets, mobile phones and laptops. METHODS: Through on-site observations, interviews and online questionnaires, data regarding the number of personal belongings taken into the…airplane and opinions about access to hand luggage were gathered. These data were used to develop different concepts to optimize the aircraft interior, which were evaluated by passengers. RESULTS: Almost every passenger carries a phone (88%), wallet (94%), travel documents (98%) and keys (76%) with them and they like to have these stored close by. Passengers rate the concept that provides integrated storage in the tray table of the aircraft seat the best. CONCLUSIONS: Extra storage possibility in the table-tray seems a promising solution according to the passengers.
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Abstract: BACKGROUND: Manual patient handling is known to be the major source of musculoskeletal load among hospital nurses. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), assess patient manual handling risk and identify major factors associated with MSDs symptoms among hospital nursing staff. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 randomly selected nurses from 75 wards of 11 hospitals. Data were collected by demographic and Nordic musculoskeletal…questionnaires together with MAPO checklist. Prevalence of MSDs was estimated with confidence interval of 95%. Chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used to investigate differences of MSDs prevalence for demographic variables between the subjects with and without MSDs. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed (forward: Wald) to determine MSDs associated risk factors. RESULTS: The means of age and job tenure in subjects were 30.76 ± 6.44 and 6.92 ± 5.75 years, respectively. Some form of musculoskeletal symptoms had been experienced during the last 12 months by 88.2% of the subjects. MAPO assessment revealed that 83.5% of the individuals were at risk. Statistical analysis showed that job tenure, nurse to bed ratio, gender, shift working and MAPO score were associated with MSDs (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of MSDs in hospital nursing personnel was high and the occurrence of MSDs was found to be associated with MAPO score. Based on the results, to improve working conditions, it is imperative to provide lifting equipment, implement training programs and increase nurse to bed ratio in hospitals.
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Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, nursing personnel, patient manual handling, MAPO index
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is limited research on the effectiveness of alternative keyboards in reducing discomfort in the workplace. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that participants using a fixed split-angle (alternative) keyboard would report significantly greater improvements in discomfort in comparison to those using a standard keyboard. Additionally, we hypothesized that at 5 months participants would significantly prefer the configuration of the alternative keyboard in comparison to the standard keyboard. METHOD: In this randomized cross-over trial 77 symptomatic computer operators…used fixed split-angle or standard flat keyboards for five months in their workplace, then switched to the other keyboard. Discomfort was collected weekly using the Weekly Discomfort Survey and usability was measured monthly. RESULTS: There was no significant keyboard by period effect on any discomfort measure. The number of participants with discomfort decreased dramatically in the first month of use, regardless of keyboard type, and this number remained relatively unchanged for the remainder of the study. Participants' ratings significantly favored the standard flat keyboard for usability. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support the use of fixed split-angle keyboards over standard flat keyboards to reduce discomfort in the workplace. Further research is needed to evaluate if subgroups of keyboard users might benefit.
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