Work - Volume 79, issue 4

Authors: Yarasir, Ezgi | Sen, Mehmet Ali | Pirincci, Edibe

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is a common public health problem resulting in workforce loss. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the LBP status and its affecting factors among drivers in a city in southeast Turkey. METHODS: This cross-sectional questionnaire survey study was conducted among 323 drivers. The chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean age of the drivers was 41.7±11.5 years (min: 19, max: 70), and 83.9% were married, and all were men. LBP was found in 59.4% of drivers. It was significantly higher in …drivers with poor socioeconomic status, dissatisfied with their life, having a chronic illness, physically inactive, having sleep disorders, exposed to bad road conditions, prolonged vibration, high physical- psychological workload, and a family history of LBP (p  < 0.05). There was no significant association between age, education level, and BMI with LBP (p  > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is limited study on this subject in Turkey. Further studies can raise awareness about this issue and create an educational plan. Show more

Keywords: Low back pain, musculoskeletal pain, occupational exposure, occupational health, vibration, workload

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230059

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1705-1714, 2024

Authors: Bellemare, François | Laguë, Isabelle | Arenzon, Valerie | Khaldoun, Lydia | Geoffrion, Steve

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCW; e.g., nurses, social workers) work in stressful conditions, a situation that has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of the supportive role of Psychological first aid (PFA) suggested that it can protect HCW from psychological distress. Despite the growing interest of PFA among public health organizations, there is a dearth of literature on its potential impact for the psychological well-being of HCW and its implementation within organizations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether PFA met the psychological needs of HCW in Montreal, Quebec. METHODS: A sample of 15 …HCW who received PFA by a peer within their organization were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative research using thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: 1) PFA satisfied participants’ psychosocial needs; 2) PFA provided by peers allowed participants to feel understood and supported; 3) High availability and multiple modalities facilitated PFA access; 4) Occupational and organizational cultures hindered PFA access; and 5) Recommendations to promote the use of the PFA service. CONCLUSION: Results describe four psychosocial needs met by the PFA intervention: to have resources/strategies, to be validated, to obtain a better understanding of the psychological reactions they were experiencing, and to be guided and supported in their difficulties at work. Overall, these findings illustrate how PFA goes beyond the reduction of distress symptoms in the aftermath of a potentially traumatic event. The relevance to further the assessment of PFA’s positive effects on psychological adaptation and/or recovery is also highlighted. Show more

Keywords: Early intervention, psychological trauma, psychological distress, anxiety, depression, mental health, psychosocial support

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230116

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1715-1727, 2024

Authors: Jamous, Matthieu | Biéchy, Jean-Philippe | Fautrelle, Lilian

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: To carry out their victim rescue and fire-fighting missions, firefighters perform high levels of physical exertion and among them strenuous muscular activity. A specific mental preparation protocol that could induce better strength performance throughout their 24-hour schedule is a major issue for firefighters. OBJECTIVE: This case report aims to examine whether a 6-minute Intervention combining mental imagery practices and breathing exercises, specifically designed to be used while travelling between the fire station and the mission site, would be able to promote maximum strength performance. METHODS: A series of three Single Case Experimental Designs (SCED) was …conducted in single blind design to investigate the effects of repeated challenge-withdrawals between the Intervention and the Baseline on the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) strength of the hand-grip. RESULTS: Data analyses revealed that 62.5% to 100% of the hand-grip strength values during the Intervention periods were greater than or equal to the maximum data point recorded in the Baseline periods. The effect sizes of these highlighted increases of the hand-grip strength performance revealed by the percentage of non-overlapping data (PND) were 75% i.e., moderately effective on average. CONCLUSIONS: Such a “psyching-up” practice before an upcoming muscular activity can promote muscular strength in firefighters. These results have led French firefighter departments to integrate the teaching of these practices into the initial instruction of firefighters, and remains to be confirmed by a randomised control trial. Show more

Keywords: Firefighter, mental imagery, breathing exercises, hand grip force, SCED, N-of-1 trial, mental preparation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230153

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1729-1739, 2024

Authors: Björk-Fant, Janina M. | Nordmyr, Johanna | Forsman, Anna K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Work-life balance is associated with many positive effects at multiple levels and demands increased research attention. In the international literature on work-life balance, the term “gendered life-course” has been used to describe the differences between men and women in work biographies. However, whether this term applies to the Nordic work context remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study examined Finnish men’s and women’s subjective experience of the association between work-life balance and the psychosocial work environment (work demands and social support at work) across the life course, devoting special attention to family life stages encompassing the care of (young) …children. METHODS: Data from the Quality of Work Life Survey 2018 were utilized to conduct binary logistic regression analyses (N  = 3790). Separate analyses were conducted for men and women. RESULTS: A significant association between family life stage and high work-life balance was found for women but not for men in the Finnish working life. Women in family life stages involving the care of young, dependent children reported the lowest odds of high work-life balance. For both men and women, a positive association between social support at work and high work-life balance was found, while a negative association was found between work demands and high work-life balance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in both the work and family settings for work-life balance. Further, the findings call for an expanded focus on gender equality, also including issues in unpaid work in addition to issues in paid work. Show more

Keywords: Work-life balance, psychosocial factors, life span, gender equality, scandinavian and nordic countries, work environment

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230166

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1741-1752, 2024

Authors: Gülşen, Mustafa | Ertuğrul, Bekir | Taşkın, Gülşen | Aytar, Ayça | Genç, Yasemin Kavuncubaşı

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all health professionals worldwide. This has also influenced their working lives, affecting burnout and work engagement. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the relationship between burnout and work engagement among nurses and physiotherapists during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted with total 509 nurses and physiotherapists who were working at any of the private, public, or university hospitals from two large and one small cities. A Personal Introduction Form, the Maslach Burnout Scale, and the Work Engagement Scale were used in the study. Frequency, percentage, mean, and …Pearson correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. Necessary ethical approvals were taken for the research. RESULTS: There was a significant, moderate, negative relationship between the average scores of the nurses on the vigor and devotion dimensions and the Work Engagement Scale and their average scores on emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment, depersonalization dimensions and their average score on the Maslach Burnout Scale (p  < 0.05). There was a significant, moderate, negative relationship between the scores of the physiotherapists on the Work Engagement Scale and its dimensions and their average scores on the Maslach Burnout Scale and its dimensions (p  < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study, it was found that the burnout levels of nurses and physiotherapists had an effect on their work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. During and after the COVID-19 process, managers should take measures to reduce the burnout levels of health professionals and increase their level of work engagement. Show more

Keywords: Nurse, physiotherapist, burnout, work engagement, COVID-19, pandemic

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230203

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1753-1762, 2024

Authors: Bulut, Aliye | Atici, Erhan

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: It is crucial that emergency health workers respond to people exposed to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear agents appropriately and in a timely manner. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to find out how much Turkish emergency health workers know about chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards, as well as identify what possible factors contribute to their level of knowledge. METHOD: The data were collected from 321 participants using a personal information form as well as a questionnaire about chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards prepared in accordance with the literature. RESULTS: The results revealed …that the place of residence and status of choosing the profession willingly showed no difference in terms of being trained on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards (p  > 0.05). Likewise, the participants under the age of 25 years, who were single and had a tenure of less than 10 years highly believed that they did ‘not have a sufficient grasp of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards’. Women also highly believed that they did ‘not have a solid grasp of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards.’ CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals who work in high-risk zones should be given compulsory training about chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards so that they become more aware of how to best deal with such situations. Show more

Keywords: CBRN threats, emergency health workers, health personnel, knowledge level

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230219

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1763-1771, 2024

Authors: Needham-Beck, Sarah C. | Maroni, Tessa D. | Walker, Faye S. | Vine, Chris A.J. | Moore, Daniel | Draper, Julie | Alexander, Barry | Myers, Stephen D. | Blacker, Sam D.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: There is a requirement for British Army personnel to operate in/around water. Assessing role-related swimming/water competence will support personnel to conduct their job-roles safely and effectively. OBJECTIVE: To undertake a Job-Task Analysis (JTA) of British Army personnel when working in/around water and use this information to develop a Swimming Representative Military Task (RMT) to assess swimming/water competence. METHODS: Workshops, surveys, and observations were used to conduct a JTA, which identified and described job-tasks conducted by British Army personnel in/around water. Ergonomic analysis of these job-tasks identified seven water-based physical actions, which were considered fundamental for …all personnel to be competent in performing. These seven actions guided design of a Swimming RMT, which was subsequently conducted twice by 103 serving personnel (89 men, 11 women) and once by 65 recruits (49 men, 16 women). RESULTS: The RMT comprised of entering the water in combat fatigues and webbing, removing webbing, swimming 50 m, and staying afloat for up to 10 minutes. During RMT trials, in trial 1, 85% of serving personnel and 74% of recruits successfully completed the RMT, which increased to 93% in serving personnel for trial 2. Across trials 1 and 2, all three timed RMT elements showed moderate-high correlational reliability (ICC range: 0.462–0.791). On average, serving personnel were quicker to complete the 50 m swim phase compared to recruits (91±24 s vs. 100±26 s; U  = 2575.0, rb  = –0.192, p  = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: The JTA-informed Swimming RMT provides an assessment of the minimum role-related swimming/water competence standard for British Army personnel. Show more

Keywords: Swimming, task performance and analysis, human factors, work performance, physical performance, military personnel

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230256

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1773-1784, 2024

Authors: Berşe, Soner | Dirgar, Ezgi | Tosun, Betül | Tanriverdi, Derya | Atay, Eda

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Given the importance of cultural diversity in healthcare, the shift from “cultural competence” to “cultural humility” has become crucial. This transition is particularly relevant for nursing students in multiethnic regions, such as Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey, where diverse cultural interactions can significantly impact their professional development and practice. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the cultural humility levels of nursing students. METHODS: This descriptive study was carried out with nursing students in two universities in the Southeastern Anatolia region, where the immigrant population is dense, in Turkey. RESULTS: In this study, the total …mean score of the Cultural Humility Scale of the students participating in the research was 70.03±16.01. A significant difference was found between the Cultural Humility scale mean scores of the students and their gender, nationality, native language, experience of going abroad, desire to live in another country, and enjoying spending time with people from different cultures (p  < 0.05). Significant positive correlations were determined between the average scores provided by the students on a 0–10 scale, indicating the importance they placed on cultural diversity in nursing education, and both the total score of the Cultural Humility Scale and the mean score of its sub-dimensions (p  < 0.01, r  = 0.273) CONCLUSION: This study found that the cultural humility level of nursing students living and studying with people from various cultures is sometimes exhibited. Show more

Keywords: Cross-cultural interactions, cultural awareness, healthcare education, multicultural training, nursing education, transcultural nursing care

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230268

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1785-1793, 2024

Authors: Mathew, Geethu | Manikandan, Srinivasan | Akshaya, Kolangaredath | Gautam, Melur Sukumar | Beerapa, Ravichandran | Kumar, Nanjesh | Nanjunda Sastry, Thara | Kanchipamu, Mohan Rao

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic resulted in widespread and devastating physical, emotional, societal, and economic repercussions among workers in India. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and to understand the challenges faced and coping mechanism adopted among fishermen community from the coastal area of Karnataka. METHODOLOGY: This community-based mixed-methods study included participants from a coastal Karnataka fishermen’s community. Questionnaire based personal interviews collected information on sociodemographics, COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment, and related costs, COVID-19-appropriate behavior and were screened using DASS-21. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted to acquire qualitative data. RESULTS: Quantitative data …collection involved 107 participants, predominantly males [70.1%], aged between 46–60 years [37.4%] and low socioeconomic status [79.4%]. Among 107, 51 participants reported to have probable COVID-19 symptoms. Around 11% had tested for COVID-19 and two were admitted in hospital with mean hospital stay of seven days. According to DASS-21, 20.6%, 15.9% and 9.3% of participants screened positive for depression, anxiety and stress respectively. Nearly one third of the participants were found to have significant socioeconomic impact. Major challenges faced included loss of livelihood, inaccessibility to health care, repayment of loans, stigma related to COVID-19 and meeting educational expenses of children with one dropping out of college. Activities of local self-help groups in the community and grass root level marketing strategies to sell fish were highly successful in mitigating the impact as a community. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 had a significant impact on fishermen community and implies a need for better pandemic and disaster preparedness strategies in the community. Show more

Keywords: Community, pandemic, self-help groups, small scale industry, DASS-21, socio economic effects

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230269

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1795-1804, 2024

Authors: Alves, Roberta A. | Penna, Thaísa A. | Silva, Michel O. | Oliveira, Bruno R.R. | Oliveira, Aldair J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had major impacts on the physical lives of individuals, especially on home office workers. In this way, the practice of physical activity has been identified as an ally in the reduction and prevention of musculoskeletal pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between leisure-time physical activity and musculoskeletal pain in adult workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 374 workers of both sexes (age = 46.5±10.5 years). Leisure-time physical activity, number of pain sites, and musculoskeletal pain status were investigated using a questionnaire designed for the study. Statistical …analysis was performed using Multinomial Logistic Regression. The significance level adopted was 5%. RESULTS: A significant association was found between physical activity status and the number of pain sites (p  = 0.002). In addition, an inverse association was found between physical activity before and during the quarantine and the number of pain sites (two pain sites – OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.2–0.7; three or more pain sites – OR = 0.24; 95% CI = 0.1–0.5). Physical activity interruption during quarantine increased pain perception by 2.86 times (OR = 2.86; 95% CI = 1.0–7.5). CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed that physical activity before and during the pandemic was a protective factor for body pain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Show more

Keywords: Physical activity, exercise, musculoskeletal pain, adults, workers, pandemics, COVID-19

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-230364

Citation: Work, vol. 79, no. 4, pp. 1805-1814, 2024