From the Editor

Some members of the WORK Editorial Board, along with other non-Board individuals and myself, participate in a monthly virtual occupation mentoring circle. The commonality for all of us is that we teach in an on-line post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy (pp-OTD) program. Given that the pp-OTD program is on-line, there are no geographic limitations for participation in our program as a student or teacher. Individuals communicate with each other using Zoom, FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, e-mail, telephone and text messaging.

One topic that our occupation mentoring circle has been studying is mentoring between ourselves as academic mentors of doctoral occupational therapy students with our respective students and the doctoral students in their role as a peer mentor with another student in their cohort. We call this equal peer-to-peer mentoring (e-peer mentoring). We have found that “Mentoring affords personalized learning for professional growth. Research across disciplines has shown mentoring to positively affects behavior, attitude, motivation, job performance, organizational commitment, and career productivity and success” (1 p 541). Currently, we are investigating e-peer mentoring in relationship to resilience; and will share the outcomes of this study in a forthcoming publication and presentations.

I write this From the Editor during the coronavirus crisis which is affecting most of the globe. I suggest that one approach that we can each take is to reach out to colleagues, friends, and family through virtual platforms. Consider how you can help foster resilience through mentoring. As Boston, USA Mayor Marty Walsh recently shared to the Boston community, “..remember that compassion and care is needed now more than ever” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v = D-2URE3biP0&feature = emb_logo).

This issue of WORK contains 18 articles, two of which are part of our continuing series of Ergonomics in a Global World. Topics are varied such as a comparison between a computer mouse and a touch pen as input devices; constraints of coal mining safety management efficiency; a scoping review of occupational therapy’s return to work interventions for persons with trauma and stress-related mental health conditions; factors influencing the effectiveness of disability employment services reform; and the risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders in an obstetrician-gynecologist and orthopedic surgeon among other interesting articles.

I hope you are continuing to enjoy our website at workjournal.org and to reading the blogs. You can find the link to our webinar series, Learn at WORK, on the website, too.

Here is a list of our upcoming Learn at WORK webinars:

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

How to integrate ergonomics into Product Design through the UCD approach

Presenter: Dr. Reinert E-mail:

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3303429210853265933

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

Workplace Discrimination for Persons with Hearing Loss: Before and After the 2008 ADA Amendments Act

Presenter: Brian McMahon

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/465337912229392651

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 from 11am-12pmEST

Gender and Stress-Buffering of Social Capital toward Depression among Precarious Workers in South Korea

Presenters: Dr. Park & Dr. Oh

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7955259498453971723

Wednesday, July 8, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

A Conceptual Framework to Promote Career Development for Vocational Rehabilitation Consumers with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Presenter: David Strauser

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/61045286798182412

Wednesday, August 5, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

Does Objectively Measured Prolonged Standing for Desk Work Result in Lower Ratings of Perceived Low Back Pain than Sitting? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Presenter: Diana Decarvalho

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/739866173672625164

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

Millennial Preferences in Training Messages: The Role of Teamwork and Corporate Social Responsibility to WORK

Presenters: Diana Schwerha & Tyler Clark

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2725235628413300749

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 1pm-2pmEST

Development of an online digital resource accessible for students with visual impairment or blindness: challenges and strategies

Presenter: Dr. Almeida,

Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8581833792537508621

If you missed any of the Learn at WORK webinars, you can find the recordings at the Learn at WORK YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOJalCXvSg9fPHaFFs48PuQ

As always, I welcome hearing from you.

All my best,

@WORK_Journal https://www.facebook.com/WORKJournal2016/?fref=ts