Role of perceived organization support to promote diabetes treatment among workers.

This study investigated association of Perceived Organization Support (POS) with diabetes treatment among workers. This prospective cohort study was conducted online, and parts of nations wide study stratified similarly with workers' characteristic in Japan. Samples were screened to those who had diabetes in the baseline years. Binary regression analysis and p for trend were used for statistical analysis. There were 1,203 participants with diabetes followed up regarding their treatment behavior. Higher POS were likely to seek appropriate diabetes treatment after adjustment with personal and occupational factors (p=0.032) but became marginally significant when adjusted with night shift status (p=0.051). Further analysis found that POS was only associated with diabetes treatment among workers with night shift. Higher POS was likely associated with proper diabetes treatment specifically among workers with night shift.

Relationship Between Companies' Responses to Near-Miss Reports and Turnover Intentions of Workers: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Effective near-miss management is important in preventing workplace accidents. A company's inadequate response to near-miss reports can lead workers to feel insecure and dissatisfied with the company. We investigated the relationship between companies' responses to near-miss reports and turnover intentions of workers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using online self-administered questionnaire survey to workers aged ≥20 years in Japan in March 2022. The analysis included 5,071 participants who had near-miss experiences and reported them to their companies. The independent variable was companies' responses to near-miss reports, classified into three categories: adequate response group, inadequate response group, and no response group. The dependent variable was turnover intentions. We calculated the odds ratio and 95% confidential interval (CI) using multilevel logistic regression analyses nested for industries and adjusted for covariates. Results: Of the 5,071 participants, 3,058 (60.3%) were adequate response group, 1,484 (29.3%) were inadequate response group, and 529 (10.4%) were no response group. In multivariable adjusted model, compared with adequate response group, the odds ratio of inadequate response group and no response group were 1.80 (95% CI: 1.56-2.08) and 2.63 (95% CI: 2.15-3.22), respectively. Conclusion: Our results suggested that there was a relationship between companies' responses to the near-miss reports and turnover intentions of workers. It is important not only to collect near-misses but also to respond appropriately to the reports and provide feedback to workers.

Association between COVID-19 Post-infection and Work Capacity among Healthcare Workers in the National Referral Hospital in Indonesia.

Background: Patients who had severe COVID-19 infection were thought to be one of the factors affecting the suitability of work capacity. Functional capacity can be measured by 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Some particular jobs have a minimum functional capacity to be met. Objectives: The aim of this research is to determine the relationship between severity of COVID-19 infection and work capacity among post-infected healthcare workers in the National Referral Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study among healthcare workers who had COVID-19 infection from June to July 2021, and had undergone functional capacity examination from September to November 2021 was conducted. Data processing was carried out by collecting data from medical records of infected healthcare workers. Bivariate analysis statistic test was done to determine the association between degree of severity and work capacity. Determination of the suitability of work capacity was done by comparing the results of the functional capacity examination with the minimum estimated matabolic equivalents (METs) needs of workers. Results: A total of 102 employees data from ages 25 to 58 years were collected. The result showed that 81 employees had unsuitable work capacity with most of them coming from the mild infected group (83.3%). Conclusion: There is no significant relationship (p>0.05) between age, gender, BMI, sequelae, comorbidities, and degree of severity of COVID-19 infection and work capacity among healthcare workers. Even though there is no signficant relationship between severity of COVID-19 and work capacity, this research shows there are more than 50% post-infected healthcare workers who have unsuitable work capacity.

Effect of side jobs and psychological distress on employee turnover in Japanese employees: A nationwide prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the impact of engaging in side jobs on turnover and its interaction with psychological distress among Japanese employees. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a questionnaire-based survey. We investigated 2783 full-time employees in companies permitting side jobs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between side jobs and turnover, and its relationship stratified by psychological distress. RESULTS: Employees engaging in side jobs had higher odds ratios (ORs) for turnover after adjusting for covariates, included psychological distress (OR = 1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-1.93). Among those under psychological distress, ORs for turnover were significantly higher (OR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval: 1.39-2.76). Conversely, in employees without distress, no significant difference was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Side job engagement correlates with higher turnover, particularly among employees under psychological distress.

Occupational health staff's involvement contributes to supervisor's perceived organizational support in Japanese workforce: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Enhancing employees' perceived organizational support (POS) is crucial for organizations, and one effective approach is enhancing supervisors' POS. However, there is limited research focusing specifically on enhancing supervisors' POS. We aimed to investigate the influence of occupational health staff's involvement for supervisors on their POS. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted using an online survey targeting supervisors in various industries across Japan. We assessed supervisors' POS using 8 effective items of the Japanese version of the Survey of Perceived Organizational Support. Data were collected on the involvement of occupational health staff in providing supervisors with training on workplace health management and guidance on addressing specific subordinates with health concerns. The association between this involvement and POS was assessed through multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The study involved 541 supervisors with occupational health staff at their workplace in the final analysis. Training from occupational health staff was significantly associated with an increase in POS at follow-up after adjustment for potential confounders, including demographic variables and POS at baseline. Similarly, guidance from occupational health staff was also significantly associated with increased POS. This effect was particularly notable in small workplaces. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that occupational health staff's involvement in supporting supervisors can contribute to enhancing supervisors' POS, especially in small workplaces. These findings suggest that by developing structured systems and establishing specific roles for occupational health staff, organizations may effectively enhance supervisors' POS.

Fitness to Work in a Hansen's Disease Worker With a Disability: A Case Report.

Hansen's disease not only causes problems for patients in the workplace, but also increases the possibility of transmission to other workers. This case report discusses the fitness-to-work assessment for a Hansen's disease patient with a disability. A 19-year-old female, who worked as an online shop warehouse staff, presented at our hospital with a wound on her left hand accompanied by numbness. The patient's activity indicated mild limitations with a SALSA score of 25. A seven-step process for evaluating fitness to work was conducted. These steps involved assessing the patient's medical condition, disability, job demands, risks, and tolerance to determine the appropriate work status. This patient was declared fit to work with a note as online shop warehouse staff. She must take care of herself by maintaining good personal hygiene and consulting a doctor regularly, in addition to educating other workers about her condition and avoiding stigma. Routine examinations are also an important part of treating leprosy in the workplace.

Bridging perceived organizational support with learning motivation and work engagement: the mediating role of focus on opportunity.

OBJECTIVES: Perceived organizational support (POS) represents the extent to which employees believe their organization values their contributions and well-being. Although higher POS is associated with increased work engagement and learning motivation, the intricacies of this relationship, especially the mediation by occupational future time perspective (OFTP), are not well understood. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of 2046 working individuals aged 20-69 to assess the relationships between POS and 2 outcome variables, learning goal orientation (LGO) and work engagement, with multiple regression analyses for all ages and in the younger age group (under 45). Then, the mediating effects of focus on opportunity (FOO)-a primary component of OFTP-on these relationships were examined. RESULTS: Of 2046 participants, 887 were younger than 45 years. Younger participants, predominantly more educated and inclined toward professional jobs, exhibited higher LGO but lower work engagement compared with their older counterparts. POS showed positive correlations with LGO, and FOO significantly mediated the relationship, especially in the young group. Furthermore, a positive relationship between POS and work engagement was noted, with FOO as a partial mediator. CONCLUSIONS: POS correlates positively with both LGO and work engagement across various age demographics, with FOO critically mediating this relationship. To enhance employee engagement and learning motivation, organizations should emphasize bolstering both POS and FOO.

Relationship between diabetes treatment status and occupational accidents.

AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between diabetes treatment status and occupational accidents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire survey completed in March 2022 among workers aged 20 years or older. The questionnaire included questions about diabetes treatment status and occupational accidents. The association between the treatment status of diabetes and occupational accidents was examined using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The study included 25,756 participants with no diabetes, 1,364 participants receiving diabetes treatment, 177 participants who had interrupted diabetes treatment, and 396 participants who needed diabetes treatment but had not seen a doctor. Compared with those with diabetes treatment, the odds ratio of occupational accidents among participants without diabetes was 0.40 (95% CI: 0.32-0.49), the odds ratio among participants with interrupted diabetes treatment was 4.15 (95% CI: 2.86-6.01), and the odds ratio among participants who needed diabetes treatment but had not seen a doctor was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.89-1.77). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that diabetes treatment status was related to occupational accidents, and it may be important for workers with diabetes to be supported to balance their diabetes management and their work commitments.

Relationship Between Firm Size and Perceived Organizational Support and the Moderating Role of Supervisor Support: A Nationwide Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the relationship between firm size and perceived organizational support (POS) and to investigate how supervisor support might moderate this relationship. METHODS: The study involved a cross-sectional questionnaire survey in Japan with 25,648 participants. Assessing POS through eight-question. Firm size was categorized into small (2-49 employees), medium (50-999), and large (1000 or more). Coefficients were estimated using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that medium and large firms had lower POS compared to small firms, with the difference being more pronounced in medium firms. A positive interaction between firm size and supervisor support was observed for POS. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that although POS is more likely to be lower in medium and large firms than in small firms, the effect of supervisor support on improving POS is stronger.

Preparation and Challenges in Developing a Big Data Analysis Framework in Occupational Medicine in Indonesia.

This mini review explores the transformative potential of big data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) in reforming occupational medicine in Indonesia. Emphasizing the preconditions, case studies, and benefits, it underscores the role of big data in enhancing worker well-being. The review highlights the importance of informative health big data, especially in high-risk industries, with examples of case studies of AI implementation in occupational medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic and other relevant scenarios. While acknowledging the challenges of AI implementation, the essay identifies the role of academic and professional organizations as pioneers in big data utilization. Six potential benefits that are identified, including improved patient care and efficient resource allocation, demonstrate the transformative impact of big data analysis. The proposed pathway of preparation underscores the need for awareness, skill enhancement, and collaboration, addressing challenges in data management and stakeholder engagement. The conclusion emphasizes continuous assessment, feasibility studies, and commitment as essential steps in advancing occupational medicine through big data analysis.

The Effectiveness of Indonesia's Seven - Step Return to Work Assessment on a Distal Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome : A Case Report Study.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is a nerve entrapment of the posterior tibial nerve. This uncommon condition frequently goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed even though it interferes with the daily activities of workers. Here we discuss the return to work status of a 37-year-old male patient who manages a manufacturing plant. He was identified as having Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome as a result of a foot abnormality and improper shoe wear. He had moderate pes planus and underwent tarsal tunnel release on his right foot. What are the determinant factors in defining a patient's status for returning to work after a tarsal tunnel release? We conducted a literature review using PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane. The Indonesian Occupational Medicine Association used the seven-step return-to-work assessment as a protocol to avoid overlooking the process. Duration of symptoms, associated pathology, and the presence of structural foot problems or a space-occupying lesion are factors affecting outcome. Post-operative foot scores, including Maryland Foot Score (MFS), VAS, and Foot Function Index, can be used to evaluate patient outcomes. Early disability limitation and a thorough return-to-work assessment are needed.

Treatment status of psychiatric disorders and falls in the workplace among Japanese workers: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: In Japan, the most common injury requiring sick leave is a fall in the workplace; therefore, it is very important to prevent falls. Most measures to prevent falls involve aspects of the workplace environment and safety. However, few measures consider the perspective of individual health. We investigated the relationship between psychiatric disorders and falls in the workplace and whether treatment status for a psychiatric disorder is associated with workplace falls. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among workers aged 20 years or older in Japan from February 28 to March 3, 2022. In total, the data of 27 693 participants were analyzed. We used a questionnaire to query participants' status of treatment for any psychiatric disorder and whether they had experienced a fall in the workplace. The association between treatment for a psychiatric disorder and workplace falls was examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with participants receiving appropriate treatment for a psychiatric disorder, the odds ratio (OR) of a workplace fall was significantly lower among participants who did not require treatment for a psychiatric disorder, at 0.56 (95% CI: 0.47-0.66; P < .001); the OR of a workplace fall was significantly higher among participants whose treatment for a psychiatric disorder was interrupted, at 1.47 (95% CI: 1.21-1.78; P < .001), after adjusting for age, sex, household income, number of workplace employees, sleeping hours, exercise habits, and psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that receiving appropriate treatment for psychiatric disorders may contribute to preventing falls in the workplace.

Association between exposure to technological advances in the workplace and work engagement: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to measure the association between exposure to technological advances and work engagement, adjusting for personal and workplace factors. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide online longitudinal survey study in Japan. The sample was stratified to represent Japanese workforce conditions. Work engagement was measured using the Japanese version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9. Exposure to technological advances was measured using a single question with Likert scale responses. Industry characteristics that were more/less likely to be replaced by automation were also measured. Linear regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There were 16 629 participants. We found that exposure to technological advances was associated with work engagement after adjustment for age, sex, education, income, and industry characteristics. We observed a significant interaction between age and exposure to technological advances (coefficient 0.891, P < .001), and conducted an age-stratified linear regression analysis. The significant association between age and exposure to technological advances reduced as age increased, and disappeared after adjustment for baseline work engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal observations showed that exposure to technological advances was not significantly associated with work engagement.

Protocol of a study to benchmark occupational health and safety in Japan: W2S-Ohpm study.

We aim to conduct a prospective cohort study to benchmark occupational health and safety in Japan. Here, we describe the detailed protocol for the baseline survey based on the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys. We conducted the baseline survey for the prospective cohort study in 2022. Our target population was workers in Japan aged 20 years or older, who we sampled to be representative of the Japanese workforce, stratified by sex, age, and region. Among 59,272 registered monitors who answered the initial screening questions, 29,997 completed the survey. After excluding 2,304 invalid responses, we used 27,693 valid participants in our final analysis. The number and mean age of men were 15,201 (55%) and 46 years; those of women were 12,492 (45%) and 45 years. With respect to sex, age, and regional composition, our sampling was representative of Japan's working population. Our sampling for employment status and industry yielded almost the same proportions as a government-led representative sampling of workers in Japan.

Obesity and Its Relation to Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Civilian Pilots.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is often associated with decreased work performance and fatigue in civil pilots. However, aeromedical recommendations for the evaluation of EDS are associated with suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Currently, many studies have found an association between obesity and EDS, regardless of OSA. This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between obesity and EDS in Indonesian civilian pilots, as well as its risks for developing OSA.METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design and was carried out at the Directorate General Civil Aviation Medical. Subjects were asked to fill out questionnaires, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure EDS and STOP-Bang to assess OSA risk, followed by anthropometric measurements for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference as obesity indicators.RESULTS: A total of 156 subjects were obtained, with an EDS prevalence of 16.7%. There was no significant relationship between obesity and EDS, but the prevalence of EDS was higher in obese subjects based on waist circumference than based on BMI (17.8% vs. 15.6%). Most obese pilots with EDS had a low risk of OSA (83.3% and 80%).CONCLUSION: The prevalence of EDS was found to be higher in pilots with central obesity compared to BMI-categorized obesity. The incidence of EDS was not correlated with the risk of OSA.Brahmanti RS, Sampurna B, Ibrahim N, Adi NP, Siagian M, Werdhani RA. Obesity and its relation to excessive daytime sleepiness in civilian pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(11):815-820.

The Japanese version of the occupational future time perspective scale: A validation study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of the Occupational Future Time Perspective scale (OFTP-J) and assess its structural validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability among Japanese workers. METHODS: The online survey was conducted with 2046 participants who met the eligibility criteria. The Japanese version of the OFTP scale was developed through translation and back-translation processes. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the structural validity. Pearson's correlations were computed to assess construct validity, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to determine internal consistency. Test-retest reliability was examined using Cohen's weighted kappa coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis supported an 8-item model with three factors (i.e., focus on opportunities, perceived remaining time, and focus on limitations) for the Japanese version of the OFTP scale. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from 0.81 to 0.92. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations between the OFTP scale and its subscales, possible antecedents (age, self-rated health, and job control), and possible outcomes (learning goal orientation, job crafting, and work engagement). Test-retest reliability was confirmed with moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The OFTP-J was found to be reliable and valid. It can be used to measure OFTP among Japanese workers and facilitate comparative research with the original English version. The OFTP-J provides valuable insights into the learning motivation and work engagement of the aging workforce.

Inequality in workplace support for various types of precarious workers compared with permanent workers in Japan: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine, by sex, whether precarious workers in Japan receive less support in the workplace than permanent workers. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire in 2022. We stratified participants by sex and performed modified Poisson regression analysis. The outcomes were support from supervisors, co-workers, occupational health professionals, and no one. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated for contract workers, part-time workers, and dispatched workers, using permanent workers as reference. RESULTS: This study had 21 047 participants. For men, 87.9% were permanent workers; for women, 50.7% were permanent workers and 37.3% were part-time workers. For workplace support, 47.5% of men and 45.2% of women selected superiors; 41.8% of men and 50.5% of women selected colleagues; 16.8% of men and 6.2% of women selected occupational health professionals. Female contract workers were less likely to receive support from their supervisors (aPR 0.88) or co-workers (aPR 0.89). Male part-time workers were less likely to be supported by their co-workers (aPR 0.86). Dispatched workers were less likely to be supported by their supervisors (men aPR 0.71, women aPR 0.84) and co-workers (men aPR 0.73, women aPR 0.77). Part-time and dispatched workers were less likely to receive support from occupational health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: Precarious workers could get less workplace support than permanent workers. This may contribute to occupational health problems with precarious workers.

Seeking Treatment Profile of Male Shift Workers With Hypertension and Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: This study was identified seeking treatment for hypertension and diabetes among male shift workers. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study included nine large companies in Japan. Data were collected from health checkup, health insurance records, and self-administered questionnaires in 2017 and 2020. Data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression. RESULT: Person-days shift workers and day workers seeking treatment for hypertension were 41,604 and 327,301, respectively and, for diabetes, were 7326 and 60,735, respectively. The log ranks were statistically significant. Shift workers were 46% and 56% less likely to seek treatment for hypertension and diabetes, respectively, than day workers were after adjustment for age, marital status, education level, and intention to modify lifestyle (model 2) ( P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Male shift workers are less likely to seek treatment for hypertension and diabetes compared with day workers.

Workplace Social Support and Work Engagement Among Japanese Workers: A Nationwide Cross-sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship between employees' perceptions of the number of sources of workplace social support and work engagement and whether each type of workplace social support is independently related to work engagement. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey in Japan. In total, 12,017 participants were analyzed. Participants were asked about 4 sources of workplace social support: supervisors, colleagues/subordinates, occupational health staff, and external counselors contracted by the workplace. Work engagement was measured using the 9-item Utrecht Work Engagement Scale. Coefficients were estimated using multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The coefficient of work engagement increased as the number of sources of perceived workplace social support increased. Each support was also positively related to work engagement. CONCLUSIONS: Organizations should develop systems comprising various sources of workplace social support to increase employee work engagement.