Development and Evaluation of a Training Program on Occupational Health Research and Surveillance in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to increase knowledge and skills regarding occupational health surveillance and research in professionals. METHODS: Following the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation model, several training modules have been designed and implemented in the course of 2016. Evaluation forms were distributed to 42 participants before the start and after each training module to measure changes in knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy. RESULTS: The majority of the participants were satisfied and found the training relevant and interesting for adult learners. The level of self-efficacy increased after the trainings. Females and occupational physicians displayed higher scores than men and other disciplines. After 1 year, the self-efficacy level decreased, but the level was still substantially higher than before the training. CONCLUSIONS: Feedback on the implemented training program was favorable. Participants were able to acquire and apply competencies in the subject matter at short and long term.

Occupational accidents in the Netherlands: incidence, mental harm, and their relationship with psychosocial factors at work.

This study investigated the incidence of mental harm due to occupational accidents and the relation between psychosocial factors at work and the occurrence of occupational accidents in the Netherlands for the construction industry and health and welfare sector. Analyses revealed that occupational accidents in the construction industry more often involved physical harm, whereas accidents in the health and welfare sector relatively more often resulted in mental harm, in comparison to other sectors. Results showed that psychosocial factors were associated with occupational accidents in both sectors. For the construction industry, high time pressure and exposure to violence and harassment by colleagues or supervisors were associated with occupational accidents. For the health and welfare sector, low autonomy and exposure to violence and harassment by colleagues or supervisors or by people outside the organization were associated with occupational accidents. The present paper stresses the importance of also taking psychological consequences and psychosocial factors at work into account in assessing the occurrence of occupational accidents.

Development of a workplace intervention for sick-listed employees with stress-related mental disorders: Intervention Mapping as a useful tool.

BACKGROUND: To date, mental health problems and mental workload have been increasingly related to long-term sick leave and disability. However, there is, as yet, no structured protocol available for the identification and application of an intervention for stress-related mental health problems at the workplace. This paper describes the structured development, implementation and planning for the evaluation of a return-to-work intervention for sick-listed employees with stress-related mental disorders (SMDs). The intervention is based on an existing successful return-to-work intervention for sick-listed employees with low back pain. METHODS: The principles of Intervention Mapping were applied to combine theory and evidence in the development, implementation and planning for the evaluation of a participatory workplace intervention, aimed at an early return-to-work for sick-listed employees with SMDs. All stakeholders were involved in focus group interviews: i.e. employees recently sick-listed with SMDs, supervisors and occupational health professionals. RESULTS: The development of the participatory workplace intervention according to the Intervention Mapping principles resulted in a structured return-to-work intervention, specifically tailored to the needs of sick-listed employees with SMDs. Return-to-work was proposed as a behavioural change, and the Attitude - Social influence - self-Efficacy model was identified as a theoretical framework. Stakeholder involvement in focus group interviews served to enhance the implementation. The cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be evaluated in a randomised controlled trial. CONCLUSION: Intervention Mapping was found to be a promising method to develop interventions tailored to a specific target group in the field of occupational health.