Association of psychosocial factors at work with fertility and menstrual disorders: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to assess the association between psychosocial factors in the workplace and menstrual abnormalities or fertility, focusing on literature implementing a prospective cohort design. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society electronic databases for studies published from inception to February 26, 2020, and updated the search in PubMed on May 29, 2024. Inclusion criteria were (P) adult female workers (over 18 years old), (E) presence of adverse psychosocial factors at work, (C) absence of adverse psychosocial factors at work, and (O) any menstrual cycle disorders, menstrual-related symptoms, or fertility issues. Prospective cohort studies were included. The included studies were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Database searching yielded 14,238 abstracts, with nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Outcomes included fertility (n = 5), irregular menstrual cycle (n = 1), early menopause (n = 1), endometriosis (n = 1), and serum hormones (n = 1). Study findings included that women with high job demands and low job control were less likely to conceive, and working over 40 h per week and frequent heavy lifting, and rotating night shift work increased the risk of earlier menopause. Studies on night shift/rotating work and fertility outcomes showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: This review underscores the insufficient high-level evidence regarding the association of psychosocial factors at work with fertility and menstrual disorders, emphasizing the necessity for future well-designed studies.

Perfil epidemiológico dos acidentes por material biológico em médicos da atenção primária em Minas Gerais, de 2012 a 2021 / Epidemiological profile of accidents involving biological material among primary health care physicians in Minas Gerais, from 2012 to 2021 / Perfil epidemiológico de accidentes por material biológico en médicos de atención primaria en Minas Gerais, de 2012 a 2021

Introdução: Os acidentes ocupacionais com material biológico representam um problema de saúde pública. A exposição ocupacional dos profissionais da saúde configura-se como um risco de transmissão de diversos patógenos. Na literatura, há carência de estudos que analisem o perfil dos acidentes com material biológico nos médicos da atenção primária. Objetivo: Buscou-se compreender o perfil epidemiológico dos acidentes com material biológico em médicos da atenção primária em Minas Gerais. Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico descritivo com análise do perfil dos acidentes com material biológico em médicos da atenção primária em Minas Gerais, utilizando dados secundários. Resultados: No período analisado, foram registrados 111 acidentes com material biológico, dos quais 54% ocorreram somente em 2020 e 2021. A maioria dos casos deu-se em mulheres (59%), e os tipos mais frequentes de exposição foram mucosa (38%) e percutânea (33%). Dos médicos, 23% não possuíam esquema vacinal contra a hepatite B completo. Em média, em 36% dos acidentes os testes sorológicos foram negativos e em 61% não foram realizados ou o campo foi ignorado/deixado em branco. Em apenas 7,2% dos casos a quimioprofilaxia foi indicada, mas ressaltam-se os registros ignorados ou em branco. Mais da metade dos acidentados não emitiu a Comunicação de Acidente de Trabalho (CAT). Conclusões: Os acidentes com material biológico predominam em médicas e nas formas de exposição mucosa e percutânea. Investimentos em medidas de biossegurança e educação permanente são necessários para prevenir casos e estimular sua notificação.

Introduction: Occupational accidents with biological material represent a public health problem. The occupational exposure of health professionals represents a risk of transmission of various pathogens. In the literature, there is a lack of studies that analyze the profile of accidents with biological material among primary health care physicians. Objective: We aimed to understand the epidemiological profile of accidents involving biological material among primary health care physicians in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological study that analyzed the profile of accidents with biological material among primary health care doctors in Minas Gerais, using secondary data. Results: In the period analyzed, 111 accidents with biological material were recorded, of which 54% occurred only in 2020 and 2021. Most cases occurred in women (59%) and the most frequent types of exposure were mucosal (38%) and percutaneous (33%). About a quarter (23%) of physicians did not have a complete immunization record for hepatitis B. On average, in 36% of accidents serological tests were negative and in 61% they were not performed or the field was ignored/left blank. In only 7.2% of cases, chemoprophylaxis was indicated, but ignored or blank records stood out. More than half of the victims did not fill out a work accident report. Conclusions: Accidents with biological material predominate in female doctors and in forms of mucosal and percutaneous exposure. Investments in biosafety measures and permanent education are necessary to prevent cases and encourage their notification.

Introducción: Los accidentes de trabajo con material biológico representan un problema de salud pública. La exposición ocupacional de los profesionales de la salud representa un riesgo de transmisión de varios patógenos. En la literatura faltan estudios que analicen el perfil de accidentes con material biológico en médicos de atención primaria. Objetivo: Buscamos comprender el perfil epidemiológico de los accidentes con material biológico en médicos de atención primaria en Minas Gerais. Métodos: Estudio epidemiológico descriptivo con análisis del perfil de accidentes con material biológico en médicos de atención primaria en Minas Gerais, utilizando datos secundarios. Resultados: En el período analizado se registraron 111 accidentes con material biológico, de los cuales el 54% ocurrió solo en 2020 y 2021. La mayoría de los casos ocurrieron en mujeres (59%) y los tipos de exposición más frecuentes fueron mucosa (38%) y percutánea (33%). El 23% de los médicos no disponía de un calendario completo de vacunación frente a la hepatitis B. En promedio, en el 36% de los accidentes, las pruebas serológicas fueron negativas y en el 61% no se realizó o se ignoró/dejó el campo en blanco. Solo en el 7,2% de los casos se indicó quimioprofilaxis, pero destacan los registros ignorados o en blanco. Más de la mitad de las víctimas no emitieron el CAT. Conclusiones: Predominan los accidentes con material biológico en médicas y en formas de exposición mucosa y percutánea. Son necesarias inversiones en medidas de bioseguridad y educación permanente para prevenir casos e incentivar su notificación.

Promoção da saúde do trabalhador e humanização no trabalho: relato das atividades realizadas na atenção primária e secundária / Promotion of worker's health and humanization at work: report of activities performed in primary and secondary care

Os objetivos deste estudo são: relatar a experiência do desenvolvimento das atividades de sensibilização dos trabalhadores relacionadas à promoção da saúde no ambiente laboral e à humanização no trabalho realizadas em dois serviços de saúde de um município do estado de Minas Gerais e avaliar junto à equipe a realização dessas atividades. As atividades de alongamento, massagens, escalda-pés, dinâmica de grupo e oficina da beleza foram realizadas na atenção primária e secundária. Utilizou-se um questionário e as respostas foram apresentadas por estatística simples. Os trabalhadores avaliaram as atividades como "excelentes"; referiram melhorar o dia de trabalho; sentiram-se valorizados e mais dispostos para o trabalho, além de solicitarem a continuidade de ações de promoção da saúde e humanização no trabalho. Por mais simples que sejam, essas atividades proporcionaram momentos de reflexões e a pausa laboral, tendo em vista a saúde do trabalhador e melhor qualidade de vida no trabalho.

The objectives of this study are: to report the experience of developing awareness activities for workers related to health promotion and humanization at work, carried out in two health services in a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais; and assess with the team these activities. Stretching activities, group dynamics, massages, foot baths, beauty workshop and health promotion were carried out in primary and secondary care. A questionnaire was used and the answers were presented by simple statistics. The workers rated the activities as "excellent"; reported improving their working day; they felt valued and more willing to work, in addition to requesting the continuity of actions to promote health and humanization at work. As simple as they are, these activities provided moments of reflection and a break from work, with a view to the worker's health and better quality of life at work.

What is needed to address psychosocial hazards in road transport? Using implementation science to understand the gaps.

Work-related psychosocial hazards have a significant influence on the development of musculoskeletal and mental health disorders (MSDs and MHDs). This study used behavioural change theory to guide understanding of barriers and enablers for leaders working in the Heavy Vehicle Road Transport industry, to address workplace psychosocial hazards. The findings will be used to inform design of a future intervention to support leaders to more effectively address these hazards. Principal results and major conclusions: A higher number of barriers than enablers were identified. The most prevalent barriers were inadequate knowledge and interpersonal skills, and environmental context and inadequate resources, and the most prevalent enabler was risk management. The findings extend previous evidence by providing more specific detail regarding requirements for addressing psychosocial hazards. Further, the findings identified there is a need to improve the capability, opportunity and motivation of leaders to enable them to more effectively address psychosocial hazards.

Evaluation of physical risk factors by fuzzy failure mode and effects analysis: an apparel mill example.

This study investigates the evaluation of risks faced by employees in a selected large-scale apparel mill using a risk assessment method with a fuzzy logic approach. The study found that risk assessment in the apparel industry is more accurate and reliable when using a fuzzy logic approach. Measurements were taken in three different time periods for noise, vibration, thermal comfort and lighting, which are physical risk factors. To evaluate the identified failure modes, the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method was first applied. Then, for the same failure modes, the fuzzy FMEA method was applied using Fuzzy Logic Designer, an add-on to MATLAB. The study concludes that the fuzzy FMEA method can be a more useful method for risk assessment in the apparel industry.

A review of occupational exposures to carcinogens among wildland firefighters.

Wildfires can negatively impact the health and well-being of wildland firefighters through a variety of exposure pathways. Many studies have measured acute health effects from occupational exposure to pollutants in wildfire smoke; however, research specifically examining cancer risks from exposure to carcinogens is limited. This review aimed to better understand cancer risk in this occupation by assessing the existing evidence of exposures and summarizing measured concentrations of carcinogens among wildland firefighters. A systematic search was conducted to identify scientific papers using the following databases: Medline(OVID), Embase(OVID), PsycINFO(OVID), Cochrane Library, CINAHL(EBSCOHost), EconLit(EBSCOHost), Scopus, Agricultural and Environmental Science Collect(ProQuest), and NIOSHTIC-2. Forty-nine papers were identified that met eligibility criteria. Across the papers, 31 carcinogens were identified and quantified using a variety of assessment methods. Papers measured particulate matter (N = 26), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N = 12), volatile organic compounds (N = 14), crystalline silica (N = 5), black carbon (N = 4), asbestos (N = 3), radionuclides (N = 7), and metals (N = 2). Most papers measured inhalation exposures through traditional air sampling methods, but a subset of exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (N = 8), as well as heavy metals (N = 1), were measured through urinary biomarkers and naphthalene was measured using dermal wipe samples (N = 2). Although the heterogeneity of exposure assessment methods made direct comparison of concentrations difficult, the papers provide consistent evidence that wildland firefighters are regularly exposed to carcinogens. All wildland fire personnel should continue to implement recommended mitigation strategies and support new mitigations to reduce exposure to carcinogens on the job.

Precision prevention in occupational health: a conceptual analysis and development of a unified understanding and an integrative framework.

Introduction: Precision prevention implements highly precise, tailored health interventions for individuals by directly addressing personal and environmental determinants of health. However, precision prevention does not yet appear to be fully established in occupational health. There are numerous understandings and conceptual approaches, but these have not yet been systematically presented or synthesized. Therefore, this conceptual analysis aims to propose a unified understanding and develop an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health. Methods: Firstly, to systematically present definitions and frameworks of precision prevention in occupational health, six international databases were searched for studies published between January 2010 and January 2024 that used the term precision prevention or its synonyms in the context of occupational health. Secondly, a qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze the existing definitions and propose a unified understanding. Thirdly, based on the identified frameworks, a multi-stage exploratory development process was applied to develop and propose an integrative conceptual framework for precision prevention in occupational health. Results: After screening 3,681 articles, 154 publications were reviewed, wherein 29 definitions of precision prevention and 64 different frameworks were found, which can be summarized in eight higher-order categories. The qualitative content analysis revealed seven themes and illustrated many different wordings. The proposed unified understanding of precision prevention in occupational health takes up the identified themes. It includes, among other things, a contrast to a "one-size-fits-all approach" with a risk- and resource-oriented data collection and innovative data analytics with profiling to provide and improve tailored interventions. The developed and proposed integrative conceptual framework comprises three overarching stages: (1) data generation, (2) data management lifecycle and (3) interventions (development, implementation and adaptation). Discussion: Although there are already numerous studies on precision prevention in occupational health, this conceptual analysis offers, for the first time, a proposal for a unified understanding and an integrative conceptual framework. However, the proposed unified understanding and the developed integrative conceptual framework should only be seen as an initial proposal that should be critically discussed and further developed to expand and strengthen both research on precision prevention in occupational health and its practical application in the workplace.

Association of hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices among nurse interns: A cross-sectional study using canonical correlation analysis.

Background and Aims: Nurse interns may be at a similar or higher risk than registered nurses. The key elements and mechanisms involved in the effects of safety climate on safety performance are not well understood. This study explores the relationship between the perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices among nurse interns. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 178 nurse interns in three tertiary university hospitals in Chongqing city, China. The Chinese version of the Hospital Safety Climate Scale (HSCS) was used to measure the perceived hospital safety climate of nurse interns. Compliance behavior was measured using the Compliance with Occupational Safety Practice Scale (COSPS). Canonical correlation analysis and multiple linear regression modeling were used to examine their relationship. Results: Total scores for the HSCS and COSPS were 92 (80,100) and 185 (175,185) [M (P25, P75)], respectively. Canonical correlation coefficients for canonical variates 1 and 2 were 0.636 (p < 0.001) and 0.414 (p < 0.001), respectively. Nurse interns' compliance with occupational safety practices was mainly influenced by management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and absence of job hindrance. Multiple linear regression showed that management support of HSCS accounted for 37.1% of the variance in compliance (ß = 0.283, p = 0.039). Conclusion: Nurse interns reported high levels of perceived hospital safety climate and compliance with occupational safety practices. Younger nurse interns reported a lower level of perceived hospital safety climate. Nurse educators can improve interns' compliance by promoting better management support, feedback/training, personal protective and engineering control equipment availability, and fewer job hindrance.

Voice as a Working Tool for Teachers: A Qualitative Study of Work-Related Perceptions and Impact.

BACKGROUND: Teachers rely heavily on their voices, making them susceptible to voice disorders affecting their teaching efficacy and well-being. This study explores the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives, a necessary step in designing intervention points. METHODS: Using a phenomenological approach, we conducted qualitative interviews with 18 teachers (13 females, 5 males) from diverse backgrounds. They represented diverse teaching areas, grade levels, and school districts. Data were analyzed through content analysis. In this process, 52 codes were identified, totaling 753 code references. FINDINGS: This study uncovered insights into the role of voice as a working tool for teachers and its impact on their professional lives. In-depth analysis of the interviews with 18 teachers resulted in 6 key themes: (1) Voice is a crucial occupational tool for teachers for instruction, engagement, and classroom management; (2) working conditions significantly impact teachers' vocal health, with environmental factors and vocal load contributing to voice problems; (3) vocal health concerns are frequently reported by teachers, emphasizing the need for comprehensive health management strategies; (4) there are notable best practices and gaps in vocal care, with teachers expressing the need for more resources and formal training; (5) amplification devices play a significant role in sustaining teachers' vocal health, although access to and use of these tools is inconsistent; and (6) voice-related problems have a significant emotional and psychosocial impact on teachers, affecting their self-perception, professional identity, and well-being. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the critical role of vocal health in teachers' professional lives, revealing its impact on teaching efficacy, well-being, and professional identity. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive support systems, including vocal health programs, resources like amplification devices, and counseling for emotional impacts. The six identified themes emphasize the necessity of holistic interventions to enhance teachers' well-being and effectiveness.

Developing and evaluating Compassionate Workplace Programs to promote health and wellbeing around serious illness, dying and loss in the workplace (EU-CoWork): a transdisciplinary, cross-national research project.

Background: Most employees will experience serious illness, caregiving, dying and loss (End-of-Life (EoL) experiences) at multiple points throughout their working lives. These experiences impact affected employees but also their colleagues in terms of health and wellbeing, and the workplace as a whole in terms of workplace safety, productivity and labour relations. The impact of EoL experiences on employees means that workplaces are called to play a more active role in providing support for EoL experiences. Aim: To describe how the EU-CoWork (2024-2028) project addresses its main aims to (1) create Compassionate Workplace cultures, practices and policies and improve health and wellbeing for employees dealing with EoL experiences in different national work contexts in Europe; (2) describe and evaluate the process of co-creation and implementation of Compassionate Workplace Programs (CWPs) and how these influence the programs' outcomes. Design: EU-CoWork employs a facilitated and co-creative Developmental Evaluation approach to the development of 12 tailored CWPs across four European countries (Belgium, Austria, Sweden and Greece). Methods: To evaluate the outcomes and processes leading to these outcomes, a mixed-methods Realist Evaluation methodology is applied, formulating and testing Context-Mechanism-Outcomes configurations and combining longitudinal quantitative and qualitative data collections. Results: EU-CoWork will generate evidence to support an expanded model of occupational health and safety risk factors sensitive to the specific challenges related to employees' EoL experiences. In doing so, several challenges will have to be navigated: involving employees with EoL experiences while avoiding overburdening them, avoiding tokenistic engagement, managing power differentials, balancing the need for scientific rigour with the flexibility required in co-creation, reconciling different epistemologies and disciplinary traditions and organisational resistance to change. Conclusion: There are potential long-lasting broader societal impacts through the stimulation of open discourse on EoL topics, the reconciliation of work and care, and changes in gendered work and care patterns.

General unemployment and serious workplace injury rates: Workers compensation claims analysis from the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, 2007-2018.

OBJECTIVES: There is conflicting published evidence that unemployment impacts workplace safety. Some studies suggest that the workplace injury rate decreases during economic contractions, while others propose an increased rate of injuries during periods of economic contractions. This study investigated the association between unemployment rates and traumatic work-related non-fatal injury (WRNFI) in Saskatchewan, 2007-2018, in order to provide new insight into injury prevention. METHODS: Saskatchewan's retrospective linked workplace claims data from 2007 to 2018 were grouped by year, season, and worker characteristics (e.g., age and sex). Total employment, total labour force, and the number of unemployed workers from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey were grouped by year, season, sex, and age. These data were linked to the worker's compensation board injury claim data to determine the number of people at risk, serving as the denominator (offset term) for WRNFI rates, calculated as WRNFI cases per total employed workers. A negative binomial generalized additive model was used to examine the association between unemployment rates and WRNFI, adjusted for age, sex, industry types, and seasons. RESULTS: The WRNFI rate has declined since 2007. On average, workers aged 20-29 years had the highest WRNFI rate (541.6 ± 84.8/100,000). Men had 3.2 times higher WRNFI risk than women (RR = 3.2, 95% CI 3.12-3.22), with the highest WRNFI risk observed in the manufacturing (RR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.63-1.73) and construction (RR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.63-1.72) industries. WRNFI risk decreased non-linearly with an increasing unemployment rate, indicating a pro-cyclic pattern. CONCLUSION: This analysis showed that WRNFI rates tracked unemployment rates. This suggests a need to increase prevention strategies and reduce disincentives for under-reporting during an economic downturn.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Les données publiées sur les liens entre le chômage et la sécurité au travail ne concordent pas. Selon certaines études, le taux de blessures au travail diminue en période de contraction économique, mais d'autres études indiquent le contraire. Nous avons voulu élucider l'association entre le taux de chômage et les traumatismes non mortels liés au travail (TNMLT) en Saskatchewan de 2007 à 2018 pour apporter un nouvel éclairage sur la prévention des blessures. MéTHODE: Nous avons groupé les données rétrospectives de la Saskatchewan liées aux demandes d'indemnisation des accidents du travail de 2007 à 2018 selon l'année, la saison et les caractéristiques des travailleurs (p. ex. l'âge et le sexe). Nous avons également groupé selon l'année, la saison, le sexe et l'âge les chiffres sur l'emploi total, la population active totale et le nombre de travailleurs sans emploi tirés de l'Enquête sur la population active de Statistique Canada. Nous avons lié ces données à celles de la Commission des accidents du travail sur les demandes d'indemnisation afin de déterminer le nombre de personnes à risque, qui a constitué le dénominateur (terme de décalage) des taux de TNMLT, calculés comme étant les cas de TNMLT pour l'ensemble des travailleurs employés. À l'aide d'un modèle additif généralisé binomial négatif, nous avons examiné l'association entre le taux de chômage et les TNMLT, que nous avons ajustée selon l'âge, le sexe, la branche d'activité et la saison. RéSULTATS: Le taux de TNMLT a baissé depuis 2007. En moyenne, les travailleurs de 20 à 29 ans présentaient le taux de TNMLT le plus élevé (541,6 ± 84,8/100 000). Le risque de TNMLT était 3,2 fois plus élevé chez les hommes que chez les femmes (RT = 3,2, IC de 95% 3,12‒3,22); le risque le plus élevé a été observé dans les secteurs de la fabrication (RT = 1,68, IC de 95% 1,63‒1,73) et du bâtiment (RT = 1,67, IC de 95% 1,63‒1,72). Le risque de TNMLT a diminué non linéairement avec la croissance du taux de chômage, signe d'une tendance procyclique. CONCLUSION: Notre analyse montre que les taux de TNMLT suivent les taux de chômage. Il faudrait donc accroître les stratégies de prévention et réduire les freins à la déclaration des accidents du travail en période de repli économique.

Circumstantial Factors Among Kentucky Nurse Suicide Decedents, 2005 to 2019.

Background: Nurse suicide, a complex occupational health concern, is urgently in need of research due to the personal and occupational suicide risk factors experienced by nurses, namely mental health problems (e.g., depression), job problems, and substance misuse. Therefore, the study aims were to determine the contextual characteristics and circumstantial factors associated with nurse suicide in Kentucky. Methods: Secondary suicide data were obtained from the Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System (KYVDRS) from 2005 to 2019. Nurse suicide cases were identified using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupational Classification. A mixed-methods analysis using descriptive statistics and qualitative evaluation was conducted to determine the distributions of demographic, injury, and weapon characteristics, followed by a qualitative analysis of the KYVDRS incident narrative text of nurse suicide decedents. Results: There were 88 decedents identified with a nursing occupation. The predominant means of death for male (59%) and female (45%) nurses involved firearms. Thematic analysis showed nurse decedents experienced a mental health problem (51%) and premeditated (50%) suicide preceding death. Incidentally, 51% of all cases experienced multiple circumstantial factors (e.g., relationship problems and premeditation) preceding their death by suicide. Discussion/Application to Practice: Nurse suicide decedents experienced multifactorial risk factors preceding their death by suicide, namely depression, premeditated suicide, and relationship problems. Occupational health practitioners and health care organizations can implement individual and organizational prevention efforts to help prevent nurse suicide.

Design and Validation of a Health Inequalities Questionnaire for Occupational Health Nurses and Occupational Health Nursing Students in Spain.

This article aims to describe the methodology for the design, validation, reliability, and pilot testing of a questionnaire aimed at exploring the knowledge and training needs on health inequalities of occupational health nurses (OHNs) and occupational health nursing students in Spain. Working and employment conditions are social determinants that influence the health of workers. The unequal distribution of these factors leads to inequalities. The training and competencies of OHNs need to focus on the social determinants of health to reduce social inequalities. The questionnaire was structured in five sections and 24 closed questions, self-administered and online. It was validated by a panel of experts using Moriyama's criteria and achieved an average consensus of 93.85%. Internal reliability reached a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.843 and a McDonald's omega of 0.953. Participation in the pilot test was 92.5% of the sample recruited. Achieving higher levels of health of the working population requires a consensus among different social actors to integrate social determinants, gender and equity perspectives into the overall health policy of the company.

Evaluation of Nudge-Based Notification for Follow-Up Examinations in Health Check-Ups Targeting Occupational Health Staff and Undiagnosed Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose Follow-up examinations after health check-ups are important for early detection of noncommunicable diseases among workers. Nudging can serve as an effective intervention for individuals who avoid follow-up examinations due to cognitive biases. This study aims to evaluate the interest in nudge-based notification for follow-up examinations, targeting occupational health staff and undiagnosed workers in a randomized controlled trial. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to either a control group (receiving a text-based notification without nudges) or a nudge group (receiving a notification that modified the control group based on Easy-type nudges). An anonymous web survey was administered. Results Occupational health staff (n = 425) rated all items significantly higher, including "willingness to use the notification" which scored 2.22 for the control group vs. 3.62 for the nudge group on a 1- to 5-point scale (P < 0.001). Among undiagnosed workers (n = 871), there was no significant difference in "willingness to apply for the follow-up examinations" (3.01 vs. 3.09; P = 0.272), but all other items were rated significantly higher in the nudge group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Based on these findings, we suggest that occupational health staff should use nudge-based notifications. However, increasing the willingness of undiagnosed workers to undergo follow-up examinations remains challenging. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to incorporate multiple nudge elements into notifications.

Career duration and later-life health conditions among former professional American-style football players.

OBJECTIVES: Career duration is often used as a metric of neurotrauma exposure in studies of elite athletes. However, as a proxy metric, career length may not accurately represent causal factors, and associations with health outcomes may be susceptible to selection effects. To date, relationships between professional American-style football (ASF) career length and postcareer health remain incompletely characterised. METHODS: We conducted a survey-based cross-sectional cohort study of former professional ASF players. Flexible regression methods measured associations between self-reported career duration and four self-reported health conditions: pain, arthritis, mood and cognitive symptoms. We also measured associations between career duration and four self-reported ASF exposures: prior concussion signs and symptoms (CSS), performance enhancing drugs, intracareer surgeries and average snaps per game. Models were adjusted for age and race. RESULTS: Among 4189 former players (52±14 years of age, 39% black, 34% lineman position), the average career length was 6.7±3.9 professional seasons (range=1-20+). We observed inverted U-shaped relationships between career duration and outcomes (all p<0.001), indicating that adverse health effects were more common among men with intermediate career durations than those with shorter or longer careers. Similar findings were observed for play-related exposures (eg, CSS and snaps). CONCLUSIONS: Relationships between ASF career duration and subsequent health status are non-linear. Attenuation of the associations among longer career players may reflect selection effects and suggest career length may serve as a poor proxy for true causal factors. Findings highlight the need for cautious use of career duration as a proxy exposure metric in studies of former athletes.

Second Victims Among Austrian Nurses (SeViD-A2 Study).

Background: The Second Victim Phenomenon (SVP) significantly impacts the well-being of healthcare professionals and patient safety. While the SVP has been explored in various healthcare settings, there are limited data on its prevalence and associated factors among nurses in Austria. This study investigates the prevalence, symptomatology, and preferred support measures for SVP among Austrian nurses. Methods: A nationwide, cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted September to December 2023 using the SeViD questionnaire (Second Victims in German-speaking Countries), which includes the Big Five Inventory-10 (BFI-10). Statistical analyses included binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression using the bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) bootstrapping method based on 5000 bootstrap samples. Results: A total of 928 participants responded to the questionnaire with a response rate of 15.47%. The participants were on average 42.42 years old and were mainly women (79.63%). Among the respondents, 81.58% (744/912) identified as Second Victims (SVs). The primary cause of becoming an SV was aggressive behavior from patients or relatives. Females reported a higher symptom load than males, and higher agreeableness was linked to increased symptom severity. Notably, 92.47% of SVs who sought help preferred support from colleagues, and the most pronounced desire among participants was to process the event for better understanding. Conclusions: The prevalence of SVP among Austrian nurses is alarmingly high, with aggressive behavior identified as a significant trigger. The findings emphasize the necessity for tailored support strategies, including peer support and systematic organizational interventions to mitigate the impact of SVP on nurses and to improve overall patient care. Further research should focus on developing and implementing effective prevention and intervention programs for healthcare professionals in similar settings.

Examining the Complex Interaction Among Technological Innovation, Company Performance, and Occupational Safety and Health: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Technological innovation and Industry 5.0 are gaining increasing attention among researchers as they offer companies a significant competitive advantage. On the other hand, introducing these technologies also brings new risks for workers. The current literature reveals a lack of studies that effectively integrate occupational safety and health (OSH) within this emerging technological context and analyse the impacts of their use. This study aims to explore how companies interact with macro-level interventions that promote technological innovation and to understand their impact on different dimensions of company performance, including aspects related to OSH. Based on the existing literature, a research framework is presented that identifies the stakeholders involved, the inputs facilitating their interaction, and the cascading effects and changes. A mixed-methods approach was adopted by employing an in-depth survey with 89 companies responding and composed of both open-ended questions, to capture rich, qualitative insights, and multiple-choice questions, to gather quantifiable data. Two change levels have been identified: general changes and specific changes related to OSH. The analysis also delved into the main drivers and barriers that lead companies to engage with technological improvements and the multiple changes these interventions generate across company dimensions.