Short-acting opioid prescriptions and Workers' Compensation using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.

BACKGROUND: Short-acting opioids have been utilized for pain management with little known about their use in patients on Workers' Compensation (WC) insurance. Our goal was to investigate this association in the ambulatory care setting. METHODS: Using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, visits from patients aged 18-64 during the years 2010 until 2018 were evaluated (excluding 2017 due to data availability). Demographic and co-morbidity data from each visit was obtained along with the visit year. The first short-acting opioid medication prescribed in the database was considered. Survey-weighted frequencies were evaluated. Logistic regression estimated the crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals for the use of short-acting opioid prescription. RESULTS: There were 155,947 included visits with 62.5% for female patients. Most patients were White with 11.7% identifying as Black, and 6% identifying as another race. Over 13% of the sample was of Hispanic descent. WC was the identified insurance type in 1.6% of the sample population. Of these patients, 25.6% were prescribed a short-acting opioid, compared with 10.1% of those with another identified insurance. On multivariable regression, Black patients had increased odds of being prescribed a short-acting opioid compared to white patients (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.11-1.34). Those on WC had 1.7-fold higher odds of being prescribed short-acting opioids (95% CI: 1.46-2.06). CONCLUSION: Certain patient characteristics, including having WC insurance, increased the odds of a short-acting opioid prescription. Further work is needed to identify prescribing patterns in specific high-risk occupational groups, as well as to elicit potential associated health outcomes.

A Deep Learning-Based Platform for Workers' Stress Detection Using Minimally Intrusive Multisensory Devices.

The advent of Industry 4.0 necessitates substantial interaction between humans and machines, presenting new challenges when it comes to evaluating the stress levels of workers who operate in increasingly intricate work environments. Undoubtedly, work-related stress exerts a significant influence on individuals' overall stress levels, leading to enduring health issues and adverse impacts on their quality of life. Although psychological questionnaires have traditionally been employed to assess stress, they lack the capability to monitor stress levels in real-time or on an ongoing basis, thus making it arduous to identify the causes and demanding aspects of work. To surmount this limitation, an effective solution lies in the analysis of physiological signals that can be continuously measured through wearable or ambient sensors. Previous studies in this field have mainly focused on stress assessment through intrusive wearable systems susceptible to noise and artifacts that degrade performance. One of our recently published papers presented a wearable and ambient hardware-software platform that is minimally intrusive, able to detect human stress without hindering normal work activities, and slightly susceptible to artifacts due to movements. A limitation of this system is its not very high performance in terms of the accuracy of detecting multiple stress levels; therefore, in this work, the focus was on improving the software performance of the platform, using a deep learning approach. To this purpose, three neural networks were implemented, and the best performance was achieved by the 1D-convolutional neural network with an accuracy of 95.38% for the identification of two levels of stress, which is a significant improvement over those obtained previously.

Digital Innovations for Occupational Safety: Empowering Workers in Hazardous Environments.

BACKGROUND: The quest to increase safety awareness, make job sites safer, and promote decent work for all has led to the utilization of digital technologies in hazardous occupations. This study investigated the use of digital innovations for safety and health management in hazardous industries. The key challenges and recommendations associated with such use were also explored. METHOD: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a total of 48 studies were reviewed to provide a framework for future pathways for the effective implementation of these innovations. FINDINGS: The results revealed four main categories of digital safety systems: wearable-based systems, augmented/virtual reality-based systems, artificial intelligence-based systems, and navigation-based systems. A wide range of technological, behavioral, and organizational challenges were identified in relation to the key themes. CONCLUSION: Outcomes from this review can inform policymakers and industrial decision-makers about the application of digital innovations for best safety practices in various hazardous work conditions.

Como a pandemia de COVID-19 afetou a notificação de acidentes do trabalho em diferentes atividades econômicas e ocupações no Brasil? Um estudo ecológico usando o p-score / How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect occupational accident notification in different economic activities and occupations in Brazil? An ecological study using p-score

Resumo Objetivo: mensurar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 nas notificações de acidentes do trabalho (AT) no Brasil, por atividade econômica e ocupação. Métodos: estudo ecológico que utilizou os casos de AT registrados entre 2015 e 2020 no Anuário Estatístico da Previdência Social. Os AT foram analisados por setor de atividade econômica, ocupação e códigos da 10ª revisão da Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde (CID-10). Uma adaptação do p-score foi aplicada para comparar os casos de AT pré-pandemia com os do primeiro ano da pandemia. Resultados: os p-scores variaram de -60,2%, para AT por nexo técnico epidemiológico, a -13,9%, para AT típico. As doenças do trabalho apresentaram p-score de 151,1%. Houve aumento notável nos casos de doenças ocupacionais dos capítulos I e X da CID-10. As notificações de AT diminuíram em todas as categorias de atividades econômicas, exceto nas de saúde humana e serviços sociais (p-score = 8,0%). Na maioria das categorias, os valores foram negativos, exceto nos subgrupos forças de segurança e profissionais de saúde de nível superior, técnico e gestores. Conclusão: houve redução geral na notificação de AT durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil, que evidenciou desigualdades entre diferentes setores de atividades e ocupações, além de mudança no perfil de adoecimento dos trabalhadores.

Abstract Objective: to assess the COVID-19 pandemic impact on Occupational Accident (OA) notifications in Brazil by economic activity and occupation. Methods: an ecological study was conducted using OA cases recorded in the Statistical Yearbook of Social Security from 2015 to 2020. Accidents were analyzed by sector of economic activity, occupation, and ICD-10 codes. Pre-pandemic cases were compared with the first year of the public health emergency scenario caused by Sars-Cov-2 using an adapted p-score. Results: p-scores ranged from -60.2% for technical-epidemiological Occupational Accidents to -13.9% for typical OA. Occupational diseases had a p-score of 151.1%. Cases of occupational diseases from ICD-10 chapters I and X showed a significant increase. OA notifications decreased in all CNAE sections, except for human health and social services activities (p-score = 8.0%). P-score values were negative in most CBO categories, except in subgroups such as security forces and high-level health professionals, technicians, and managers. Conclusion: Brazil registered a general reduction in OA notifications due to the pandemic, which evinced inequalities in different sectors and occupations, as well as changes in the illness profile of workers.

Avaliação do sistema de vigilância em saúde do trabalhador relacionada aos acidentes de trabalho, antes e após a implantação do software de linkage Sentinela, em Porto Alegre, 2018-2021 / Evaluation of the occupational health surveillance system before and after the implementation of the Sentinela linkage software, in Porto Alegre, 2018-2021 / Evaluación del sistema de vigilancia de la salud del trabajador relacionada con los accidentes de trabajo, antes y después de la implementación del software de enlace Sentinela, en Porto Alegre, 2018-2021

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar, segundo alguns atributos, o sistema de vigilância dos acidentes de trabalho antes e após a implantação do software Sentinela (2018-2021), com base em uma pesquisa descritiva de dados secundários, e efetuar recomendações. Foram analisadas variáveis da ficha de investigação, de acordo com os atributos qualidade dos dados (completitude e consistência), oportunidade e representatividade. Os resultados mostraram que, após o Sentinela, houve aumento da notificação de acidentes (66,16%), maior completitude das variáveis, com importante alteração na 'atividade econômica' (98,9%) e 'evolução' (96,3%), diminuição dos campos ignorados/em branco, com destaque para o campo 'evolução' (3,7%), e melhora na oportunidade de controle dos acidentes fatais (79 dias). Concluímos que a vigilância dos acidentes de trabalho tem excelente qualidade dos dados, é representativa, mas inoportuna. O Sentinela melhorou o sistema, tornando-o mais sensível na captação dos acidentes e permitindo-lhe ter informações de melhor qualidade. É necessária a avaliação rotineira dos atributos, para aprimoramento constante do sistema, assim como rever as rotinas das equipes de saúde, melhorando a oportunidade de controle por meio de suas ações

This article aims to evaluate the occupational health surveillance system before and after the implementa-tion of the Sentinela software (2018-2021), according to some attributes and based on descriptive research using secondary data, and to make recommendations. Variables of the accident investigation report were analysed, according to the attributes of data quality (completeness and consistency), opportunity and rep-resentativeness. The results have revealed that after Sentinela, there was an increase in the notification of accidents (66.16%), greater completeness of the variables, with an important change in 'economic activity' (98.9%) and 'evolution' (96.3%), a decreased in blank fields/information missing, with emphasis on the 'evolution' field (3.7%), and an improvement in the opportunity to control fatal accidents (79 days). We have concluded that the surveillance of the occupational accidents has excellent data quality, is representative, but inopportune. The Sentinela has improved the system, making it more sensitive in capturing accidents, allowing it to provide better quality of information. An evaluation of the attributes is routinely necessary to constantly improve the system, as well as reviewing the routines of health professionals, improving the opportunity to control by their actions

El objetivo de este artículo es evaluar, según algunos atributos, el sistema de vigilancia de los accidentes de trabajo antes y después de la implementación del software Sentinela (2018-2021), por medio de una investigación descriptiva de datos secundarios, y hacer recomendaciones. Fueron analizadas variables de la ficha de investigación de accidentes, de acuerdo con los atributos de calidad de los datos (completitud y consistencia), oportunidad y representatividad. Los resultados demostraron que, después del Sentinela, ha habido un aumento de la notificación de accidentes (66,16 %), una mayor completitud de las variables, con un cambio importante en 'actividad económica' (98,9 %) y 'evolución' (96,3 %), una disminución de campos ignorados/en blanco, con énfasis en el campo 'evolución' (3,7%), y mejora en la probabilidad de control de los accidentes mortales (79 días). Concluimos que la vigilancia de los accidentes de trabajo tiene excelente calidad de datos, es representativa, pero inoportuna. El Sentinela ha mejorado el sistema, haciéndolo más sensible en la captación de los accidentes y permitiéndole tener informaciones de mejor calidad. La evaluación de los atributos con regularidad es necesaria para el perfeccionamiento constante del sistema, así como la revisión de las rutinas de los equipos de salud, mejorando la oportunidad de control a través de sus acciones

Estilo de vida y síndrome metabólico en el personal de salud de un hospital, 2022 / Lifestyle and metabolic syndrome in hospital health personnel, 2022

Fundamentos: El síndrome metabólico es un conjunto de factores de riesgo cardiovascular que junto con unestilo de vida inadecuado puede generar una importante morbimortalidad en la población adulta, afectandosu salud y productividad. El objetivo fue determinar la relación entre el estilo de vida y el síndromemetabólico (SM) en el personal de la salud durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en un hospital en el distrito deAte, 2022.Métodos: Diseño no experimental, descriptivo, correlacional y transversal. Los participantes fueron 416trabajadores de un hospital en el distrito de Ate. El SM fue valorado según la definición la FederaciónInternacional de Diabetes (FID) y el estilo de vida mediante el cuestionario Fantástico. Para la asociación devariables se aplicó prueba de chi-cuadrado.Resultados: Participaron 304 (73,1%) mujeres y 112 (26,9%) hombres, con edades entre 30-59 años (n=395,94,9%) y mayores de 60 años (n=21, 5,1%). La prevalencia del SM fue del 52,2%. Se observó una relaciónentre estilos de vida y el SM. Al identificarse las características clínicas del personal de salud se encontrósegún los componentes del SM diferenciado por género, en mujeres y varones que además de presentarObesidad central, HTA, triglicéridos elevados y glicemia alterada.Conclusiones: La prevalencia de SM se presentó en más de la mitad de los participantes, siendo superior enlas mujeres; se encontró asociación entre la presencia de SM y los estilos de vida.(AU)

Background: The metabolic syndrome is a set of cardiovascular risk factors that together with an inadequatelifestyle can generate significant morbidity and mortality in the adult population, affecting their health andproductivity. The objective was to determine the relationship between lifestyle and metabolic syndrome (MS)in health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic in a hospital in Ate district, 2022.Methods: Non-experimental, descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design. The participants were 416workers from a hospital in Ate district. MS was assessed according to the definition of the InternationalDiabetes Federation (IDF) and lifestyle using the Fantastic questionnaire. For the association of variables, achi-square test was applied.Results: 304 (73.1%) women and 112 (26.9%) men participated, aged between 30-59 years (n=395, 94.9%)and over 60 years old (n=21, 5.1%). The prevalence of MS was 52.2%. A relationship was observed betweenlifestyles and MS. When the clinical characteristics of the health personnel were identified, it was foundaccording to the components of the MS differentiated by gender, in women and men who, in addition topresenting central obesity, HBP, elevated triglycerides and altered glycemia.Conclusions: The prevalence of MS was present in more than half of the participants, being higher in women;an association was found between the presence of MS and lifestyles.(AU)

Risk of Dysphonia in Legal Professionals: Proposal for a Screening Protocol

Introduction: Due to the communicative requirements inherent to the profession, the legal professional benefits from speech therapy monitoring for the proper use of the voice and to avoid the occurrence of vocal disorders. The development of specific instruments will contribute with more relevant data to guide this monitoring. Objective: To verify the applicability of the General Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol (DRSP-G) and the Specific Dysphonia Risk Screening Protocol for Legal Professionals (DRSP-LP) and to correlate the average scores of both with vocal deviation, sex, age, professional performance time, vocal signs and symptoms, and vocal self-assessment. Methods: Fifty legal professionals participated. All participants completed the DRSP-G and DRSP-LP and recorded their voices for detection of the presence of altered vocal quality. Results: Most participants presented a high risk of dysphonia, which was higher in men. Altered vocal quality was observed in 34% of the participants. The items with the highest scores in the DRSP-G were talking a lot (76%), excessive daily coffee intake (70%), contact with smokers (60%), and insufficient hydration and sleep (48%); in the DRSP-LP, alcohol consumption (68%) and exposure to air conditioning (64%). There was no correlation between risk scores and the degree of dysphonia, or with age or length of professional experience. The DRSP-G score correlated with vocal signs and symptoms and vocal self-perception. Conclusions: The joint application of the DRSP-G and the DRSP-LP enabled a quantitative and qualitative analysis of risk factors for dysphonia in legal professionals.

Introducción: Debido a las exigencias comunicativas inherentes a la profesión, el profesional del derecho se beneficia del seguimiento logopédico para el correcto uso de la voz y para evitar la aparición de trastornos vocales. El desarrollo de instrumentos específicos contribuirá con datos más relevantes para guiar este seguimiento. Objetivo: Verificar la aplicabilidad del Protocolo General de Detección de Riesgo de Disfonía (DRSP-G) y el Protocolo de Detección de Riesgo Específico para Profesionales del Derecho (DRSP-LP) y correlacionar las puntuaciones de ambos con varias variables de interés. Metodología: Participaron 50 profesionales del derecho. Todos completaron el DRSP-G y DRSP-LP y grabaron sus voces para detectar la presencia de alteraciones en la calidad de la voz. Resultados: La mayoría presentó un alto riesgo de disfonía, que fue mayor en los hombres. Se observó alteración en la calidad de la voz en el 34% de los participantes. Los ítems con puntajes más altos en el DRSP-G fueron hablar mucho (76%), ingesta diaria excesiva de café (70%), contacto con fumadores (60%) e hidratación y sueño insuficientes (48%); y en el DRSP-LP, consumo de alcohol (68%) y exposición al aire acondicionado (64%). No hubo correlación entre las puntuaciones de riesgo y el grado de disfonía, ni con la edad o la antigüedad profesional. La puntuación DRSP-G se correlacionó con los signos y síntomas vocales y la autopercepción vocal. Conclusiones: La aplicación conjunta del DRSP-G y el DRSP-LP permitió un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de los factores de riesgo de disfonía en profesionales del derecho.

The Work, Play, and Worship Environments as Social Determinants of Health.

Consideration of the definition of the social determinants of health (SDOHs) requires health care to include work, play, and worship environments because they are important to the health of patients and communities. This article attempts to discuss the issues with limited focus on these areas and the importance of using multidisciplinary health-care teams during primary care visits. The expectation from this information is to advance the ability for primary care providers to support patients and the communities they work in to effect change toward decreasing health disparities and enhancing overall health outcomes.

Qualidade de vida e engajamento no trabalho em profissionais de enfermagem no início da pandemia de COVID-19 / Quality of life and work engagement among nursing staff at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

Resumo O artigo investiga a correlação entre engajamento e qualidade de vida no trabalho dos profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital público do interior do estado de São Paulo, no início da pandemia de COVID-19. Estudo transversal, descritivo e correlacional, com profissionais de enfermagem, realizado entre dezembro de 2020 e janeiro de 2021. Foram utilizadas as versões brasileiras da Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) e da Escala de Avaliação da Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho (QVT), segundo modelo de Walton. Os profissionais de enfermagem apresentaram correlação forte e positiva (r≥0.70) entre o domínio integração social da QVT e a dimensão vigor da UWES (r=0,88; p=<0,001); correlação positiva moderada (r≥0.40≤0.69) entre as condições de trabalho (QVT) e as dimensões vigor (r=0,40; p=<0,001), dedicação (r=0,40; p=<0,001) e escore geral (r=0,41; p=<0,001) da UWES. As correlações foram positivas e fracas (r≤0.39) para os demais domínios da QVT e as dimensões da UWES. Concluiu-se que os profissionais com níveis satisfatórios de qualidade de vida tendem a ter níveis mais altos de engajamento no trabalho. No início da pandemia de COVID-19, os profissionais de enfermagem estavam fortemente engajados e satisfeitos com sua qualidade de vida no trabalho.

Abstract This article investigates the correlation between work engagement and work-related quality of life among nursing staff at a public hospital in São Paulo State, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study of nursing personnel was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021, using the Brazilian versions of the Work & Well-being Survey (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale - UWES) and the Work-related Quality of Life (WRQoL) scale, following Walton's model. Nursing staffs returned a strong positive correlation (r≥0.70) between the social integration domain of the WRQoL and the vigour dimension of the UWES (r=0.88; p=<0.001); a moderate positive correlation (r≥0.40≤0.69) between working conditions (WRQOL) and the vigour (r=0.40; p<0.001), dedication (r=0.40; p<0.001) and overall score (r=0.41; p<0.001) dimensions of the UWES. Correlations were positive and weak (r≤0.39) for the other WRQoL domains and the UWES dimensions. It was concluded that personnel with satisfactory levels of quality of life tend to show higher levels of engagement at work. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing professionals were strongly engaged and satisfied with their work-related quality of life.

Associação entre intoxicação exógena e exposição ocupacional e ambiental de pacientes com câncer em Mato Grosso / Association between exogenous intoxication and occupational and environmental exposure of cancer patients in Mato Grosso

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a associação entre características sociodemográficas relacionadas à exposição ambiental e ocupacional e o autorrelato de intoxicação de pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer em Mato Grosso, Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com 998 pacientes com câncer atendidos em hospitais de referência do estado. A variável dependente foi obtida a partir do autorrelato de algum sintoma de intoxicação nos últimos 5 anos e se a intoxicação foi decorrente ou não do trabalho/ocupação. A associação entre características sociodemográficas relacionadas à intoxicação e à exposição ambiental e ocupacional e o autorrelato de intoxicação foi avaliada pelo teste exato de Fisher. Do total de entrevistados, 7,4% (IC95%: 6,0; 9,2) referiram intoxicação, sendo 2,3% dos casos (IC95%: 1,5; 3,4) decorrentes do trabalho. Os fatores associados ao autorrelato de intoxicação decorrente do trabalho foram ser do sexo masculino, ter escolaridade menor que 4 anos, sintoma de dor de cabeça, intoxicação por agrotóxico agrícola, por via respiratória e ter trabalhado com agrotóxicos, amianto, metais pesados e poeira industrial. Conclui-se que os indivíduos com maior exposição ocupacional aos agrotóxicos e a outros produtos químicos referiram maior ocorrência de intoxicações decorrentes do trabalho.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sociodemographic characteristics, related to environmental and occupational exposure and self-report of intoxication in patients diagnosed with cancer in Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study, with 998 cancer patients seen at referral hospitals in the state. The dependent variable was obtained from the self-report of some intoxication symptom in the last 5 years and whether or not the intoxication was caused by work/occupation. The association between sociodemographic characteristics, related to intoxication and environmental and occupational exposure and self-report of intoxication was assessed by Fisher's exact test. Of all respondents, 7.4% (95%CI: 6.0; 9.2) reported intoxication, and 2.3% (95%CI: 1.5; 3.4) were work-related. Factors associated with self-reported work-related intoxication were being male, having less than 4 years of education, headache, intoxication by agricultural pesticides, by respiratory route and having worked with pesticides, asbestos, heavy metals and industrial dust. It was concluded that individuals with higher occupational exposure to pesticides and other chemicals reported higher occurrence of poisoning due to work.

Diagnostics and Prevention of Occupational Allergy in Hairdressers.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This study aims to provide an overview on current knowledge on occupational allergic diseases in hairdressers and up-to-date perspectives of prevention. RECENT FINDINGS: Hand eczema (dermatitis) is common in hairdressers, often caused by contact allergy to one or multiple small molecules (haptens) used, e.g., for dyeing, bleaching, and waving/relaxing or by ancillary substances such as preservatives. Hairdressers, compared to other patch-tested patients, have an up to fivefold increased risk to be found sensitized, e.g., against p-phenylenediamine, ammonium persulfate, and glyceryl thioglycolate. Some of these small molecules may induce respiratory sensitization causing allergic rhinitis and/or asthma, notably persulfate salts. Occupational hazards in hairdressing are well described. This knowledge needs to be put into use for risk reduction, mainly by substitution of allergenic ingredients by less allergenic ones, education, and use of ventilation and suitable single-use gloves.

Optimized menu formulation to enhance nutritional goals: design of a mixed integer programming model for the workers' food program in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, institutional foodservices are required to meet the recommendations of the Workers? Food Program (WFP), a national public policy used to plan collective menus. The current study aimed to propose a mathematical model to generate a one-month menu that meets the nutritional recommendations of the WFP, with low cost and good quality. METHODS: We considered aspects related to the eating habits of the Brazilian population, spacing of repetitions between the dishes, texture combination, and monotonicity of colors of the dishes served. A mixed integer programming model was built to formulate daily menus for an institutional foodservice for one month. The menu consisted of a base dish, a base dish option, salads (2 options), a protein dish, a protein dish option, a side dish, and a dessert. RESULTS: The model ensured compliance with the recommendations proposed by the WFP and the provision of healthy and nutritionally balanced meals. The menu generated met the recommendations of the WFP, with an average of 716.97 kcal/meal, including on average 58.28% carbohydrates, 17.89% proteins, and 24.88% total fats/meal. CONCLUSION: The model used can help in the menu elaboration dynamics of institutional foodservices, optimizing the work of the nutritionist in charge.

The Effects of Job Quality on the Health of Wage Workers: Congruence between the Hard and Soft Job Quality.

Background: This study analyzes the linear and non-linear effects of the hard and soft dimensions of job quality on the overall health of wage workers. It also examines the congruence or fit between the hard and soft job quality on the overall health of wage workers. Methods: This study measured thirty indicators that constitute job quality and reduced the indicators into twelve sub-dimensions of job quality using reflective factor analysis. In addition, this study derived two dimensions of job quality from the twelve subdimensions, namely the hard and soft job quality using formative factor analysis. This paper applied the response surface analysis to analyze the congruence effect between the two dimensions of job quality. Results: A logarithmic relationship was found between the dimension of hard job quality and the worker's overall health. This study also verified that the congruence effect between the two dimensions of job quality does not exist, and the combined effect of job quality is lower when the two dimensions of job quality are at the same level than the effect when either level of job quality is high or low. Conclusions: Although hard and soft job quality has independent positive effects on the overall health of wage workers, the two dimensions of job quality are not congruent or not in harmony with each other. This incongruence between hard and soft job quality, together with a higher impact of hard job quality, suggests that the role of soft job quality on overall health is relatively limited.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of Health Effects on Emergency Service Nursing Workers via a Qualitative Approach.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, longstanding issues involving nursing work, which has always involved significant risks of illness and infection, were intensified. It is necessary to acknowledge the risks and nurses' perceptions about the risks qualitatively during the period of the health crisis. The aim of this study was to examine the health repercussions perceived by nursing workers in emergency services during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. This was a qualitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study. The settings of the study were emergency services with a national scope; the participants were nursing workers. Data were collected via face-to-face virtual calling interviews and analyzed via a content analysis technique, which was supported by IRAMUTEQ software. The formation of textual classes pointed in three thematic directions, from which three categories emerged: nursing workers' exposure, due to a lack of protective equipment, to the risk of being contaminated with, falling ill from, and transmitting the COVID-19 virus; changes in work environments, processes, and relations in response to the pandemic; and physical, mental, and psychosocial alterations perceived by emergency service nursing workers. The exposure to the virus, risk of contamination, and changes in the work environment and relations all resulted in health repercussions, which were perceived as physical, mental, and psychosocial alterations that were described as dietary disturbances, physical fatigue, burnout, increased smoking, anxiety, sleep alterations, fear, exhaustion, stress, social isolation, loneliness, distancing from relatives, and social stigma.

Development of a Prototype Observatory of Heat-Related Occupational Illnesses and Injuries through the Collection of Information from the Italian Press, as Part of the WORKLIMATE Project.

Exposure to heat is a recognized occupational risk factor. Deaths and accidents at work caused by high temperatures are underestimated. With the aim of detecting and monitoring heat-related illnesses and injuries, a prototype database of occupational events attributable to critical thermal conditions reported in Italian newspapers was created. Information was analyzed from national and local online newspapers using a web application. The analysis was conducted from May to September during the three-year period 2020-2022. Articles concerning 35 occupational heat-related illnesses and injuries were selected; 57.1% of the events were reported in 2022, and 31.4% of total accidents occurred in the month of July 2022, when the Universal Thermal Climate Index daily mean values corresponded to "moderate heat stress" (51.0%) and "strong heat stress" (49.0%). Fatal heat-related illnesses were the most frequent conditions described. In most cases, workers had been involved in outdoor activities in the construction sector. A comprehensive report was created by compiling all relevant newspaper articles to enhance awareness of this issue among relevant stakeholders and promote heat-risk prevention strategies in the current context where heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent, intense and long-lasting.

Factors associated with TB screening among agricultural workers in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a public health issue of concern in South Africa. Workers in the agricultural sector are generally at increased risk of TB due to multiple interacting factors such as exposure to silica dust, co-worker infection, and occupations falling within the lower socio-economic sectors. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates factors associated with TB screening uptake for agricultural workers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. METHOD: This cross-sectional study targeted a study population of 16,787 agricultural workers across 96 agricultural worksites in South Africa. A two-stage cluster random sampling design identified 24 agricultural worksites and a potential 2500 participants. The outcome variable was self-reported TB screening. Descriptive statistics and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with TB screening. A literature review informed the selection of covariates as possible confounders. RESULTS: The final study sample comprised 2144 workers across 24 sites, with 55% being women. TB screening uptake was 1155 (56.3%). Factors such as living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (AOR 3.16, 95% CI: 2.44-4.09), accessing health services in the workplace (AOR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.09-3.46), and having prior TB knowledge (AOR 18.45, 95% CI: 9.8-34.74) were positively associated with TB screening. Participants in the age group 36-49 years had significantly higher odds of self-reporting TB screening, compared with those aged 18-25 years (AOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07-1.77). Migrant workers from Mozambique (OR 0.52, 95% CI: 0.34-0.79) and Zimbabwe (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.89) were significantly less likely to self-report TB screening compared to their South African counterparts. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the importance of workplace health services in achieving end-TB targets. We recommend programs and interventions for preventing TB in South Africa that target the agricultural sector in general, and in particular migrant workers.

Systematic review on skin adverse effects of important hazardous hair cosmetic ingredients with a focus on hairdressers.

BACKGROUND: The burden of occupational hand eczema in hairdressers is high, and (partly strong) allergens abound in the hair cosmetic products they use. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review published evidence concerning contact allergy to an indicative list of active ingredients of hair cosmetics, namely, p-phenylenediamine (PPD), toluene-2,5-diamine (PTD), persulfates, mostly ammonium persulfate (APS), glyceryl thioglycolate (GMTG), and ammonium thioglycolate (ATG), concerning the prevalence of sensitization, particularly in terms of a comparison (relative risk; RR) between hairdressers and non-hairdressers. METHODS: Following a PROSPERO-registered and published protocol, eligible literature published from 2000 to February 2021 was identified, yielding 322 publications, and extracted in standardized publication record forms, also considering risk of bias. RESULTS: Based on 141 publications, the contact allergy prevalence to PPD was 4.3% (95% CI: 3.8-4.9%) in consecutively patch tested patients. Other ingredients were mostly tested in an aimed fashion, yielding variable, and partly high contact allergy prevalences. Where possible, the RR was calculated, yielding an average increased sensitization risk in hairdressers of between 5.4 (PPD) and 3.4 (ATG). Additional evidence related to immediate-type hypersensitivity, experimental results, exposures, and information from case reports was qualitatively synthesized. CONCLUSIONS: An excess risk of contact allergy is clearly evident from the pooled published evidence from the last 20 years. This should prompt an improvement in working conditions and product safety.

Tendência dos acidentes de trabalho no agronegócio em Mato Grosso, Brasil, 2008 a 2017 / Agribusiness occupational accidents trend in Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2008 to 2017

Objetivo: analisar a distribuição espacial e temporal dos indicadores de acidentes de trabalho (AT) e de outros agravos à saúde relacionados à produção agropecuária de Mato Grosso, no período de 2008 a 2017. Métodos: trata-se de estudo ecológico, com análise de tendência e correlação entre indicadores de produção agropecuária, florestal, mineral e AT. Resultados: as atividades econômicas do agronegócio com maior contribuição aos AT foram: abate e fabricação de produtos de carnes (16,9%) e agricultura (12,3%). Taxas de AT mais elevadas foram observadas nos municípios considerados os maiores produtores agropecuários (Paranatinga, Barra do Garças, Alta Floresta e Sorriso). Evidenciou-se que 58,4% dos AT no estado foram relacionados ao agronegócio. Foi encontrada correlação positiva e significativa entre o valor adicionado bruto e a taxa de incidência (r = 0,303; p < 0,001), mortalidade (r = 0,368; p < 0,001) e letalidade (r = 0,390; p < 0,001) por AT. Identificou-se tendência crescente na variação percentual anual de 7,3% (IC95%: 6,1;8,6) do esforço produtivo (hectare/habitante), de 6,2% (IC95%: 5,2;7,3) do esforço produtivo (exposição agrotóxico/habitante) e de 6,2% (IC95%: 4,1;8,3) das internações por neoplasias, bem como do crescimento da produção agrícola, dos insumos agrícolas e dos agravos à saúde. Conclusão: a maioria dos AT foram relacionados ao agronegócio, predominantemente nas atividades de frigoríficos e agricultura. Houve correlação positiva entre indicadores de produção agropecuária e de ocorrências e mortes por AT.

Objective: to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of occupational accident (OA) indicators and other agribusiness-related health issues in Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2008 to 2017. Methods: ecological study using trend analysis and correlation calculation between agricultural, forestry, mineral production and OA indicators. Results: slaughtering and meat production (16.9%) and agriculture (12.3%) were the agribusiness activities with the highest contribution to OA. Municipalities considered the largest agricultural producers (Paratininga, Barra do Garças, Alta Floresta and Sorriso) showed the highest OA rates. Of the OA registered in the state, 58.4% were agribusiness-related. Gross value added presented a positive and significant correlation with the incidence rate (r = 0.303; p < 0.001), mortality (r = 0.368; p < 0.001) and lethality (r = 0.390; p < 0.001) by OA. Analysis showed an increasing trend in the annual percentage variation of 7.3% (95%CI: 6.1;8.6) in productive effort (hectare/ inhabitant), 6.2% (95%CI: 5.2;7.3) in productive effort (pesticide exposure/inhabitant), and 6.2% (95%CI: 4.1;8.3) in hospitalizations for neoplasms, as well as the growth of agricultural production, agricultural inputs, and health problems. Conclusion: most OAs were related to agribusiness, mainly in meatpacking plants and agriculture. There was a positive correlation between indicators of agricultural production and occupational-related accidents and deaths.

Melhoria dos níveis de literacia para a saúde e do cuidado de si de agentes comunitários de saúde após um curso sobre autocuidado / Improvement of health literacy levels and self-care of community health agents after a course on self-care / Mejora de los niveles de alfabetización en salud y autocuidado de los agentes comunitarios de salud tras un curso sobre autocuidado

Introdução: o cuidado de si pode ser entendido como o conjunto de atitudes relacionais consigo, com o outro e com o mundo, possibilitando a realização de ações que resultem na autotransformação. Alinhado a isto, insere-se a Literacia para Saúde (LS), que é definida como a capacidade do indivíduo em acessar, processar, interpretar e aplicar informações de saúde nas suas práticas cotidianas. Objetivo: apreender as percepções de agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) sobre os efeitos de um curso de promoção ao cuidado de si, com ênfase na LS e adoção de comportamentos saudáveis. Método: estudo com abordagem mista, do tipo pesquisa-intervenção, com 55 ACS de um município do sul cearense. O curso teve como temática a promoção da alimentação saudável e atividade corporal, sendo realizado durante o mês de abril de 2022, em encontros semanais com duração de quatro horas cada, perfazendo um total de 16 horas, nos quais os participantes exercitaram a simulação de pratos saudáveis e praticaram Lian Gong em 18 terapias (LG18T). Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado o questionário europeu European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Br) e realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, que ocorreram antes e após a intervenção, cujos relatos foram analisados com auxílio do software IRaMuTeQ pela Análise de Similitude e discutidos à luz do referencial teórico do Cuidado de Si. Resultados: Os resultados ilustraram melhoria significativa dos níveis de Literacia para a Saúde e de mudanças positivas no cuidado de si após a intervenção. Foi possível identificar nos relatos dos participantes os pilares do Cuidado de Si, especialmente os que se referem a ocupar-se de si e realizar ações de si para consigo, como a adoção de alimentação saudável e prática corporal/atividade física estimulada pelo LG18T. Considerações Finais: o curso foi considerado positivo e transformador para os ACS, que ressignificaram seus modos de vida e inseriram comportamentos mais saudáveis em seus cotidianos, produzindo e transformando o próprio viver.

Introduction: self-care can be understood as a set of relational attitudes towards oneself, the other, and the world, enabling actions that result in self- transformation. Aligned to this, Health Literacy (HL) is defined as the individual's ability to access, process, interpret and apply health information in their daily practices. Objective: to understand the perceptions of community health workers (CHWs) about the effects of a course to promote self-care, with emphasis on HL and adoption of healthy behaviors. Method: mixed approach study, research-intervention type, with 55 CHWs from a city in the south of Ceará. The course had as its theme the promotion of healthy eating and body activity, being held during the month of April 2022, in weekly meetings lasting four hours each, totaling 16 hours, in which participants exercised the simulation of healthy dishes and practiced Lian Gong in 18 therapies (LG18T). For data collection, the European European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Br) questionnaire was used and semi-structured interviews were carried out, which occurred before and after the intervention, whose reports were analyzed with the aid of IRaMuTeQ software by Similitude Analysis and discussed in the light of the theoretical referential of Self-Care. Results: The results illustrated significant improvement in Health Literacy levels and positive changes in self-care after the intervention. It was possible to identify in the participants' reports the pillars of Self-Care, especially those referring to taking care of oneself and performing actions from self to self, such as the adoption of healthy eating and body practice/physical activity stimulated by LG18T. Final Considerations: the course was considered positive and transformative for the CHWs, who gave new meaning to their lifestyles and inserted healthier behaviors in their daily lives, producing and transforming their own lives.

Introducción: el autocuidado puede entenderse como un conjunto de actitudes relacionales hacia uno mismo, el otro y el mundo, que posibilitan acciones que resultan en la autotransformación. En consonancia con lo anterior, la Alfabetización en Salud (AS) se define como la capacidad del individuo para acceder, procesar, interpretar y aplicar información sobre salud en sus prácticas cotidianas. Objetivo: conocer las percepciones de los agentes comunitarios de salud (ACS) sobre los efectos de un curso de promoción del autocuidado, con énfasis en la Alfabetización en Salud y la adopción de comportamientos saludables. Método: estudio de abordaje mixto, tipo investigación- intervención, con 55 TCS de una ciudad del sur de Ceará. El curso tuvo como tema la promoción de la alimentación saludable y de la actividad corporal, siendo realizado durante el mes de abril de 2022, en encuentros semanales con duración de cuatro horas cada uno, totalizando 16 horas, en las cuales los participantes ejercitaron la simulación de platos saludables y practicaron Lian Gong en 18 terapias (LG18T). Para la recogida de datos se utilizó el cuestionario European European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Br) y se realizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas, que tuvieron lugar antes y después de la intervención, cuyos informes fueron analizados con la ayuda del software IRaMuTeQ mediante Análisis de Similitudes y discutidos a la luz del referencial teórico del Autocuidado. Resultados: Los resultados ilustraron una mejora significativa en los niveles de Alfabetización en Salud y cambios positivos en el autocuidado después de la intervención. Fue posible identificar en los relatos de los participantes los pilares del Autocuidado, especialmente aquellos referidos al cuidado de sí y a la realización de acciones de sí para sí, como la adopción de alimentación saludable y práctica corporal/actividad física estimuladas por la LG18T. Consideraciones Finales: el curso fue considerado positivo y transformador para los TSC, que resignificaron sus estilos de vida e insertaron comportamientos más saludables en su cotidiano, produciendo y transformando sus propias vidas.

COVID-19: perfil de trabalhadores brasileiros em uma companhia de mineração e a dinâmica dos casos comunitários / COVID-19: profile of Brazilian workers of a mining company and the dynamic of community cases

Resumo Objetivo: descrever o perfil de desfechos de COVID-19 em trabalhadores da mineração e a dinâmica dos casos nas unidades de mineração e seus respectivos municípios. Métodos: estudo de coorte e ecológico, com dados secundários clínico-epidemiológicos, sociodemográficos e ocupacionais de trabalhadores de mineradora multinacional no Brasil e de casos de COVID-19 nos cinco municípios onde as unidades estavam localizadas, de março de 2020 a abril de 2021. A incidência acumulada e média móvel (MM) de 7 dias dos casos foram calculadas e comparadas na unidade e respectivo município. Resultados: foram incluídos 17.523 trabalhadores; 88,4% eram do sexo masculino; e 22,6% tiveram pelo menos um resultado positivo. Os trabalhadores mais testados, com casos positivos, colocados em quarentena e com sintomas foram do sexo feminino, de meia-idade, morando e trabalhando no Rio de Janeiro, diretamente contratados pela mineradora, em turnos e ocupações de alto risco. Todas as unidades apresentaram uma incidência acumulada superior aos seus respectivos municípios. Três municípios apresentaram picos de COVID-19 com MM coincidindo com o aumento de casos entre trabalhadores de mineração. Conclusão: aproximadamente um quinto dos trabalhadores foram diagnosticados com COVID-19, e a distribuição temporal dos casos nas unidades de mineração foi semelhante àquela dos municípios onde estavam localizadas.

Abstract Objective: to describe the COVID-19 clinical outcomes profile from mining workers and the cases dynamic within the mining units and their respective municipalities. Methods: a cohort and ecological study using workers clinical-epidemiological, sociodemographic, and occupational secondary data of a multinational mining company, and of COVID-19 cases from five municipalities where the mining units were located, in Brazil, between March 2020 to April 2021. We calculated the cases cumulative incidence and the 7-day moving average (MA), and compared at the mining unit and respective municipality. Results: the study included 17,523 workers, 88.4% male, and 22.6% had at least one positive result for COVID-19. The workers most tested, with positive results, placed in quarantine, and with symptoms were female, middle-aged, living and working in Rio de Janeiro state, directly hired by the mining company, in shift-work, and in high-risk occupations. All mining units presented a cumulative incidence higher than their respective municipalities. Three municipalities showed peaks of COVID-19 with MA cases coinciding with an increase in cases among mining workers. Conclusion: approximately one-fifth of workers were diagnosed with COVID-19. The mining units had a similar temporal distribution of COVID-19 cases to the municipalities where they were located.