[Employee Wellbeing in a University Department, Italy]. / Il benessere organizzativo in un dipartimento universitario.

A serene workplace environment can provide significant benefits to employees. The aim of the present study was to assess wellbeing of employees in a university department, by administering validated questionnaires (Karasek and INAIL) and to determine any similarities and / or differences. The sample consisted of 48 employees (22.9 % male and 77.1% female) in various job categories including doctors, biologists, nurses, and technical and administrative staff. Results obtained from the Karasek questionnaire allowed us to calculate the values of Decision latidude and Job demand. The intersection of the medians of the two components, respectively 56 and 30, allowed us to divide participants into four quadrants consisting of high "strain" workers, active and passive and low "strain" workers. Thirty seven percent of the sample was found to be at high risk of stress. Significant differences in responses were identified in relation to gender, age, job seniority and educational level. Responses to the two questionnaires compared favorably. Seventeen questions were compared, and for eleven of these there was sufficient agreement, with kappa test values comprised between 0.194 and 0.408 (p<0.05). Results confirm that work-related stress is a relevant issue. Karasek and INAIL questionnaires, while investigating similar issues, should not be used alternatively but rather administered simultaneously.

[Systematic review of the literature regarding the risk of mortality, cancer and cardiovascular diseases in professional drivers]. / Revisione sistematica degli effetti dell'esposizione occupazionale sulla salute degli autisti professionisti: mortalità per causa, insorgenza di tumori e malattie cardio-vascolari.

BACKGROUND: Possible ill- health effects of exposures incurred by professional drivers have been reported by several studies with more or less statistically significant results, and continue to be debated in the medical literature. The aim of the present study was to review the existing literature regarding the association between working as a professional driver, mortality, cancer and cardio-vascular diseases. METHODS: The authors considered studies published until May 2012. The literature review was conducted by searching PubMed and EMBASE and using the following research entries: "professional drivers", "mortality", "cancer", "cardiovascular diseases", "health risks", "air-pollution" and "urban air". RESULTS: Of 1,497 studies reviewed, 25 were included in the final analysis. Nine studies were found assessing mortality. Of these, one study indicated that professional drivers had a significantly increased risk for all- cause mortality compared to the general population (Standardised Mortality Ratio, SMR=1.15); five studies indicated a significantly higher risk of lung cancer mortality (SMR ranged 1.16 and 2.12). Seven studies evaluating cardio-vascular diseases focused on myocardial infarction. These reported a higher risk in professional drivers with respect to controls, with crude Odds Ratios (OR) between 1.66 and 3.3, Relative Risks (RR) ranging from 1.19 to 1.6. In five of the above studies, potential confounders were considered. Five of 11 studies reported a statistically significant increased risk of lung cancer in professional drivers with respect to the general population or to other workers, with ORs included between 1.21 and 1.85, and RRs between 1.2 and 1.4. CONCLUSIONS: The reviewed studies had many limitations, such as poor exposure assessment and lack of information on relevant confounders. In addition, heterogeneity in the studies led to problems in summarizing the results. Despite this, study findings suggest the existence of an association between this professional activity and risk for lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Association between Work Related Stress and Health Related Quality of Life: The Impact of Socio-Demographic Variables. A Cross Sectional Study in a Region of Central Italy.

The aim of this work is investigate relationship between health-related quality of life and work-related stress and the impact of gender, education level, and age on this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted among workers of various setting in Rome and Frosinone. Work-related stress was measured with a demand-control questionnaire and health-related functioning by SF (short form)-12 health survey. There were 611 participants. Men reported high mental composite summary (MCS) and physical composite summary (PCS). In multivariate analysis age, gender (p < 0.001) and job demand (0.045) predicted low PCS. Low MCS predicted poor PCS. Job demand and educational level resulted negatively associated with MCS. In an analysis stratified for age, gender, and educational level, gender and age resulted effect modifier for MCS, gender and education level for PCS. In women increase of decision latitude predict (p = 0.001) an increase in MCS; a low job demand predict high MCS in male (p ≤ 0.001). In younger workers, a lower level of job demand predicted high MCS (<0.001). For PCS, gender and education level resulted effect modifier. In women, high decision latitude predicted higher PCS (p = 0.001) and lower level of job demand results in higher PCS (p ≤ 0.001). Higher educational level resulted predictor of low PCS. Management of risk about work-related stress should consider socio-demographic factors.