This study examined the effects of a personalized sleep or nutrition intervention on sleep in shift-workers. Fifty-seven healthy male workers on 12-hour shifts received the sleep intervention (n=25), nutrition intervention (n=22), or control (n=10). The sleep intervention aimed to improve sleep duration and quality through adjustments in sleep timing and sleep education. The nutrition intervention targeted circadian alignment by structuring meal timing and macronutrient distribution. Interventions were personalized using baseline sleep, diet, and physiological markers. Subjective sleep was assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index at baseline, last weeks of the intervention, and 8-month follow-up. Objective sleep outcomes (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, fragmentation index, and wake after sleep onset) were assessed through actigraphy at baseline, first and last weeks of the intervention. Mixed-effects models analyzed changes in subjective and objective sleep outcomes, adjusting for age, chronotype and household composition. The sleep intervention group had significantly higher insomnia scores at baseline, which improved to control levels post-intervention and remained so at follow-up. However, no significant changes in objective sleep were observed. The nutrition intervention group showed no significant effects on subjective or objective sleep outcomes. These findings suggest personalized sleep strategies may improve perceived sleep without detectable changes in objective measures.

The Fukushima nuclear power plant workers suffered tremendous stress due to the accident, and a part of them were exposed to high levels of radiation. This study included 1,157 workers and level of radiation exposure was assessed in 2012, one year after the disaster. Mental health symptoms (post-traumatic stress response [PTSR] and general psychological distress [GPD]) and three types of concern (work, life, or health-related) were assessed annually from 2012 to 2014. The relationships between high radiation exposure (≥50 millisievert [mSv]) and mental health symptoms and concern over time were analyzed using mixed-effects longitudinal beta regression and logistic regression models. A total of 352 workers were exposed to 50 mSv radiation or more (30.4%). None of the changes over time in PTSR and GPD were significantly affected by high radiation exposure. Scores for job- or life-related concern were also not significantly affected. Only scores for health-related concern were significantly elevated by high radiation exposure in 2012 (β=4.49, p=0.03), and the impact continued until 2014. Neither PTSR nor GPD was elevated by high radiation exposure among the workers. However, the workers with high radiation exposure continued to worry about their health in later years.

This study investigates the impact of face shape on the pass rate of personal protective equipment N95 mask fit tests among Taiwanese healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fit tests are crucial for controlling and preventing infection, but research indicates that face shape can affect the test's effectiveness. HCWs underwent a qualitative fit test and were categorized into round, square, long, and oval face shapes based on their profile pictures. A total of 352 HCWs participated the intervention, and 287 participants passed the test, among those participants, long shaped face had a passing rate of 80.2% and oval-shaped faces was 91.7%, while round-shaped faces had the lowest passing rate of 42.9%. This study reveals that long and oval shaped face participants in Taiwanese healthcare workers have a higher fitting rate than round-shaped participants, indicating better mask fit test pass rates.

Work-life imbalance is associated with occupational burnout and poor mental health outcomes, which may impair cognitive performance. However, few studies have investigated this association. Therefore, we examined the association between work-family conflict and cognitive performance using a 10-min psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) in a cross-sectional study of 437 women working in aged care services in Japan. Work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) scores were divided into low, moderate, and high. PVT measurements included mean reaction time (RT), slowest 10% RT, and lapses (number of responses >500 ms), categorized by median values. Higher scores indicated impaired cognitive performance. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for impaired PVT performance were calculated using a multivariable logistic regression model. The ORs (95% CIs) for high WFC compared with low WFC regarding impaired PVT performance were 2.63 (1.26-5.45) for mean RT, 2.61 (1.25-5.46) for slowest 10% RT, and 3.21 (1.51-6.82) for lapses. However, no significant association was found for FWC. WFC was associated with impaired cognitive performance, whereas FWC was not. This is the first study that suggests managing WFC may improve cognitive performance. Further longitudinal studies are needed to examine causality and improve work environments for employees with high WFC.

This study investigated the association between changes in the work environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and andropause symptoms in Japanese male workers. A web survey of 374 employed male workers in Japan (mean age=45.6 yr, SD=13.2) was conducted in February 2023. Participants were asked about harassment at work, telecommuting hours, working hours, and communication with supervisors and coworkers. Andropause symptoms were measured using the Aging Males' Symptoms scale. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Certain changes in the work environment were significantly associated with the total score of andropause symptoms, including increased (β=0.30), unchanged (β=0.19), and decreased (β=0.23) harassment at work, decreased communication with supervisors (β=-0.20), and telecommuting hours making up approximately half of (β=0.12) or almost all working hours (β=0.09) (all p<0.05). When stratified into younger (≤49 yr) and older (≥50 yr) groups, those associations were robustly significant in the younger group. Harassment at work had significant effects on andropause symptoms among the younger group. Harassment at work worsened andropause symptoms in the younger group, while a reduction in communication with supervisors may have alleviated symptoms.

Participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) is a structured, worker-centered approach designed to improve workplace safety and health. However, its applicability across different contexts remains unclear. This scoping review aims to systematically analyze the existing literature on PAOT, focusing on its utilization with various populations, contexts, and methodological approaches. Using the population-concept-context (PCC) framework, this review defines the population as workers, community members, or managers participating in PAOT; the concept as PAOT; and the context: as workplaces, communities, agriculture, and healthcare settings. Literature, from January 2000 until onward, will be searched in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Korea Education and Research Information Sharing Service, Korean Studies Information Service System, DBpia, National Digital Science Digital Library, and Japan Medical Abstracts Society. Study selection will be performed independently by three reviewers and the overall review process will be presented transparently in a PRISMA-ScR flowchart. A comprehensive mapping of the PAOT applications will be conducted based on key variables such as study design, implementation context, training components of the action checklist, and improvement outcomes. Since the 1980s, PAOT has been applied in various sectors including small enterprises, agriculture, communities, and healthcare. This review will highlight trends and gaps to support future research and practice.

This study investigated perceptions of occupational safety and health (OSH) among foreign construction workers in South Korea and compared structural challenges with Japan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 77 workers using a 48-item questionnaire adapted from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA). Descriptive statistics identified items scoring below 4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale as areas of concern. Comparative analysis was conducted using secondary data on Japan's OSH system for foreign workers obtained through a literature review. Sixteen items (33.3%) scored below 4.0, indicating deficiencies in communication, participatory training, and practical rule applicability. In contrast, tangible measures such as PPE provision and basic safety knowledge were rated highly. Both countries exhibited common OSH barriers, including language difficulties, limited training effectiveness, underreporting of accidents, restricted healthcare access, and insufficient mental health support. Korea's Employment Permit System provides structured legal employment but restricts job mobility, while Japan's Technical Intern Training Program reveals greater institutional weaknesses and partial exclusion from labor law protection. Foreign workers in both countries remain passive recipients of safety measures due to hierarchical structures and cultural isolation. Strengthening multilingual communication, participatory education, and inclusive leadership is essential to promote a proactive, worker-centered OSH culture.