Blue Collar Research Articles

Can gurus wear blue collars? Samuel Gompers’ voluntarism as a management strategy

Can gurus wear blue collars? Samuel Gompers’ voluntarism as a management strategy

P-859. Shorter versus Longer Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Gram-Negative Bacteremia (GNB) in Immunocompromised Patients

Abstract Background Although there is no standard duration of therapy for GNB, 14 days has been commonly used. In recent years, studies have evaluated shorter durations of antibiotics (abxs) specifically for uncomplicated GNB in immunocompetent patients. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a shorter duration of abx therapy for GNB in immunocompromised patients had an impact on clinical outcomes compared to a longer abx duration. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, matched pairs study from July 2021 to August 2023. Patients were included if they were ≥ 18 years old, hospitalized with GNB, and met immunocompromising criteria. A blood culture report was obtained and cross referenced with ICD-10 codes to identify patients. Short durations of abxs were considered ≤ 8 days, while a long duration was ≥ 10 days. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and abx failure at 90 days (defined as a relapsed blood stream infection, new local suppurative complication, or a new distant complication). Secondary outcomes consisted of 30 day infection related hospital readmission, length of stay, Clostridioides difficile infections, total active days of therapy, and development of resistance. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio based on type of GNB (Enterobacterales vs non-Enterobacterales), age (+/- 10 years) and Pitt Bacteremia Score (+/- 1). Results 29 matched pairs were included (Figure 1). The majority of matched pairs (96.6%) had Enterobacterales infections. The most common immunocompromising conditions were diabetes (21/29 and 19/29) and solid tumors (12/29 and 8/29) in the short and long groups, respectively. Most infections originated from the urinary tract, 16 (55.2%) in the short group and 20 (69.0%) in long group (Table 1). All-cause mortality within 90 days occurred in 2 (6.9%) patients in both the short and long groups (P value >0.9). Abx failure occurred in 1 (3.4%) patient in the short group and 2 (6.9%) in the long group (P value >0.9) (Table 2). Conclusion Shorter durations of abx therapy for GNB in immunocompromised patients showed similar clinical outcomes compared to longer durations of therapy. These findings support further investigation with an appropriately powered randomized prospective trial. Disclosures John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support Ryan C. Maves, MD, AiCuris: Grant/Research Support|Biotest: Grant/Research Support|GeoVax: Grant/Research Support|Shionogi: Advisor/Consultant|Shionogi: Honoraria|Sound Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support

435. Evaluation of Fecal Pharmacokinetics and Metagenomic Changes Following the Administration of Intravenous Omadacycline to Healthy Subjects

Abstract Background Omadacycline (OMC), an aminomethylcycline antibiotic, has potent in vitro activity against C. difficile (CD) and has been associated with a low propensity to cause CD infection when used to treat other infections. A recent phase 1 study of oral OMC demonstrated its protective gut microbiome profile, despite achieving high fecal concentrations, compared to oral vancomycin in healthy subjects. This study aimed to investigate the fecal pharmacokinetics and gut microbiome changes of intravenous (IV) OMC following its administration to healthy volunteers. Methods Healthy adults aged 18 to 40 years consented to receive a 10-day course of OMC: 200 mg of IV on day 1, followed by 100 mg once daily on days 2-5, then 300 mg orally once daily on days 6-10. Daily stool samples were collected and metagenomic analysis targeting 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed using the Miseq platform (Illumina). Fecal concentrations of OMC were measured using liquid chromatography, mass-spectrometry assay. Results Eight healthy volunteers aged 30±4 years (male: 50%; body mass index: 27.1±4.3 kg/m2) were enrolled. By day 2, 87.5% (7/8) of stool samples had detectable OMC concentrations >40 mcg/g stool, increasing to >100 mcg/g stool by day 5. The maximum OMC concentrations were observed on day 10 (mean 853.5 mcg/g stool). Metagenomic analysis revealed preservation of the Bacteroidota phylum (+0.5±0.3%; p=0.06) and a non-significant increase of the Proteobacteria phylum (+0.9±0.6%; p=0.1). Significant increases were observed in the Actinobacteriota and Verrucomicrobiota phyla (+1.1±0.3%; p< 0.05 and +1.7±0.5%; p< 0.0001, respectively). These changes were driven by the Bifidobacteriaceae and Akkermansiaceae families, respectively. A significant decrease in the Bacillota phylum (-5.1±0.7%; p< 0.0001) was observed, primarily in the Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Streptococcaceae families. Conclusion Intravenous OMC achieved high fecal concentrations that exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration 90 of CD while preserving key bacterial species in the gut. Studies investigating changes in bile acids and short-chain fatty acids corresponding with these metagenomic changes are warranted. Disclosures Travis J. Carlson, PharmD, BCIDP, Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.: Speakers Bureau John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support Anne J. Gonzales-Luna, PharmD, BCIDP, Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant|Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics: Advisor/Consultant|Merck and Co: Grant/Research Support|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Seres Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support Kevin W. Garey, MS;PharmD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support

P-1525. Real-World Efficacy of Fosfomycin for Treatment of Cystitis Caused by E. coli Versus Non-E. coli Gram Negatives With High Rates of FosA

Abstract Background Fosfomycin is an appealing cystitis treatment; however, guidelines recommend against fosfomycin for non-E. coli gram negatives due to reduced in vitro activity associated with FosA, an enzyme that hydrolyzes fosfomycin but does not always result in full resistance. These concerns have yet to be corroborated in efficacy studies. The purpose of this study was to determine if fosfomycin is an acceptable treatment for cystitis caused by non-E. coli gram negatives with high rates of FosA. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study evaluating the efficacy of fosfomycin for cystitis caused by E. coli versus non-E. coli gram negatives with high rates of FosA, including K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, K. aerogenes, K. oxytoca, M. morganii, and E. cloacae. Patients with an inpatient or outpatient fosfomycin order to treat cystitis caused by these bacteria were included. Patients were excluded if there was a lack of cystitis symptoms, evidence of pyelonephritis, polymicrobial culture, or ≥ 48 hours of antimicrobial therapy prior to fosfomycin. The primary outcome was 30-day treatment failure defined as persistence or recurrence of cystitis symptoms with either a positive culture (same bacteria) or antibiotic re-treatment. Results 104 cases of cystitis were included in the study, 53 in the E. coli group and 51 in the non-E. coli group. Patient characteristics are presented in Table 1. The E. coli group had a higher median BMI; 26 (49%) vs 13 (25%) were obese (p=0.013). With 32 (63%) cases, K. pneumoniae was the most common non-E.coli and all but 10 cases were Enterobacterales. Treatment failure occurred in 17 (32%) of the E. coli group and 18 (35%) of the non-E. coli group (p=0.73) (Table 2). Among the failures, about half had a repeat positive culture, all failures received re-treatment, and median time to failure was 10 days for E. coli vs 7 days for non-E. coli. Figure 1 shows time to failure within groups, and Figure 2 shows failures by species. Conclusion These data suggest failure rates for fosfomycin are relatively high in all cases of gram negative cystitis, regardless of FosA. Presence of FosA may not be as clinically relevant as guidelines suggest when deciding to use fosfomycin for cystitis. Additional studies are needed to validate these findings. Disclosures John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support

P-421. Impact of Rapid Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Nasal Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Screening on Duration of Vancomycin (Vanc) Therapy for Suspected Pneumonia (PNA) in Adult Patients (Pts) Admitted to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU)

Abstract Background At this institution on June 30, 2022, universal nasal decolonization with mupirocin ointment was replaced by nasal MRSA PCR assay screening at ICU admission to capture MRSA colonization and direct nasal decolonization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of nasal MRSA PCR assay screening on duration of vanc for suspected PNA in adults admitted to the TICU.Table 1.Baseline and Treatment Characteristics Methods This single-center, retrospective cohort study compared pts from Jan - Jun 2022 (pre cohort) and Jan - Jun 2023 (post cohort). Pts ≥ 18 years of age admitted to the TICU that received empiric cefepime, meropenem, or piperacillin/tazobactam for suspected PNA documented on chest imaging were included. Pts who received vancomycin for a non-PNA indication, were previously treated for PNA during the admission, had structural lung disease, or had a pathogen identified on culture at the time of antibiotic (abx) initiation were excluded. The primary outcome was duration of vanc (hrs). Secondary outcomes included nasal MRSA PCR assay correlation with culture results from respiratory specimens, opportunities for vanc de-escalation based on negative nasal MRSA PCR assay within 36 hrs, ICU and hospital length of stay and mortality.Table 2.Primary and Secondary Outcomes Results 37 pts were included in each cohort. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics (Table 1). 36 (97%) pts received vanc in the pre cohort compared to 26 (70%) pts in the post cohort (P < 0.01). The primary outcome (Table 2) of median vancomycin duration was 25 [14, 49] hrs in the pre cohort compared to 14 [0, 36] hrs in the post cohort (P = 0.02). Secondary outcomes are reported in Tables 2 and 3. The negative predictive value of the nasal MRSA PCR assay for PNA with MRSA was 100% in this study. MRSA was not identified on respiratory culture in either cohort.Table 3.Opportunities for De-escalation (Post Cohort) Conclusion Vanc usage and duration of therapy were significantly reduced after nasal MRSA PCR assay screening on ICU admission was implemented in the TICU. However, additional opportunities for improved stewardship of empiric initiation of vanc were identified based on the described vanc usage and lack of MRSA PNA. Disclosures John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support

P-1675. Antibiotic Inertia Occurs Frequently in Patients Admitted from the Emergency Department on Guideline Non-Concordant Therapy

Abstract Background Antibiotic (abx) inertia is when inpatient providers continue inappropriate empiric abx started in the emergency department (ED) rather than changing to an appropriate regimen. Studies using hypothetical case scenarios estimate that this occurs in 39% of cases, but the phenomenon has not been studied using actual prescribing data. The objective of this study is to evaluate abx inertia in real-world clinical practice. Methods This retrospective chart review of adult inpatients at an 885-bed tertiary care referral center from January - October 2022 evaluated whether guideline non-concordant (GNC) abx therapy started in the ED was continued upon admission to an inpatient team. Patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute uncomplicated cystitis, pyelonephritis, community-acquired pneumonia (PNA), or skin/soft tissue infection (SSTI) who received abx in the ED were eligible for inclusion. ICU admissions were excluded. Ten patients meeting study criteria were randomly chosen from each month. Abx regimens were compared to those listed in corresponding IDSA guidelines. The primary outcome was the continuation of empiric GNC abx by the inpatient team at the time of admission. Results Of the 100 patients evaluated, 56 were started on GNC abx therapy in the ED. Of these, 25 (45%) were continued on GNC regimens. Vancomycin and cefepime, prescribed in 18 (72%) and 10 (40%) cases, were the most commonly continued GNC abx. The majority [23 (92%)] of continued GNC regimens were broader than those listed in the guidelines; 17 (68%) continued an abx not listed in guidelines while also omitting a listed abx. It took a median of 63 hours (95% CI 48-80) for those started on GNC abx in the ED to receive guideline concordant abx (figure 1). There was no difference in age, comorbidities, admission diagnosis, change in diagnosis, prior infections or allergies in patients whose GNC abx were continued versus not. Patients admitted to a hospitalist service were more likely to have GNC abx continued (p < 0.05), table 1. Conclusion Abx inertia occurred in almost half of patients started on GNC abx in the ED. Vancomycin and cefepime as well as a specific inpatient service were often associated with continued GNC abx. These observations offer potential targets for antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Disclosures John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support

590. Impact of Universal Nasal Decolonization with an Alcohol-Based Nasal Antiseptic (ABNA) Versus Mupirocin on Infection Rates and Antimicrobial Utilization in Patients (Pts) Admitted to the Burn Service

Abstract Background On Jan 31, 2023, ABNA replaced universal mupirocin nasal decolonization in pts admitted to the burn service. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of universal nasal decolonization with ABNA vs mupirocin on infection rates and antimicrobial utilization in this pt population.Table 1.Baseline Characteristics Methods This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort analysis of adults ≥ 18 yrs of age admitted to an academic medical center burn service from Feb 2022 - Sept 2022 (mupirocin cohort) and Feb 2023 - Sept 2023 (ABNA cohort) who received ≥ 1 dose of nasal mupirocin or ABNA. Pts were excluded if they were admitted for a non-burn injury, on the burn service for < 4 days, or received nasal decolonization ≤ 6 months prior to admission. The primary outcome was incidence of staphylococcal infection, defined as a staphylococcal organism identified from a blood, respiratory, or wound culture with corresponding diagnosis of pneumonia (PNA), bacteremia, or skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). Secondary outcomes included incidence of PNA, bacteremia, and SSTIs; MRSA bacteremia LabID event rate and CLABSI event rate as defined by the National Healthcare Safety Network; antimicrobial days of therapy; ICU and hospital length of stay; and hospital mortality.Table 2.Primary and Secondary Outcomes Results 73 pts in the mupirocin cohort and 81 pts in the ABNA cohort were included. The only significant difference in baseline characteristics (Table 1) was 56 (76%) pts in the mupirocin cohort were male vs 46 (57%) pts in the ABNA cohort (P < 0.01). Staphylococcal infection occurred in 7 (10%) pts in the mupirocin cohort vs 16 (20%) pts in the ABNA cohort (P = 0.08, Table 2). A Kaplan Meier analysis of time to staphylococcal infection is reported in Figure 1. Secondary outcomes are reported in Table 2. 2 (3%) pts in mupirocin cohort had staphylococcal bacteremia vs 10 (12%) pts in the ABNA cohort (P = 0.03). 12 (16%) pts in the mupirocin cohort vs 27 (33%) pts in the ABNA cohort had an infection (PNA, SSTI, or bacteremia) caused by any organism (P = 0.02), including 3 (4%) pts vs 12 (15%) pts with bacteremia (P = 0.03, Table 3).Table 3:Microbiology of Bacteremia Conclusion Pts who received ABNA had a higher incidence of staphylococcal bacteremia, overall bacteremia, and overall infections when compared to pts who received nasal mupirocin. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of ABNA.Figure 1.Kaplan Meier Analysis, Time to Staphylococcal Infection Disclosures John C. Williamson, PharmD, Armata Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Board Member|Blue Collar Vaccines and Therapeutics: Ownership Interest|Paratek Pharmaceuticals: Grant/Research Support|ST Pharm Co, Ltd: Grant/Research Support

The Relationship Between Longest-Held Occupation and Hand Function in Older Adults.

Objective: Hand function, an important component of daily functioning, declines with age, yet the degree to which occupation modifies such declines is largely unknown.Methods: Older adults (≥65) completed an online cross-sectional survey containing a standardized hand function questionnaire, occupation-related questions, and demographic information. Participants were then categorized by their longest-held occupation as Blue Collar or White Collar.Results: Hand impairments were more common in the Blue Collar group (51.5% versus 28.9%, p < 0.05). Odds ratios indicated that Blue Collar workers were 2.71 times more likely to report hand impairments in older adulthood than White Collar workers.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated strong associations between occupation type and hand function, underscoring the importance of implementing hand-specific preventative workplace measures and highlighting the need to consider additional risk factors for hand impairments, including occupation, during routine clinical exams.

Evaluation of Diet Quality, Work Stress and Anxiety Status of White and Blue Collar Industrial Workers

Aims: This study examines the relationship between nutritional quality, work stress, and anxiety of individuals working in different positions in industrial organizations. Material and Methods: A total of 132 volunteers, aged 18-65, employed in industries in İstanbul, underwent assessments. The study employed the Work Stress Scale and Beck Anxiety Inventory for work stress and anxiety measurements and the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) for diet quality, using 24-hour food records. Results: In this research, 48.9% of white-collar employees and 49.4% of blue-collar employees experience high levels of job stress (p&gt;0.05). Anxiety was found in 48.9% of white-collar workers and 39.1% of blue-collar workers (p&gt;0.05). The diet quality of 75.6% of white-collar workers and 72.4% of blue-collar workers was poor. Statistically significant differences were identified when comparing job stress with the Beck Anxiety Inventory and HEI-2015 results (p=0.005 and p=0.030, respectively). Blue-collar industrial workers reported higher daily energy intake (2277.3 kcal) and carbohydrates (295.5±77.50 g/day) compared to white-collar workers (energy 1979.1 kcal; carbohydrates 261.2±78.61 g/day), with significant differences in calorie and carbohydrate consumption (p=0.015). Noteworthy dietary habits influencing work stress included skipping snacks (p

Unemployment as a Consequence of the Liquidation of State Agricultural Farms in 1991-2003

State Agricultural Farms (SAF) were liquidated on the basis of an act adopted in 1991. During the work on the act, the focus was exclusively on issues related to ownership and economic transformations, while the social consequences were not taken into account. SAF employees, especially agricultural workers, constituted a specific, historically shaped socio-professional group characterized by relatively low education and narrow professional qualifications. The aim of article is to identify the genesis of social problems in post-statehood areas, especially unemployment and its regional variation. The source base of the study is mainly the Reports of the Agricultural Property Agency of the State Treasury and sociological research reports carried out in post-statehood areas. The main finding of the research is that policy decisions to abolish state farms were made without taking into account their specific characteristics and territorial distribution. Their mentality was shaped by the nature of work and everyday life, which was entirely connected with the workplace. The workplace organized most of the living and social matters for employees and their families. After the liquidation of the State Agricultural Farms, employees were unable to find their place on the –labour market. Large-area farms established on the basis of the former SAFs radically limited employment, and the lack of appropriate skills and limited demand for labour outside agriculture worsened the situation of blue collar workers in particular. Regional differences were of particular importance for the scale of unemployment – where SAFs dominated, the unemployment problem persists even three decades after their liquidation, although it no longer concerns only former SAF employees, but all residents of former SAF areas.

Current Situation, Existing Problems and Prospect of the Study of Social Stratification in Contemporary China

Introduction. Under the backdrop of market economy and social transformation in China, the class structure of society has undergone profound changes, and the traditional class division is no longer relevant. However, there are still some unresolved problems in the study of social strata in China. The lack of diversity and comparability of research methods limits the depth and scope of research. Relatively few studies have been conducted on some emerging classes. Research on the relationship between social class and other social issues is insufficient, such as the relationship between class and education, class and income distribution, etc., are still limited. Methodology and sources. At present, a social classification model has been proposed to study social stratification in China, taking into account the characteristics of China's national conditions. A large number of empirical studies have revealed the evolution and characteristics of China's social class structure. The mechanism of social class formation and the factors influencing them have been studied, which has provided theoretical support for social development. Modern stratification models of Chinese authors have been used for the analysis in comparison with traditional models. Results and discussion. The study of social stratification in China inherited the theoretical framework and empirical research methods of Western social scientists, and there are also attempts to develop its own model of social stratification in combination with the actual situation in China. The structure of social stratification in China is characterized by the need to take into account the state redistribution system and the market economy model. However, there is a consensus that government officials are at the top of the social hierarchy, and the class of peasants and unemployed are at the bottom of society; mental workers (white collars) are higher than manual workers (blue collars). The results of studies on the impact of human capital on social stratification show that gender and educational level have universal significance in society; household registration system and housing type are special independent variables that affect social stratification in China more than in other countries, etc. However, there is a lack of relevant empirical studies that could provide specific quantitative data showing how independent variables affect social stratification in China. Many new social and professional groups have emerged in Chinese society. In recent years, some Chinese scholars have studied such specific social and professional groups, the most widespread and in demand in the labor market in China, taking into account the digitalization processes. Conclusion. It is necessary to further explore the methods and models of social stratification suitable for China's national conditions so as to cover the characteristics of social class diversity. It is necessary to strengthen the research on the relationship between social class and other social issues so as to provide more effective policy recommendations for social development. It is also necessary to strengthen the research on emerging classes, pay attention to their social status, mobility and responsibilities, and provide more effective support and guidance for their development.

Subjective wellbeing components among non-procedural blue collar Indonesian migrant worker: How international migration shapes their perspective

The studies of international migration, migrant worker, and subjective wellbeing (SWB) have been thoroughly examined. However, the question on those subjects is still rarely developed when it comes to the particular circumstances. Given the problems, this study focuses on detailed settings such as blue-collar worker and non-procedural (NBMW). This study also aims to explore the perception of public, government, and workers about the issue: how the different perspective of legality, obligation, rights, and security differ among parties. It is important to understand the rationale between them to acquire the proper insight and formulate the best grasp. It is done by analysing the components of SWB (pleasant and unpleasant affect) and the coping mechanisms to deal with it. This study uses qualitative method and interview to gather the data in order to obtain maximal result. This study finds that international are able to change their perception about life. NBMW are able to alter their unpleasant affect to the pleasant ones by doing some sort of coping mechanisms. There is almost non-existent dysfunctional coping used. Most of them are using problem and emotional focused coping mechanism to deal with the problem. One of the reasons is their consideration of future planning for family left behind and themselves. International migration plays an important role despite their imperfection while doing it. International migration provides them positive aspects such elation and hope though negative aspects like sadness, and anxiety and worry are not necessarily absent.

Unveiling the health implications of working hours in the Indonesian workforce

This research aims to evaluate and compare the impact of working hours on the physical and psychological well-being of workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, where people were forced to work from home. While existing studies primarily concentrate on the physical and mental health of office workers, there is a notable gap in understanding how changes in work hours affect individuals in various professional sectors. This study seeks to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive investigation across a diverse range of employment, encompassing white collar, gray collar, and blue collar occupations. Using datasets from Indonesia's National Labor Survey (Sakernas) in 2019 and 2020, the study focuses on the working-age population engaged in various occupations, including employees, casual agricultural workers, and casual non-agricultural workers. Further categorization involves classifying individuals into white collar, gray collar, and blue collar segments. The total number of individuals analyzed was 215,607 in 2019 and 201,077 in 2020. Employing an ordered logistic regression method due to the categorical nature of the dependent variable, the study reveals consistent findings regarding the impact of working hours on health across the years 2019 and 2020. Extended work hours correlate with improved health outcomes, indicating better health for those working longer, while individuals with fewer hours exhibit lower chances of achieving good health. In 2019, occupational status significantly influences worker health, with gray and blue collar workers having lower probabilities of better health compared to white collar workers. However, this occupational effect on health is absent in 2020.

The Relationship Between Workplace Bullying and Job Stress in Female Blue Collar Workers in Indonesia

Introduction: Among the many risk factors for stress in the workplace, bullying is a factor that is rarely discussed. As many as 19% of people in America experience bullying at work, followed by other European countries. Bullying is a strong link to worker stress, especially in blue-collar workers. Gender differences, especially in women, also have an important prevalence in workplace bullying. In Indonesia itself, there is no data regarding bullying in the workplace, especially among women and blue-collar workers. Objective: This study aims to find the relationship between bullying and stress in the workplace among female blue-collar workers. Method: This research is a cross-sectional analytical study using a negative act questionnaire-revised (NAQ-R) questionnaire on work stress in female blue collar workers in garment factories, in Bekasi city, Indonesia. Job stress assessment uses the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) questionnaire. Other variables assessed are age, salary, marital status, and subjective questions related to workload and work communication. Results: A total of 379 female blue collar workers in garment factories, in the city of Bekasi, Indonesia took part in this research. Workplace bullying is associated with job stress in female blue-collar workers. Workers who are often bullied tend to have medium-high levels of work stress. Bullying is the type of bullying with the highest scale. Conclusion: Workplace bullying is the factor that has the most influence on work stress in female blue-collar workers. Then, high workloads, poor communication, and lower salaries are related to bullying and stress in the workplace.

Workplace accidents, economic determinants and underreporting: an empirical analysis in Italy

PurposeThis paper proposes an analysis of occupational accidents in Italy at the regional level. For this purpose, our panel is composed of 20 regions over the 2010–2019 time span.Design/methodology/approachWe apply different econometric estimation techniques (pooled OLS model, panel fixed and random effects models and semiparametric fixed model) using INAIL and ISTAT data. Our models investigate workplace accidents at the regional level by accounting for socioeconomic, labour market and productive system variables and controlling for possible underreporting bias.FindingsOverall results reveal the existence of a relevant under-notification phenomenon of accidents at work with respect to moderate accidents, that is higher especially for the southern regions of Italy. However, when considering as outcome variable an alternative set of more severe workplace accidents our model specification remains highly jointly statistically significant. Among our main findings, the analysis shows that worker skills (blue collar) strongly affect the regional pattern of workplace accidents, i.e. an increase of 1% of low paid employees generates about an increase of 1.8 severe workplace accidents per thousand workers. Moreover, we provide evidence that the size of the firm is inversely related to the occupational accident rates. Finally, our results highlight a nonlinear relationship between GDP and occupational accidents for the Italian regional context, confirmed by the high statistical significance of the quadratic term in all the estimated linear models and by the semi-parametric analysis.Originality/valueA first element of originality of our study consists of investigating the macro determinants of occupation accidents at a regional Italian level. Second, the empirical literature (Boone and Van Ours, 2006) highlights the possible bias of underreporting behaviours on nonfatal accidents in contrast to fatal accidents that are always reported. From this perspective, we have identified a few analyses (namely, Boone et al., 2011) considering different accident sets characterised by different severity degrees. Thus, this paper contributes to the literature considering five alternative subsets of accidents stratified by degree of severity (i.e. moderate, severe, moderate plus severe, severe plus fatal and total accident rates) to test for possible underreporting bias affecting our econometric model.

Return to Work after Cancer - a Systematic Review of Predictors in Germany

More than one third of cancer survivors are of working age. Return to work (RTW) with and after cancer treatment is therefore an important issue for this group - but this is often accompanied with many challenges. The aim of this systematic review was to identify predictors of RTW after cancer from the literature specifically for Germany and to place these factors chronologically in the oncological course of treatment. A systematic search was performed using PubMed in June 2022. Included were all papers original published in German or English between 2000 and 2022 and referring to a German sample, regardless of study design. From a total of 8,381 hits in the meta-database, 30 publications were finally considered in the synthesis of results. Higher age, lower education, lower socioeconomic status, higher disease stage, more progressive disease course, more severe side effects of treatment, (more severe) fatigue, higher psychological distress, worse health status, occupational status as a blue collar worker and manual labor, unemployment prior to diagnosis, more negative perceptions of the work(place) environment, and lower intention to work and lower work ability/ subjective prognosis of employability were associated with lower likelihood of RTW after cancer in the literature. Treatment type and use of rehabilitation were also found to be associated with RTW. Sociodemographic, disease-related, psychosocial, and work-related predictors of RTW after cancer in Germany were identified. The results may help to develop targeted support measures that can be applied in specific phases of treatment. The comparability of the literature on predictors for RTW is limited due to a high heterogeneity in the operationalization of RTW and methodological approaches. There is need for further standardization in this area.

Occupation and demand for health services in Italy: Ways and means to reduce the opportunity costs imposed on patients

This paper explores whether and to which extent employment condition and working hours influence individuals’ decision process in consuming primary care. The hypothesis is that the higher the workers’ opportunity cost in terms of earning forgone, the less the demand for General Practitioner (GP) visits. Using survey data provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), we estimate a negative binomial regression model of GP visits as a function of employment related variables, controlling for a rich set of individual demographic characteristics, socio-economic variables, health status, supply and geographical factors. We show that self-employed workers, managers and cadres use significantly less primary care services notwithstanding the access is free. We conclude that they have higher opportunity costs than white and blue collars since they suffer more from the loss of earnings related to the absence from work. Self-employed individuals often face barriers to accessing healthcare services, such as lack of employer-sponsored health insurance and concerns about lost income during time off for medical appointments. As a result, they may delay seeking healthcare until their condition becomes more severe, leading to poorer health outcomes. Managers and cadres, on the other hand, may have greater access to healthcare services due to higher income levels and better job benefits. However, they may still face challenges such as long working hours and job-related stress, which can impact their ability to prioritize their health and seek timely medical care.From a policy perspective, our results suggest potential policy interventions aimed at addressing barriers to healthcare access for self-employed workers and promoting equitable healthcare utilization across different employment groups. Policy recommendations may include measures to enhance financial support (tax deductions for medical expenses, subsidies for health insurance premiums, or grants to cover the costs of healthcare-related absences from work), increase healthcare accessibility (enhancing the availability of mobile clinics, and extending operating hours for primary care facilities to accommodate the needs of working individuals) and raise awareness about preventive care among self-employed workers (workplace wellness programs, and incentives for regular health check-ups, screenings and healthy lifestyle choices, can encourage managers and self-employed workers to prioritize preventive measures). These policy implications are essential for ensuring equitable and universal access to healthcare services for all workers, regardless of their employment status.

Exploring workability in an older working population: associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality, and technostress.

This observational study investigates workability and its associations with cognitive functioning, sleep quality and technostress among an older working population, also shedding light on potential differences between two occupational categories with different work schedules. Workers aged over 50, employed in different working sectors (banking/finance, chemical and metal-mechanic industry) were administered a self- report questionnaire including Work Ability Index (WAI), cognitive tests (Stroop Color Task, Corsi Blocks, Digit Span), sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-PSQI; Insomnia Severity Index-ISI; Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test-FIRST) and technostress scale. Linear regression models evaluated associations among variables, interaction effects investigated potential moderators. A total of 468 aged workers categorized as white (WCWs; N = 289, 62%) or blue collars (BCWs; N = 179, 38%) were enrolled; most BCWs (N = 104; 58%) were night shift workers. WCWs reported higher workability, cognitive functioning, sleep quality and lower technostress (except for invasion and privacy subscales) than BCWs. Associations between cognitive functioning and workability were statistically significant only for BCWs [slopes equal to 0.2 (0.33), 0.8 (0.34), -0.02 (0.001) for Memory Span Corsi, Block Span Digit and Interference Speed respectively]; additionally, sleep quality significantly moderated this association (p = 0.007). Higher levels of technostress were associated with lower workability, and this relationship was stronger for BCWs. The aging of the workforce has important implications for occupational health and safety. Our findings suggest potential interventions and protective measures to promote older workers' wellbeing; blue-collar workers particularly should benefit from tailored intervention to sustain workability and prevent technostress, considering the role of healthy sleep habits promotion.

Trends in severe functional limitations among working and non-working adults in Germany: Towards an (un)-healthy working life?

We examined trends in severe functional limitations among working and non-working adults in Germany (ages 40–65). Four population-based samples of 11,615 participants were used, spanning the time periods 2002–2021. The overall prevalence of severe limitations was found to be 12.8% in the sample, but also varied from 10 to 20% according to occupational group. Over time, severe limitations were found to have increased, from 10.6% in 2002 to 13.2% in 2021. Logistic regression analysis showed that severe limitations increased significantly in certain subgroups, including working women with a low skilled white collar occupational group, working men with a low skilled blue collar occupational group and, particularly, among the whole non-working population, whereas limitations remained largely the same in the other groups, including most of the working population. In terms of expectancies, overall working life expectancy increased. Along with this increase, healthy (non-severely limited) working life expectancy increased, but this trend was accompanied by a clear increase in unhealthy working life expectancy (severely limited). Thus, although severe limitations have increased in some groups in the working-age adults, people today can expect to work more years free from severe limitations than before. In the future, potentials to increase working life expectancy may come to an end, as severe limitations increased strongly in the non-working population, which could limit the prospects for a further increase in the proportion of the population in employment. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential impact of the increasing prevalence of severe limitations on the population’s ability to work.

Understanding and including 'pink-collar' workers in employment-based travel demand models.

The segmentation of commuters into either blue or white-collar workers remains is still common in urban transport models. Internationally, models have started to use more elaborate segmentations, more reflective of changes in labour markets, such as increased female participation. Finding appropriate labour market segmentations for commute trip modelling remains a challenge. This paper harnesses a data-driven approach using unsupervised clustering-applied to 2017-20 South East Queensland Travel Survey (SEQTS) data. Commuter types are grouped by occupational, industry, and socio-demographic variables (i.e., gender, age, household size, household vehicle ownership and worker skill score). The results show that at a large number of clusters (i.e., k = 8) a highly distinct set of commuter types can be observed. But model run times tend to require a much smaller number of market segments. When only three clusters are formed (k = 3) a market segmentation emerges with one female-dominated type ('pink collar'), one male-dominated type ('blue collar') and one with both genders almost equally involved ('white collar'). There are nuances as to which workers are included in each segment, and differences in travel behaviours across the three types. 'Pink collar' workers are mostly comprised of female clerical and administrative workers, community and personal service workers and sales workers. They have the shortest median commutes for both private motorised and active transport modes. The approach and methods should assist transport planners to derive more accurate and robust market segmentations for use in large urban transport models, and, better predict the value of alternative transport projects and policies for all types of commuters.