Occupational Health Nurses Research Articles

Combining supervised and unsupervised named entity recognition to detect psychosocial risk factors in occupational health checks

IntroductionIn occupational health checks the information about psychosocial risk factors, which influence work ability, is documented in free text. Early detection of psychosocial risk factors helps occupational health care to choose the right and targeted interventions to maintain work capacity. In this study the aim was to evaluate if we can automate the recognition of these psychosocial risk factors in occupational health check electronic records with natural language processing (NLP). Materials and methodsWe compared supervised and unsupervised named entity recognition (NER) to detect psychosocial risk factors from health checks’ documentation. Occupational health nurses have done these records. ResultsBoth methods found over 60% of psychosocial risk factors from the records. However, the combination of BERT-NER (supervised NER) and QExp (query expansion/paraphrasing) seems to be more suitable. In both methods the most (correct) risk factors were found in the work environment and equipment category. ConclusionThis study showed that it was possible to detect risk factors automatically from free-text documentation of health checks. It is possible to develop a text mining tool to automate the detection of psychosocial risk factors at an early stage.

Retirement Center Worker Sleep Health Assessment During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Sleep health disturbances can increase risks for workplace injury, error, and poor worker health. Essential workers have reported sleep disturbances since the COVID-19 pandemic onset, which may jeopardize their health and safety. The aims of this project were to assess sleep health among Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) workers, examine potential differences between worker types, and describe the self-perceived impact of COVID-19 on workers' workload and sleep. Through an academic-practice partnership, this needs assessment used a cross-sectional design that collected self-report data during fall 2020 from CCRC workers. Guided by the Workplace Health Model, survey questions included work characteristics, sleep health, and COVID-19 impact on sleep and workload. Ninety-four respondents completed the survey across multiple departments. Respondents (n = 34, 36.2%) reported sleeping below recommended hours on workdays. The majority scored above the population mean on Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement (PROMIS) measures of sleep disturbance (n = 52, 55.3%), sleep-related impairment (n = 49, 52.1%), and fatigue (n = 49, 52.1%). Differences in workday total sleep time and fatigue were noted among shift workers versus nonshift workers, with shift workers reporting less sleep and more fatigue. Shorter sleep duration was noted among respondents working shifts 10 or more hours compared with those working 8 hours. Pandemic-related workload increase was reported by 22.3% (n = 21) of respondents, with 17% (n = 16) noting more than one type of workload change. Since COVID-19 onset, 36.2% (n = 34) reported no sleep changes and 35.1% (n = 33) reported sleeping less. A medium, positive relationship was found between increased changes in work due to COVID-19 and increased difficulties sleeping (r = .41, n = 73, p = .000). Proper sleep health is essential to workplace safety and worker health. By assessing sleep health during a crisis, occupational health nurses can identify opportunities to support worker health and safety, through sleep education, monitoring for sleepiness and fatigue, ensuring countermeasures are available (e.g., caffeine), and assessing for opportunities to change organizational policies.

Active Shooter in the Workplace: A Brief Guide for Occupational Health Nurses.

This article is designed as a succinct guide for occupational health nurses working in settings where there is need for an active shooter training program. Resources and ideas for initiating workplace collaborations are provided.

Nurse’s Perception of Papua Province’s Ability to Run Master Program of Occupational Health Nursing

Industrial development in Papua Province has not been accompanied by an increase in the specialization of Occupational Health Nursing (OHN) education, despite the demands for quality health care services. The objective is to explore the nurses’ perception on managing a master's program in Occupational Health Nursing (OHN). The study methods using descriptive cross sectional design. The variables were master program of OHN as the dependent variable and nurse perception as the independent variable. The population were nurses in Papua and the sampling technique was simple random sampling. Total sample are 184 nurses as sampling with confidence level of 95% and confidence interval of 5% from 350 total population. The study used univariate data analysis which includes demographic data and respondents' perceptions of the ability of the Papuan people in implementing the program. The data collection tool was a mixed questionnaire of Likert scale processed by the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 25 version application and R program for sampling processing. The results show majority respondents (76.1%) were interested in continuing the OHN Master's program, and most of them (73.3%) had the perception that the province of Papua was able to run it. The research projected an initial signal that specialist education in OHN was for the benefits of workers, industries, the public, and the nursing profession.

Pre-Employment Health Screening for Nurse During COVID-19 Pandemic from Occupational Health Perspective: a Document Review

<p><em>The COVID-19 pandemic presents a major challenge to the pre-employment health screening system for nurses looking for jobs. For this reason, a pre-employment screening system is needed that sort it easier for all parties (nurses as prospective employees, companies, and company owners) in the health screening system. To offer a health screening system in the form of Remote Pre-employment Health Screening for nurses from the occupational health nursing (OHN) perspectives. The study used Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) Analysis with qualitative descriptive methods. The documents were extracted from Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and PubMed. The indicators included respondents (nurses), research methods (mixture of quantitative, document review, case study, opinion, and report), years (2016-2021), results (focus on pre-employment health screening), and language (English). Document search used the PICOT (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time) model. The search keywords were pre-employment health screening, OHN, and Covid-19. After analyzing the documents in the database (n=702), the records were eligible (n=10), and met the requirements for review (n=7). The findings of reviewed records were that the pandemic caused a disastrous impact on the nursing profession including the need to review the pre-employment health screening system. To prepare a remote pre-employment health screening system, the study suggests organization to a three in one formula: to make a memorandum of understanding, to set health examination standards, and to create an electronic application. </em></p><p><em> <strong>K</strong><strong>eywords</strong><strong>: </strong>Pre-employment, health screening, OHN, occupational healthCovid-19.</em></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p>

Systematic Review of the Influence of Physical Work Environment on Office Workers' Physical Activity Behavior.

Many American workers spend over 7 hours a day at work in primarily sedentary office work. Physical activity is a key aspect of optimizing health and preventing disease; yet, 80% of American adults do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. In this systematic review, the relationship between physical work environment and physical activity among office workers was explored. Of the 321 studies screened, 26 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included for evaluation in this systematic review. Of the 26 studies, four were cross-sectional studies, 14 were quasi-experimental studies, and eight were randomized control trials. Physical activity during the workday was measured using self-report surveys and electromechanical devices such as accelerometers. Physical work environments examined by the studies included different types of desks (n = 16), office arrangements (n = 5), and building design (n = 5). In nine studies, office environments and building work environments designed to promote activity using active design principles such as stairs and flexible workspaces were associated with increased physical activity. Sit-stand desks reduced overall sitting time, but had a minimal effect on physical activity. Offices and buildings designed for activity had the largest impact on physical activity among office workers. To increase physical activity in office workers, focus should be placed on opportunities to increase incidental movement that can increase physical activity throughout the workday. Occupational health nurses should advocate workspace designs that can increase physical activity in workers.

Cost Analysis of Providing Overtime to Current Nurses Versus Hiring a Dedicated Nurse for COVID-19 Management in a Processing Plant.

U.S. meat and poultry processing workers experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 illness following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing prevention and surveillance activities for COVID-19 prevention required additional work for occupational health nurses. The purpose of this project was to conduct a cost analysis for two staffing options to address the increased workload for occupational health nurses. An economic quality improvement design was used for this study. The project was performed at a meat and poultry processing plant with 1,800 employees and six occupational health nurses. Two staffing options were considered. Option 1 was to continue to pay current occupational health nurses overtime, and Option 2 was to hire a COVID-dedicated nurse to manage the increased workload. A cost analysis was conducted for wages per hour plus benefits at three time points: 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years. Costs for Option 1 (continuing overtime) at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years were estimated at US$27,370, US$109,517, and US$328,550, respectively. Costs for Option 2 (hiring a COVID-dedicated nurse) at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years were estimated at US$44,279, US$94,979, and US$230,179, respectively. Hiring a dedicated COVID nurse would save the processing plant extensive salary costs by Year 3. Reducing overtime had the potential to decrease the COVID-19-related workload and potential experiences of fatigue and burnout in occupational health nurses.

Are Occupational Health Nurses keeping up with our changing world of work?

Are Occupational Health Nurses keeping up with our changing world of work?

Perceptions and experiences of hospital-based clinical nurses regarding collaboration with occupational health nurses

Perceptions and experiences of hospital-based clinical nurses regarding collaboration with occupational health nurses

The Required Knowledge Items for Working as Occupational Health Nurses

The Required Knowledge Items for Working as Occupational Health Nurses

Evidence based practice in occupational health services – A survey study with Finnish occupational health physicians and occupational health nurses

Evidence based practice in occupational health services – A survey study with Finnish occupational health physicians and occupational health nurses

An Interview Survey of the Difficulties Experienced by Occupational Health Nurses in Japan under the COVID-19 Pandemic

An Interview Survey of the Difficulties Experienced by Occupational Health Nurses in Japan under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Difficulties encountered by occupational health nurses in sharing personal health information

Difficulties encountered by occupational health nurses in sharing personal health information

Necessity of involvement and ability in the work of occupational health nurses in companies: A descriptive epidemiological study of the perceptions of company representatives and nurses

Necessity of involvement and ability in the work of occupational health nurses in companies: A descriptive epidemiological study of the perceptions of company representatives and nurses

Examination of the whole person approach for improving the emergency response skills of occupational health nurses

Examination of the whole person approach for improving the emergency response skills of occupational health nurses

Perceived Stress Associated Factors in Workers at a Public University.

To describe the predictors of perceived stress in a broad sample of workers at a Brazilian public university. Cross-sectional study carried out with a convenience sample of workers at a public university in Brazil. To be included in the present study, the worker had to be an administrative technician. From March to August, 2017, workers were surveyed, and 929 participants answered the questionnaires of sociodemographic characterization, work and health conditions, perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory). The multiple linear regression showed that higher perceived stress was associated with being younger and male, occupying a higher or technical position, and presenting higher levels of depression and anxiety. These findings have implications for occupational health nurses and other health professionals to identify workers at risk for chronic and mental illness through predictors of perceived stress and to guide institutions in planning practical actions for stress management interventions.

720 The role of occupational health nurses when implementing hearing conservation program in the workplace

720 The role of occupational health nurses when implementing hearing conservation program in the workplace

A nurse-led occupational health promotion program for farmers

Agrarian occupational health is a neglected primary health-care service in India. A nurse-led health promotion program is planned based on a Conceptual Model for the Occupational Health Nurse Specialist prepared by Ms. Janice Dees (1984) inspired from Orem's self-care theory. The interventions included are range of motion exercise, progressive muscle relaxation technique, foot and palm massage, and literacy on safety practices. The wellness of field farmers is expected by following this program plan.

New challenges in the training of occupational health nurses

New challenges in the training of occupational health nurses

Pengaruh Teknik Relaksasi Otot Progresif Terhadap Tingkat Stres Kerja Pada Staf Puskesmas Banyuputih Situbondo

Job Stress Caused By Work Pressure, Lack Of Managerial Support, And The Risk Of Violence And Bullying. Stress Due To Work Experienced By Workers If Not Immediately Addressed Will Have An Impact Both For Themselves And The Company. This Study Aims To Assess The Effect Of Progressive Muscle Relaxation In Reducing Work Stress On public healts center Banyuputih Staff. The Study Design Was Quasi Experimental Pre-Post Test Without Control Group With 35 Samples By Purposive Sampling. The Results Of The Study Using The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test Statistical Test Obtained P-Value Of 0,000 (P < 0.05). This Means That There Was The Effect Of Progressive Muscle Relaxation To Reduce Work Stress. Research Recommendations That Progressive Muscle Relaxation Be Applied By Workers During The Work Process Be Evidence Based Practice For Occupational Health Nurses In Overcoming Work Stress On Workers.