Occupational Health Nurses Research Articles

Cultural Influence on Coping Strategies of Filipino Immigrant Nurses

Much of the research on internationally educated nurses (IENs) has focused on the challenges they encounter in the United States and how they can best be integrated into the workplace. Despite their many challenges, Filipino IENs continue to come to the United States and thrive, bringing with them diverse experience and knowledge that contribute to the provision of quality care to a patient population that is becoming increasingly diverse. Although a substantial body of research has been published on IEN coping, fewer studies have focused on the influence of culture on Filipino IEN's preferred coping strategies. This study contributes to the burgeoning interest in understanding culture's influence on coping patterns and preferences among diverse populations. Occupational health nurses and administrators can use these findings to develop culturally appropriate health promotion programs and interventions to retain quality nurses and promote healthier workplaces.

Barriers to Diabetes Self-Management Among Rural Individuals in the Workplace.

Higher rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are found in rural populations and barriers lessen the ability of these individuals to effectively manage diabetes. By lessening potential barriers to self-care management, health professionals, especially occupational health nurses, can assist individuals confidently manage T2DM. In this article, the authors provide an overview of diabetes self-management barriers for rural populations and implications for health professionals who assist individuals with T2DM in the workplace.

Effect of occupational health nursing practice on musculoskeletal pains among hospital nursing staff in South Korea

Objective. The purpose of this study was to identify whether occupational health nursing variables serve as the contributing factors to musculoskeletal pains (MSP). Methods. A self-administered questionnaire composed of demographic characteristics, the practice of occupational health nursing and information regarding MSP was designed based on in-depth interviews with eight nurses. This study included 226 hospital nursing staff who worked at three university hospitals located in Seoul, South Korea. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS and AMOS 19.0. Results. Shoulder and neck pains occurred when subjects worked more than 46 h/week. Subjects who performed ‘work-time adjustment’ had lesser chance of having shoulder, leg/foot and wrist/finger pains. Overtime work hours showed an indirect effect on multiple sites of MSP by mediator variable, which was ‘work-time adjustment’. Organized night duty days eventually decreased multiple sites of MSP. Conclusion. Administration strategies for nurses to adjust work-time within 46 h/week should be considered.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. It is a potentially preventable disease and ideally suited to a screening program. CRC screening is an early detection strategy for occupational health nurses to offer in the workplace. Education and outreach are key components of this intervention. Many test options are available for CRC screening. This article is an integrative literature review that summarizes evidence to support colorectal screening in the workplace, offers screening recommendations from authoritative agencies, and provides guidance for occupational health nurses who plan to implement a screening program. Current screening limitations using fecal occult blood tests are addressed and an inventory of CRC screening activities in select countries is included.

산업간호사를 대상으로 한 구강보건교육의 효과 평가

The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of oral health education for occupational health nurses. The subjects were 300 occupational health nurses which participated in continuing education of Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurses. Oral health education contents consisted of basic knowledge about oral health, prevention of periodontal disease, oral health care for workers, and oral health program for workers. In order to evaluate the effects of oral health education, we performed questionnaire surveys before and after the education regarding their perceived oral health status and concern for oral health, knowledge about prevention of periodontal disease, attitude about oral health promotion, and needs for implementation of oral health promotion program. The data were analyzed by paired t-test to compare the change of knowledge and attitude according to the education. Linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the factors related to the improvement of their knowledge and attitude. The findings indicated that oral health knowledge and attitude of occupational health nurses were significantly improved by oral health education. A factor of the improvement of knowledge and attitude was concern for oral health. And they would like to be provided primarily oral health education for occupational health nurses. Finally, this study suggested that oral health education for occupational health nurses had significantly effects on improving oral health knowledge and attitude.

보건관리자가 인지한 근로자 건강증진 프로그램 수행 실태에 관한 업종별 비교: 요구도, 필요도, 수행도, 장애도 및 운영효과를 중심으로

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to examine the differences in need, necessity, performance, barriers, and effectiveness of workers' health promotion program and to determine the influencing factors in effectiveness of workers' health promotion program by business types. Methods: Subjects were participants of an education held by Korean association of occupational health nurses and a survey was self-reported. Survey items were developed by researchers through literature review. It included general characteristics of occupational health providers and worksites, need, necessity, performance, barriers and effectiveness of workers' health promotion (WHP) program. The total number of worksites was 168, manufacturing/construction was 76 (45.2%), other services were 52 (31.0%), and healthcare services were 40 (23.8%). We used <TEX>${\chi}^2test$</TEX>, ANOVA test, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis. Results: There were differences in need, necessity and performance of WHP by business types. In healthcare services, WHP had statistically significant effectiveness to reduce turnover rates. And the influencing factors of WHP's effectiveness were workers' need in manufacturing/construction, health provider's career in other services, and perceived necessity in healthcare services. Conclusion: Based on this result, we propose differentiated strategies depending on the business types for effective workers' health promotion program.

The structure of occupational health nurses' support for return-to-work to workers with depression.

The present study aimed to explore the structure of occupational health nurses' support for return-to-work to workers with depression. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 occupational health nurses who support workers returning to work. Data were analyzed using the Modified Grounded Theory Approach. The qualitatively analyzed data was grouped into 9 categories. The support for return-to-work was divided into 3 periods: (1) the first priority for recovery, (2) preparation for return-to-work, and (3) adaptation to work. There were indirect supports to workers such as "environmental arrangement for medical treatment," "connection," and "support form parties concerned about workers," and direct supports such as "readiness for medical treatment," "overcoming social and psychological problems," and "working life independence. " Direct support was facilitated by "construction of the relationship. " The occupational health nurses' philosophy was to support "profitable return-to-work for both the worker and the employer. " These processes were "support of confidence recovery process " to regain confidence lost through absence from work because of depression and to accomplish a smooth return-to-work. There were problems in each period corresponding to the return-to-work conditions, and occupational health nurses supported the employees in overcoming each problem. Moreover, it was said that cooperation with the parties concerned in the office would greatly influence the success or failure in the return-to-work support, and it was thought that direct supports and indirect supports to employees with respect to adjustment with the parties concerned in the office were necessary. The structure of occupational health nurses' supports was to support the confidence recovery process of workers by indirect and direct support at each period of return-to-work.

Implementation of stress assessments by occupational health nurses working in occupational health agencies and their confidence in conducting such assessments.

Stress assessments are due to be conducted in December 2015. It is expected that there will be an increase in the number of private health agencies that provide stress assessment services and mental health care. This study aimed to clarify the current situation of and the factors related to stress assessments conducted by nurses in occupational health agencies. Nurses working full time were randomly selected from 60 organizations that were members of the National Federation of Industrial Health Organization. Self-administered questionnaires were sent out between November 2013 and January 2014. The questionnaire included the personal attributes of the participants, training programs, job contents, and how practical mental health care, including stress assessment, is. The study was approved by the ethics committees in the respective organizations. Out of the 162 questionnaires that were distributed, 89 (54.9%) were returned and 85 (53.1%) were valid for analysis. Stress assessments were conducted by 38.8% of the participants. With reference to their confidence in conducting stress assessments, "confidence and" 70.6%, respectively. The groups that conducted and did not conduct the stress assessments did not show any differences in the findings or other attributes. Further, the implementation of stress assessment was not associated with occupational health nurse (OHN) training, education, position, age, years of experience, attendance of lectures on mental health, etc. However, the confidence in conducting the assessment was related to age when dealing with cases on confidence stress assessment consultation in follow-up to the implementation of screening, such as stress, persons at high risk, and so on. Approximately 40% of the nurses were already conducting stress assessments, but most of them conducted such assessments about once a year and were not deeply involved in them. Approximately 70% of the nurses were confident in implementing stress assessments. Further, they reported that they were confident to do so even if OHNs were not involved. We found that to encourage OHNs in occupational health agencies to provide mental health care and stress assessments, practical training programs are required. Such programs should include a series of stress assessments and help foster cooperation with superiors, colleagues, and occupational health staff such that the OHNs obtain experience and confidence.

Development of a Wellness Index for Workers

The purpose of this study was to develop a wellness index for workers (WIW) and examine the validity and reliability of the WIW for assessing workers' wellness. The developmental process for the instrument included construction of a conceptual framework based on a wellness model, generation of initial items, verification of content validity, preliminary study, extraction of final items, and psychometric testing. Content validity was verified by 4 experts from occupational health nursing and wellness disciplines. The construct validity, convergent validity and discriminant validity were examined with confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability was examined with Cronbach's alpha. The participants were 494 workers from two workplaces. Eighteen items were selected for the final scale, and the results of the confirmatory factor analysis supported a five-factor model of wellness with acceptable model fit, and factors named as physical · emotional · social · intellectual · occupational wellness. The convergent and discriminant validity were also supported. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .91. The results indicate that the WIW is a valid and reliable instrument to comprehensively assess workers' wellness, and to provide basic directions for developing workplace wellness program.

Bisphenol A: Understanding the Controversy.

Healthy People 2020 lists Bisphenol A (BPA) as a potential endocrine disruptor for which exposure should be reduced. The Healthy People 2020 Environmental Health Objectives focus on addressing environmental factors that negatively affect individuals' health even though the health effects of some toxic substances are not yet fully understood. An American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN) position statement outlined the role occupational health nurses play in creating healthy and productive workplaces by promoting worker health. BPA is implicated in a variety of health outcomes such as breast and prostate cancer, menstrual irregularities, genital abnormalities in male babies, infertility in men and women, early puberty in girls, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity. The overall health issues attributed to BPA exposure are complex and controversial. Concerns regarding environmental health are growing as individuals become more dependent on plastics. Numerous health concerns have been directly connected to daily exposures to products manufactured with BPA. Government agencies support the use of BPA as a safe consumer product with the exception of BPA use in baby bottles and sippy cups, which has been banned in the United States and several other countries. Many agencies (e.g., Federal Drug Administration [FDA], World Health Organization [WHO], U.S. Department of Health & Human Services [U.S. DHHS], and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC]) have expressed "some concern" about BPA based on research, and stated further research is warranted.

Contemporary Occupational Health Nursing: A Guide for Practitioners

Contemporary Occupational Health Nursing: A Guide for Practitioners

한국 전통시장 여성근로자 건강증진 프로그램 모형개발: 지역사회 참여형 연구틀 기반

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the intervention model development of health promotion for women workers working in the traditional marketplace, using community capacity building framework. Methods: Need assessment of the target population, work-related environment investigation, social network group building, and setting health management in the marketplace were performed. Then the interventions including cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health, and psychological health were conducted. The results were evaluated using NCEP-ATP III(National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III), OWAS, and CES-D. Results: It was found that the intervention program for the vulnerable group in marketplace was appropriate, promoting the improvement of metabolic syndrome and the reduction of pain complaints. Therefore, the intervention framework for health promotion of women workers in the marketplace was developed. Work-related environment assessment also was included in the framework development. Several community capacity building strategies, including developing community resources and promoting partnership, making small social network group, and promoting program participation. Conclusion: It is suggested that occupational health nurses and professionals consider the appropriateness of intervention framework development after identifying the needs of women workers' work-related environmental problems.

Ebola Virus Disease.

Nurses are the largest group of health care providers and, therefore, are often at the forefront of epidemics: responding, treating, educating, and coordinating care as needed. But what happens when nurses are afraid of contracting an illness and decide to leave the workplace? The fear due to Ebola was in part caused by conflicting information around the proper use of personal protective equipment and need for quarantine. The nursing response to as well as the role occupational health nurses can play in diffusing the fear of contracting contemporary infectious diseases are discussed.

Lyme Disease.

Occupational and environmental health nurses should educate workers about ways to prevent tick bites, which can cause Lyme disease.

Global Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) infections remain a common but deadly disease. TB control in health care and correctional settings presents numerous public health challenges for occupational and correctional health nurses.

Competencies in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing.

Competencies in Occupational and Environmental Health Nursing.

Ebola Update.

The Ebola virus disease first appeared in 1976 in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The most recent outbreak occurred in West Africa in March 2014 and quickly spread in surrounding countries. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of an infected individual. The incubation period for Ebola is 2 to 21 days. Individuals are infectious when symptomatic. Identifying individuals at high risk for Ebola in the United States includes early recognition of symptoms and a history of travel to an Ebola-affected area. Multiple diagnostic tests exist and should include a complete blood count and a comprehensive metabolic profile. Standard, contact, and droplet precautions are advised when taking care of patients with Ebola. Appropriate personal protective equipment as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be worn. No vaccine or antiviral drug has been approved, but vaccine trials are under way. Occupational health nurses play a key role in educating employees about this disease.

Feel-good factor of a healthy workforce.

New guidance from NICE recommends that employees' health and wellbeing should be a core priority for senior managers. Occupational health nurses on building sites and oil rigs are encouraging the mainly male staff to take up healthier diets and exercise and quit smoking.

ACIDENTES COM PERFUROCORTANTES EM TRABALHADORES DA SAÚDE: REVISÃO DA LITERATURA

Background and Objectives: Work accident is a sudden event between people and / or people and objects. To understand the risks to which health workers are exposed in their daily lives, which can cause health problems such as injuries. Methods: This study constitutes a review of the literature that was to have been carried out searches in the database Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), Centro Latino -American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences (Bireme) Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCS) and Scientific Electronic Library Online [Scientific Electronic Library Online] (SciELO) and selected 35 publications between 2004 and 2012. Results: From the reading and analysis of articles, it was found that daily nursing professionals are exposed to risks, mainly biological and accidents related to needlesticks account for 80 90% of transmission of infectious diseases among health workers. Conclusion: Therefore it is important that health professionals are guided and trained on the importance of prevention and reporting these accidents. Keywords: Occupational Health Nursing, Spiked injuries, Occupational risk.

Sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis was revealed by a worker in an initial post-offer examination. This disorder requires careful review prior to workers being in hot or cold environments, using respirators, or traveling internationally. To protect worker health, occupational health nurses must understand the pathophysiology and risks associated with sarcoidosis.