Occupational Health Promotion Research Articles

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF PHD, RESIDENCY DISSERTATIONS AND MASTER'S THESES IN PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN TÜRKİYE BETWEEN 1970–2022

It was aimed to evaluate all theses conducted in public health departments between 1970 and 2022 in Türkiye. All public health theses (n=2623) indexed in Türkiye's Council of Higher Education Thesis Center were included. Each thesis was multi-tagged with subtopics. Trends in the field over five decades were examined. The most frequently studied subtopics are occupational safety (n=386, 10.63%), non-communicable diseases (n=373, 10.28%), and health promotion (n=339, 9.34%). the least ones are travel health (n=3, 0.08%), public health ethics (n=6, 0.17%), and health law (n=9, 0.25%). This study proposes an interactive scientific subtopic map based on conducted theses in the public health field in Türkiye. There is a need for a balanced distribution of our scientific energy so that critical areas in public health are not neglected.

Effects of occupational health promotion interventions on health-related outcomes among employees of small businesses and self-employed individuals: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Compared to workers of larger companies it is less clear what health promoting interventions might be beneficial for employees of small businesses and self-employed individuals. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to critically appraise trials investigating health promotion programs among small business workers and self-employed individuals, by means of a systematic review. METHODS: We conducted a search of primary studies using MEDLINE, Web of Science, LIVIVO and the Cochrane library. Our assessment followed the recommendations of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and PRISMA. RESULTS: We identified six trials including 5,854 participants from Asia, North America and Australia. Most were of moderate methodological quality, only one was of low quality. Some of the supervised psycho-educational lifestyle programs focusing on individual behavior changes showed benefits in terms of stress reduction and increased physical activity levels among small enterprise employees. CONCLUSIONS: There is a huge knowledge gap on evidence-based health promotion interventions for self-employed and for small business workers, especially in Europe.

Effect of Government Guidelines and Corporate Governance on Telework Adoption and Occupational Health Measures in Taiwanese-Listed Companies

BackgroundTelework adoption in Taiwan has surged because of government guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the disclosure practices of Taiwanese-listed companies, assessing their adherence to government telework guidelines and their correlation with corporate governance, focusing on occupational health measures. MethodsWe conducted a guideline-adherent cohort analysis of the 2020 and 2021 sustainability reports of 295 Taiwanese-listed companies. We assessed their disclosure of corporate measures for teleworking in alignment with two government guidelines, specifically occupational health measures. Using the McNemar test and general estimating equation analysis, we compared the 2020 and 2021 responses and examined their associations with corporate governance rankings. ResultsTelework adoption increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, with 68% of companies reporting new work modes. The mentioning of government guidelines also increased to 67% by 2021. Companies with higher governance rankings were more likely to adopt online occupational health measures, including occupational health services (RR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.41–2.94; p < 0.001) and mental health promotion activities (RR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.06–3.82; p = 0.032), than those with low rankings. Although on-site and online occupational health services increased, home workspace assessments did not. ConclusionOur findings highlight significant upward trends in the disclosure of telework measures following the issuance of government guidelines. Corporate governance is significantly associated with the implementation of occupational health measures. Amid the evolution of teleworking, both government guidelines and corporate governance have become essential for shaping work arrangements and ensuring workforce well-being.

Work environment and hypertension in industrial settings in Benin in 2019: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo determine the association between occupational factors, particularly psychosocial factors, and hypertension.DesignDescriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using logistic multivariate regression.SettingFifteen cotton ginning plants in Benin.ParticipantsPermanent and occasional workers in the...

Liver impairment status toward workers exposed to vinyl chloride under different techniques

To analyse potential differences towards liver impairment status on vinyl chloride monomer(VCM) exposed population from technique under acetylene hydrochlorination to the one of ethylene oxychlorination respectively and to explore the possible reasons, which will pave the way for occupational health promotion in terms of hazard reduction. a cross-sectional study was initiated between June and September in 2022 towards 2 groups of VCM exposed population from the facility of acetylene hydrochlorination(n=78) and the one of ethylene oxychlorination(n=69) in a PVC petrochemical complex enterprise(abbreviation of H) in Tianjin City. The demographic information concerning age, gender, messages on occupational history, field investigation were inquired through questionnaire interview. Then, venous blood(4 mL/person) and urine(10-50 mL/person) were collected during the physical exam phase and indices of 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) in blood and thiodiglycolic acid(TDGA) in urine were detected through ELISA and solid phase extraction-ion chromatography respectively. The 2 groups of population were matched well in terms of average age distribution and gender composition ratio, with significant differences on population composition ratio were found on variables of working years, alcohol consumption and daily sleeping duration(P&lt;0.01 or P&lt;0.05). It was found that the average content of TDGA in acetylene hydrochlorination group was(0.81±0.05)mg/L while the content in ethylene oxychlorination group reached to(0.83±0.06)mg/L, noteworthy differences were only found among 6 posts in the acetylene hydrochlorination group and 5 others in the ethylene oxychlorination group after classification for specific posts, however, the average concentration of 8-OHdG in acetylene hydrochlorination group(122(78.3, 168.8) μg/m~3) was different from the one in ethylene oxychlorination group(101.7(79.6, 149.7) μg/m~3)(Z=6.82, P&lt;0.05). Moreover, a series of positive correlations in moderate intensity between 8-OHdG concentration and TDGA content were observed among posts of polymerization cleaners(r=0.53), aggregation operators(r=0.47), maintenance repairers(r=0.45), sampling operators(r=0.41) in acetylene hydrochlorination group(P&lt;0.05) and posts of cracking reactants(r=0.64), DCS operators(r=0.51), oxychlorination operators(r=0.50) and chemical loaders(r=0.44) in ethylene oxychlorination group(P&lt;0.05). Liver function indices such as content on ALT(χ~2=15.41, P&lt;0.01), AST(χ~2=9.95, P&lt;0.01) and ALP(χ~2=3.79, P&lt;0.01) were different in the 2 groups population with statistical significance, then proportions on population composition ratio that exceeded normal ranges of indices on ALT, AST, AST/ALT ratio, ALP and Alb/Glb ratio were higher in acetylene hydrochlorination group than ones in ethylene oxychlorination group with great significance(P&lt;0.05), so as to the abnormalities in liver B altrosonography test between groups(χ~2=17.33, P&lt;0.01). Binary logistic regression model indicated that 8-OHdG concentration in blood that exceed 90 μg/m~3, TDGA content in urine that exceed 0.60 mg/L, working years that were over 10a, alcohol consumption, sleeping duration less than 6 h per day and male workers were potential risky factors for liver impairment(P&lt;0.05). The degree on liver impairment status was higher in acetylene hydrochlorination group than ones in in ethylene oxychlorination group under the same PVC factory, which might be associated with the oxidative stress injury induced from the combination of higher VCM concentration at workplaces, longer cumulative exposure time, longer working years, alcohol consumption habits and sleep shortage caused by shift work patterns.

Occupational Injuries and Health Status Among Rural Tribal Non-Traditional Fishing Communities in the Coastal Region of Tamil Nadu, India

ABSTRACT Objectives This study evaluated the occupational injuries and health hazards associated with fishing as an occupation among non-traditional rural tribal fishing communities in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu, India. Methods This cross-sectional study included a total of 170 individuals belonging to a fishing community, comprising both male (n = 82) and female (n = 88) participants. The demographic details including occupational history, lifestyle characteristics, socio-economic status, personal habits, and health status were assessed through the questionnaire survey. Results The fishing community has a low socioeconomic status and poor literacy, lifestyle, and personal habits. The mean age of the participants was 38.8 yrs (male 34.8; female 39.9 yrs). Only 10% reported usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the work duration varied from 8 to 24 hrs in a day. While male subjects reported smoking habits (12%) and alcohol consumption (23%), none of the females reported alcohol consumption and smoking habits. The major occupational injuries that occurred were due to catfish (72%) and oysters (48%). A large number of female subjects reported musculoskeletal pains. The body mass index of about 28% of fishermen was above the normal range. Abnormal blood sugar, blood pressure, and respiratory and neurological symptoms were the other major health complaints. The major environmental hazards reported were salinity, solar radiation, tides, and high wind. Conclusion Injuries from handling fish and oysters were observed to be the major occupational burden. Additonally, a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and chronic health illness was commonly observed among the fishers. Adequate training and awareness programs are required for effective management of occupational health hazards and health promotion.

Vom Burnout zur Balance – Programme in deutschen Krankenhäusern

From burnout to balance – programmes in German hospitals. Grey literature review with semi-structured interviews Objective: Healthcare professionals are increasingly being affected by stress and burnout. This review evaluates current stress and burnout-prevention projects in respect of content and implementation. The findings serve as a basis for developing a programme for nurses and physicians that is compatible with everyday practice. Methods: A grey literature search was conducted on Google and Google scholar search machines between 11 March and 14 April 2022, limited to the years ≥ 2017. Projects included were focused on workplace health promotion for (1) nurses or/and physicians at German hospitals, (2) conducted in in-person, blended or hybrid form, (3) offered as modules or consecutively, that (4) explicitly aimed to reduce stress or to prevent burnout with resilience or mindfulness-based interventions. Project leads were interviewed between 1 June and 30 July 2022. Results: Of 55 projects identified, five were included. The projects were 1) peer-based stress training; 2) an empathy-based project concept; 3) a carefocused webinar; 4) a tailored nurse workshop project; and 5) a blended weekly e-learning online course on healthy routines and relaxation. Four of the five are being evaluated scientifically. Interview results emphasise a lowthreshold course design, target group and team orientation, the importance of institutional integration and systematic anchoring. Conclusions: Projects aimed at preventing stress and burnout exist at some German hospitals but vary significantly in content and scientific evaluation. This review reflects the importance of need-based approaches that not only strengthen between the individual and teams in a good balance, but also foster incremental organisational changes beyond behavioural aspects for mental health among healthcare professionals. Keywords: burnout – stress – healthcare professionals – prevention – occupational health promotion

Sailing into rough seas: The difficulties and challenges Chinese women seafarers face

The shipping industry has traditionally been male-dominated. Although tangible progress has been made toward gender diversity and inclusiveness, women seafarers worldwide still face difficulties and challenges. This paper aims to explore women’s struggles in their pursuit of a seafaring career on ocean-going cargo ships. Taking Chinese women seafarers as the research subjects, the study first analyses their current situation and points out that compared with global figures, only few STCW-certified Chinese women work as officers or ratings on the ocean-going cargo ships. Then five major types of difficulties and challenges Chinese women seafarers face, i.e., limited access to vocational education and training, employment difficulty because of stereotypes, prejudices and sexual distinction, safety and healthcare concerns, bullying, abuse and sexual harassment, as well as traditional ideas of family and childbirth, are presented by the data drawn from questionnaires and interviews given to current and future-to-be seafarers from both genders. At last, suggestions from the aspects of the provision of educational and training resources and guidance, the improvements in relevant legal system and policy, the establishment of support groups and report system, the promotion of occupational health, safety and well-being, as well as the creation of a friendly social and cultural atmosphere are given to advance gender equality, empower women seafarers in their careers and reach a barrier-free environment in the industry.

Sex, physical activity, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia in millennial workers of X Corp, Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2023

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between sex and sedentary behavior and obesity and its impact on hypercholesterolemia in millennial generation workers at X Corp., Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2023.&#x0D; Methods: This research is an observational analytic study conducted on 269 millennial workers at X Corp. The data collection used was the results of X Corp’s worker's medical check-ups. Data processing using the Chi-square test to see whether there’s a linkage between the research variables.&#x0D; Results: From the tables, there is a correlation found between sex and obesity (p=0.001); there is no correlation found between physical activity (p=0.105) and smoking behavior (p=1.000). There is a correlation between obesity and hypercholesterolemia (p=0.004) in millennial workers at X Corp.&#x0D; Conclusions: Unhealthy life behaviors can be a risk factor for health problems, including degenerative diseases, as millennial workers get older. Male workers are more at risk of being obese and having an impact on the emergence of hypercholesterolemia and the risk of diabetes mellitus if a healthy lifestyle is continuously neglected. It is suggested that the application of occupational health promotion at X Corp., Jakarta, Indonesia, can be further optimized.

Occupational Health and Safety in China: A Systematic Analysis of Research Trends and Future Perspectives

The frequent occurrence of various occupational accidents has resulted in significant casualties and occupational disease issues, which hinder economic and social development seriously. The promotion and enhancement of occupational health and safety (OHS) require greater efforts to be made to achieve sustainable economic development, particularly in developing countries. With remarkable progress and achievements that have been made in terms of OHS in China, a systematic and thorough review is needed to gain insight into the development process, current status, and research trends regarding OHS in China. Additionally, pathways for future work need to be discussed to boost the OHS development in China in the new era. Therefore, a systematic literature review is performed in this study to investigate the development of OHS in China with the help of a bibliometric analysis. Firstly, a total of 5675 publications related to OHS in China between 1979 and 2022 were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and the Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD) before being refined manually. Then, the temporal distribution and journal sources of the collected publications were analyzed before the collaboration networks of the “productive institutions” and “productive authors” were discussed. Furthermore, the key research topics (e.g., disease prevention, psychological safety, occupational exposure) and dominant research methods (e.g., epidemiological methods, risk modeling) associated with OHS during different periods were identified and discussed based on the keywords and bibliographic analysis. Finally, the current needs and promising pathways for future work were discussed. It is suggested that the prevention and control of conventional and new occupational diseases, the protection of workers’ occupational health rights and interests, the development and implementation of advanced technologies for OHS, and the development of more sophisticated and efficient health and safety risk assessment models may be focused on to accelerate the development of OHS in China. This study systematically reviews the development processes, current status, and future prospects regarding OHS in China. The results of this study provide valuable insights for researchers and practitioners who are involved in the Chinese OHS development, and the promising pathways for future works are suggested to boost the OHS development in China.

Early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders in paediatric primary care: A scoping review.

Earlier detection of children at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders is critical and has longstanding repercussions if not addressed early enough. To explore the supporting or facilitating characteristics of paediatric primary care models of care for early detection in infants and toddlers at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders, identify practitioners involved, and describe how they align with occupational therapy's scope of practice. A scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework was used. PubMed Central, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases were searched. The search was conducted between January and February 2022. Inclusion criteria were: children aged 0-3 years old; neurodevelopmental disorders including cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD); models of care used in the paediatric primary care setting and addressing concepts of timing and plasticity; peer-reviewed literature written in English; published between 2010 and 2022. Study protocol registered at https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MD4K5. We identified 1,434 publications, yielding 22 studies that met inclusion criteria. Models of care characteristics included the use of technology, education to parents and staff, funding to utilize innovative models of care, assessment variability, organizational management changes, increased visit length, earlier timeline for neurodevelopmental screening, and collaboration with current office staff or nonphysician practitioners. The top 4 providers were paediatricians, general or family practitioners, nurse/nurse practitioners, and office staff. All studies aligned with occupational therapy health promotion scope of practice and intervention approach yet did not include occupational therapy within the paediatric primary care setting. No studies included occupational therapy as a healthcare provider that could be used within the paediatric primary care setting. However, all studies demonstrated models of care facilitating characteristics aligning with occupational therapy practice. Models of care facilitating characteristics identified interdisciplinary staff as a major contributor, which can include occupational therapy, to improve early detection within paediatric primary care.

Heat-Related Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Precautionary Behavior among Indonesian Forestry Workers and Farmers: Implications for Occupational Health Promotion in the Face of Climate Change Impacts

Forestry workers play a crucial role in implementing forest management programs, but their outdoor work exposes them to rising temperatures caused by global climate change, which poses potential health risks related to heat. This study specifically investigates the relationship between knowledge of heat-related issues, risk perception, and precautionary behavior among Indonesian forestry workers and paddy farmers in response to the escalating workplace heat exposure. Developing effective precautionary behavior is essential for preventing heat-related health disorders and promoting health protection programs. To investigate the association of the latent variables comprehensively, structured interviews were conducted with two occupational groups of outdoor workers, comprising 210 forestry workers and 215 paddy farmers. The findings indicate that increasing knowledge about heat-related issues promotes precautionary behavior, and risk perception acts as a mediator between knowledge and behavior. Additionally, the study highlights that the emotion of “dread” intensifies the perceived risk and predicts positive behavior changes. To enhance heat-related knowledge, exploring the potential use of a “fear” tone is important. In conclusion, comprehensive strategies should be implemented to promote precautionary behavior among forestry workers, particularly manual laborers, who are more vulnerable compared to farmers.

Prevalence of depression and its correlation with anxiety, headache and sleep disorders among medical staff in the Hainan Province of China.

This cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression among medical staff and its risk factors as well as the association between depression, anxiety, headache, and sleep disorders. Stratified random cluster sampling was used to select medical staff from various departments of four hospitals in Sanya City. The Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to quantitatively assess depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine factors affecting the depression occurrence and scores. Among 645 medical staff members, 548 (85%) responded. The 1-year prevalence of depression was 42.7% and the prevalence of depression combined with anxiety, headache, and sleep disorders was 23, 27, and 34.5%, respectively. The prevalence of depression in women, nurses, the unmarried or single group, and the rotating-shift population was significantly higher than that in men (48.3% vs. 27.1%, odds ratio OR = 2.512), doctors (55.2% vs. 26.7%, OR = 3.388), the married group (50.5% vs. 35.8%, OR = 1.900), and the day-shift population (35.2% vs. 7.5%, OR = 1.719). The occurrence of depression was correlated with anxiety, sleep disorders, headache, and migraines, with anxiety having the highest correlation (Spearman's Rho = 0.531). The SDS was significantly correlated with the SAS and PSQI (Spearman's Rho = 0.801, 0.503) and was also related to the presence of headache and migraine (Spearman Rho = 0.228, 0.159). Multiple logistic regression indicated that nurse occupation and anxiety were risk factors for depression, while grades of anxiety, sleep disorders and nurse occupation were risk factors for the degree of depression in multiple linear regression. The prevalence of depression among medical staff was higher than that in the general population, especially among women, nurses, unmarried people, and rotating-shift workers. Depression is associated with anxiety, sleep disorders, headache, and migraines. Anxiety and nursing occupation are risk factors for depression. This study provides a reference for the promotion of occupational health among medical professionals.

Optimal telework frequency in terms of sleep and labor productivity depends on the workers' psychological distress: A cross-sectional study in Tokyo, Japan.

This study aimed to determine that workers' sleep and labor productivity differ with the telework frequency and that the optimal telework frequency depends on workers' psychological distress. A cross-sectional study using an online-based questionnaire was conducted with 2,971 workers employed by Japanese companies from October to December 2021. We used the 6-item Kessler Scale, K6, as a nonspecific psychological distress scale to screen mental health conditions. A score of ≤ 4 was defined as low psychological distress (LPD), and a score of ≥ 5 was defined as high psychological distress (HPD). We used the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) as a measure of sleep quality. The Utrecht Work Engagement (UWES) and Work Functioning Impairment (WFun) scales were used as measures of labor productivity. Series of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the data analysis. The analysis included 2,013 participants (1,390 men and 623 women; mean age 43.2 years, standard deviation 11.3). Multiple comparison tests showed that among the participants categorized HPD (HPD type), the AIS estimates were lowest in the 1-2 d/wk group, with significant differences between the 0-3 d/m and ≥ 5 d/wk groups. UWES estimates were lowest in the 3-4 d/wk group with significant differences between the participants categorized LPD (LPD type) and HPD type, while no significant differences were observed among the LPD type. The WFun estimates among the LPD type decreased significantly with increasing telework frequency, while no significant differences were observed among the HPD type. The optimal telework frequency for sleep and labor productivity may depend on the workers' psychological distress. The finding of this study could make a great contribution to occupational health activities and health promotion for teleworkers, which is necessary to make teleworking a sustainable work style.

Association Between Workplace Social Support and Use of Health-Promoting Wearable Devices: A Prospective Cohort Study of Japanese Employees.

We examined the relationship between workplace environmental factors, including support from supervisors and colleagues, and the continued use of a wearable device meant to promote occupational health. One hundred employees at a Japanese manufacturing company participated in a 3-month study, and information related to their physical health status was recorded by a wearable device. We analyzed the results using the χ2 test and logistic regression analysis. We found that men aged 40-49 years and employees reporting low support from supervisors and colleagues were significantly more likely to be continuing device users. Participants with low workplace support had adjusted odds ratios approximately two to three times higher than those with high levels of support, which was significant. Employees with low workplace support were able to communicate at work, access appropriate support, and enthusiastically participate in occupational health promotion with little psychological difficulty in using the device. Occupational health promotion using wearable devices can complement traditional face-to-face occupational health promotion.

Working Stress and Its’ Predictive Factors among Production Area Workers in PT X

Background: Stress is a complaint that workers in the manufacturing industry often feel. The work environment, processes, and equipment can cause work stress. The increase in workload related to the achievement of targets is one of the causes of work stress. Objective: This study aims to see the effect of workload on work stress in the production area. The variables analyzed in this study are work stress as the dependent variable, workload as an independent variable, and three confounding variables: work period, work duration, room temperature, and noise. Method: This study used an analytic observational method with a cross-sectional design approach. The sample in this study is the total population of workers in the production area, as many as 88 people. Result: The results of the bivariate analysis showed that four variables influenced work stress, workload (p=0.012), working period (p=0.002), room temperature (p=0.029), and noise (p=0.002). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that the most dominant variable affecting work stress was tenure (p=0.001 and OR=12.610). Conclusion: Management is advised to detect work stress early among employees. Recommendation: Management needs to implement an occupational health promotion program in stress management, starting with identifying the causes of stress in the work environment. In addition, it is recommended to detect work stress early in employees

Disparities in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between Iranian industrial workers and university staff.

Is there a difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between employee service jobs and industrial jobs in Iran? In this study, we tried to answer this question. For this purpose, we compared the two populations of employees and workers. We compared the staff of the University of Medical Sciences as a service employees population (clinical and office work) to the industrial workers of a large automotive company (often with industrial occupations). In this cross-sectional study conducted in Tehran in 2020, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 4,372 people employed by the university and 3,899 automotive industry employees was examined and compared. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was assessed based on two criteria, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The results showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among university staff was higher than the automotive industrial workers. According to ATP III criteria, the former and latter showed the prevalence of metabolic syndrome of 13.1% among and 6.1%, respectively among. Also, based on IDF criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 23.3% and 12.6% in two groups mentioned. Based on the findings of this study, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in university staff was almost double that in industry workers. At first glance, the physical activity of most automotive, industrial workers seems to be the main reason for this difference; however, a prevalence of about twice implies further factors. According to the authors, the legal implementation of monitoring, promotion, and surveillance programs of occupational health, in industrial environments can be a factor accounting for a significant difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between the two populations observed. The authors suggest implementing similar programs for Iranian public sector employees to enhance their health status.

Occupational health promotion at a federal education institution: challenges and perspectives.

The Brazilian Federal Government developed the Occupational Health and Safety policy for the Federal Public Servant, supported by the following axes: health surveillance and promotion, health assistance for the civil servant, and medical surveillance expertise. As a federal public institution, the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais (Instituto Federal do Norte de Minas Gerais) is responsible for implementing this policy. This study aimed to identify the challenges and perspectives associated with the health care provided to the servants of the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais. This was a documentary and field study, with a qualitative and quantitative approach, conducted using documentary research and semi-structured interviews. The collected data were submitted to descriptive and categorical content analyses. The Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais still presents several problems in the consolidation and structuring of the Occupational Health and Safety policy for the Federal Public Servant. Among the main obstacles faced are the lack of governmental and institutional support and the precariousness of financial and human resources, mainly directed to the axis of health promotion and surveillance. The institution plans to conduct periodic medical examinations, the establishment of Internal Health Commissions for Public Servants, and the implementation of a mental health program. It is expected that the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais will be able to perform better on the development of health policies and programs for its workers.

Preparing students to deal with the consequences of the workforce shortage among health professionals: a qualitative approach

BackgroundHealthcare is facing a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals. The pandemic has brought to light the fragile balance that affects all healthcare systems. Governments have realized that these systems and the professionals working in them need support at different levels to strengthen the retention of the workforce. Health professionals’ education can play an important role in ensuring that new generations of workers have sound personal and professional competencies to successfully face the challenges of professional practice. These challenges are described in the literature, but the extent to which they are considered in health professionals’ education is less clear.MethodsThis qualitative study compares the professional challenges and educational needs described in the literature with the current curricula for health professionals offered in Switzerland. Data were collected nationally through focus group interviews with 65% of Switzerland’s directors of bachelor’s and master’s programs of health professions (nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, midwifery, nutrition and dietetics, osteopathy, radiologic medical imaging technology, health promotion and prevention, and health sciences). The data attained were analyzed using knowledge mapping.ResultsThe results reveal a gap among education programs with regard to occupational health promotion and cultural diversity. Both topics are taught with a sole focus on patients, and students are expected to adopt similar strategies for their health promotion and stress management. Physicians are insufficiently involved in interprofessional education. The programs fail to enhance health professionals’ political, economic and digital competencies.ConclusionThe results of this study offer clear guidance about what topics need to be integrated into curricula to improve health professionals’ well-being at work and their preparedness to face daily professional challenges.

The level of occupational safety and health promotion in Czech family manufacturing enterprises

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the level of occupational safety and health (OSH) promotion in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is currently a hot topic in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. SMEs are very often family enterprises in the Czech Republic. The goal of the research, conducted on a sample of 1056 respondents, was to find out how Czech family manufacturing enterprises approach the promotion of OSH. Empirical research methods were used and data were processed using statistical methods. Chi-square test was used to identify the specifics in manufacturing enterprises to determine the relationship between OSH principles or processes and the size of the enterprise. An analysis of the surveyed enterprises was done regarding their KPIs in the field of OSH. To understand changes in the KPIs significance before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wilcoxon signed rank test was used. All of the KPIs were tested with ANOVA analysis to find out, whether the importance of each indicator is related to the size of the enterprise. The most important finding is that although the situation regarding principles of OSH promotion is not good in the surveyed enterprises, they still manage to implement OSH promotion processes very well. The research can provide guidance on how to assess the level of OSH promotion in such SMEs and can help to define activities to improve OSH promotion. The paper may be beneficial for practitioners involved in OSH promotion and in another manufacturing SMEs.