Occupational Outcomes Research Articles

A Scoping Review of Interventions to Improve Occupational Safety and Health of Construction Workers.

This review comprehensively examines interventions which sought to improve the occupational safety and/or health of construction workers. Factors that explain the (in)effectiveness of interventions were also summarized. This review consisted of a search using two electronic databases, PubMed and Web of Science. Targeted workers in the construction industry; had at least one primary outcome that aimed to improve occupational safety and/or health; were published between January 01, 1990 and December 01, 2019; and were written in English. Two researchers independently carried out the process of reviewing the titles, abstracts and full texts, and extracted all data. If there were differences, discussions were held until a consensus was reached. A total of 1297 articles were retrieved and 24 were selected for final evaluation. Seventeen studies reported significant intervention effects, while 7 found their primary outcome not significantly improved. Future research should place more effort on interventions aimed at improving both occupational safety and health outcomes in an integrated manner, with environmental interventions that accompany behavioral interventions at the individual level. Besides, additional effort is also needed to ensure the involvement of relevant stakeholders in designing the intervention, avoiding contamination effects (through cluster randomization), optimizing the "dosage" of intervention, and improving measurement of outcomes.

The need for a multi-level approach to occupational safety and health among Asian and Asian American beauty service workers

Asian and Asian Americans (A/AA) are a group overlooked in general health outcomes but especially occupational safety and health outcomes. In the United States, the beauty service microbusiness industry (e.g., nail salons) predominantly employs immigrant Asian women who regularly encounter a plethora of occupational hazards (e.g., harmful chemical exposures -toluene, formaldehyde, bloodborne pathogens, fungi. However, due to the precariousness of beauty service jobs, cultural and linguistic barriers, and social determinants of health, A/AA beauty service workers face complex occupational safety and health challenges that require interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural competency to address. This commentary will discuss a multi-level approach including specific outreach partners that will offer the required diverse skillsets necessary for improving the occupational safety and health for this worker population in this microbusiness industry. Implications and suggestions for interventions and policy changes are also recommended utilizing the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities’ Research Framework.

Comparing the impact of two occupational therapy interventions on academic learning outcomes for children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

INTRODUCTION: The strong association between perinatal HIV infection and poor performance in academic learning is further challenged by various barriers to learning in the South African context of basic education. This study investigated the efficacy of a novel play-informed, caregiver-implemented, home-based intervention (PICIHBI) for improving academic learning in HIV-positive children METHODOLOGY: A single-blinded, randomised comparison group design was selected to compare PICHIBI with conventional one-on-one occupational therapy interventions. Children with HIV aged 5 to 8 years old on ART and their primary caregiver (N=23) were randomly allocated to an intervention group. The primary outcome of academic learning was measured using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales-Extended Revised and the short form Beery-Buktenica Visual Motor Integration test, 5th edition at baseline, mid (5 months) and post-intervention (after 10 months RESULTS: At baseline, the total sample (n=23) presented with below-average performance in all assessed academic learning outcomes. Between-group differences for all academic learning outcomes were not significant at mid or post-test assessment points. A statistically significant within-group change in visual motor integration was noted in the PICIHBI from baseline to mid-test (p=.019). In the conventional group, there were statistically significant changes in visual perception from baseline to mid (p=.001) and baseline to post-test (p=.009). The sub scale Performance in the conventional group improved significantly from baseline to mid-test (p=.027 CONCLUSION: While improvements were noted, children in both groups continued to present with academic learning concerns at post-test. These concerns motivate the need for continued monitoring and further investigation into the feasibility and effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions targeting the academic learning challenges of this population Implications for practice This paper adds to an emerging body of evidence aiming to demonstrate the effect of occupational therapy interventions on occupational outcomes for children with perinatal HIV infection. The paper presents a detailed overview of the conceptualisation of learning as an occupational outcome. The paper further presents consideration of the practical challenges linked to the implementation of, adherence to and sustainability of rehabilitation interventions in low to middle-income countries.

Determinants of Pesticide Exposure in Occupational Studies: A Meta-Analysis.

Few epidemiological studies use exposure determinants specifically tailored to assess pesticide or plant protection product (PPP) exposures when assessing presumed association between occupational exposure and health outcomes among agricultural workers. This lack of exposure specificity could lead to results that fail to detect an association. It could be related to the lack of consensus on exposure assessment methods and the choice of exposure determinants. We conducted a meta-analysis following the PRISMA checklist to identify PPP exposure determinants used in occupational studies and identified exposure determinants that best characterized agricultural exposures to PPPs. Out of 1436 studies identified, 71 were included. The exposure determinants identified were active ingredients, chemical classes, types of PPP, crops, tasks, frequencies, duration, lifetime exposure days, and intensity-weighted exposure days. Only six over 17 associations between exposure determinants and health outcomes were found with moderate quality of evidence. Overall, epidemiological studies had difficulty defining relevant determinants to characterize PPP exposures for agricultural workers. We recommend that a standardized list of determinants for PPP exposures in occupational exposure studies should include information on formulations, intensity, duration, and frequency of PPP exposure. Harmonized data collection on exposure and health outcomes are required as well as standard units for each exposure determinant.

Examining the use of assistance dogs to enhance participation in everyday occupations for people with mobility challenges

Introduction: The impact of assistance dogs on an individual’s life is multifaceted. The occupational therapist must identify how assistance dogs enhance occupational performance and influence an individual’s life. This study aims to deepen our understanding about the benefits and challenges of assistance dogs for individuals with mobility challenges. Methods: The qualitative data analysis included codes and theme identification. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, including mean, standard deviation, and Cronbach’s alpha (score reliability). Results: Results indicate that the job of the assistance dog is comprehensive and complex. Assistance dogs support independence, provide hope through occupations, assist with general and client-specific needs, and provide companionship. The use of occupational therapy outcome tools to assess the benefits of service dogs adds to the body of literature. Conclusion: A service dog enhances occupational performance at home, work, school, and community. This unique study aims to deepen the understanding of the benefits and challenges of assistance dogs as an occupational therapy intervention for individuals with mobility challenges.

Dutch workers' attitudes towards having a coworker with mental health issues or illness: a latent class analysis.

Workplace mental health stigma is a major problem as it can lead to adverse occupational outcomes and reduced well-being. Although workplace climate is largely determined by managers and co-workers, the role of co-workers in workplace stigma is understudied. Therefore, the aims are: (1) to examine knowledge and attitudes towards having a coworker with Mental Health Issues or Illness (MHI), especially concerning the desire for social distance, (2) to identify distinct subgroups of workers based on their potential concerns towards having a coworker with MHI, and (3) to characterize these subgroups in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and background characteristics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a nationally representative internet panel of 1,224 Dutch workers who had paid jobs and did not hold management positions. Descriptive statistics and a three-step approach Latent Class Analysis (LCA) were used to address the research aims. Concerning the desire for social distance, 41.9% of Dutch workers indicated they did not want to have a close colleague with MHI, and 64.1% did not want to work for a higher-ranking manager who had MHI. In contrast however, most workers did not have negative experiences with interacting with coworkers with MHI (92.6%). Next, five distinct subgroups (SG) of workers were identified: two subgroups with few concerns towards having a coworker with MHI (SG1 and SG2; 51.8% of the respondents), one subgroup with average concerns (SG3; 22.7% of the respondents), and two subgroups with more concerns (SG4 and SG5; 25.6% of the respondents). Four out of five subgroups showed a high tendency towards the desire for social distance. Nevertheless, even in the subgroups with more concerns, (almost) half of the respondents were willing to learn more about how to best deal with coworkers with MHI. No significant differences were found between the subgroups on background characteristics. The high tendency to the desire for social distance seems to contrast with the low number of respondents who personally had negative experiences with workers with MHI in the workplace. This suggests that the tendency to socially exclude this group was not based on their own experience. The finding that a large group of respondents indicated to want to learn more about how to deal with a co-worker with MHI is promising. Destigmatizing interventions in the workplace are needed in order to create more inclusive workplaces to improve sustained employment of people with MHI. These interventions should focus on increasing the knowledge of workers about how to best communicate and deal with coworkers with MHI, they do not need to differentiate in background variables of workers.

Development and preliminary validation of computationally efficient and detailed 50th percentile female human body models

ObjectiveNo vehicle testing standard (physical or computational) employs a mid-sized female human surrogate, despite discrepancies related to injury outcomes for female occupants amongst all vehicle users. We detail the design and preliminary validation of 50th percentile female (F50) computational human body models (HBMs) based on Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) models. MethodData for the target geometry was collected as part of the initial generation of GHBMC models. Imaging, surface data, and 15 anthropomorphic measures from a living female subject (60.8 kg and 1.61 m) served as the baseline for model development. Due to the role rib cage geometry plays in biomechanical loading, rib cage morphology from secondary retrospective data was leveraged to identify an average female rib cage based on gross anatomical features. A female rib cage was selected from an existing dataset closest to the mean depth, height, and width of the set, considering only those aged 20 – 50 years. The selected subject among this secondary set also exhibited a 7th rib angle and sternum angle within 5% of the mean measurements, and within the range of previously reported studies. The GHBMC 5th percentile, small female detailed (high biofidelity) and simplified (computationally efficient) models were morphed to match the F50 subject body surface, selected bones, and mean rib cage using established thin plate spline techniques. The models were validated vs. previously published literature studies with an emphasis on rib cage response. Model data was compared to 47 channels of experimental data across four biomechanical hub simulations, two sled test simulations (one of which included all female PMHS), and two robustness simulations to test stability. Model results were mass scaled to the average of the reported corridors. Objective evaluation was conducted using CORA.IRB approval was obtained for all prospective and retrospective data collected or used. The target rib cage was selected from retrospective image data used in prior studies (n = 339 chest CT scans). ResultsThe morphed HBMs closely matched the target geometry. The detailed and simplified models had masses and element counts of 61.2 kg and 61.8 kg, and 2.8 million and 0.3 million, respectively. The mass difference is due to a coarser mesh in the simplified model. The simplified model ran 23 times faster than the detailed model on the same hardware. Each model exhibited stability in robustness tests, and the average CORA scores were 0.80 and 0.72 in the detailed and simplified models, respectively. The models performed well in frontal impacts against PMHS corridors after mass scaling. ConclusionsNumerous recent studies underscore poorer injury outcomes for female vehicle occupants compared to males. While such outcomes are multifactorial, the average female models introduced in this work offer a novel tool within a widely used family of HBMs to reduce the outcome gap in terms of injury for all drivers. HBMs can be deployed in safety studies or in future regulatory requirements faster and more economically than a resized or newly designed ATDs aimed at the same target population.

Investigating PhDs’ early career occupational outcomes in Italy: individual motivations, role of supervisor and gender differences

The paper examines how individual motivations, the role of the supervisor and gender influence the early career path of doctorate holders. We investigate PhD graduates’ occupational outcomes beyond academia in the framework of current literature on the oversupply of PhD holders and labor market constraints. Our analysis relies on two unique datasets. The first, at the national level, includes microdata from the Italian National Institute of Statistics regarding about 41,000 graduates who account for over 70% of the population of 6 cohorts surveyed for the period 2004–2014. The other dataset is from a single university, and resulted from an original survey of 760 PhD holders who earned their doctorates from the University of Turin in 2007–2017. We find that PhD holders’ motivation towards science is associated with their subsequent employment in academia or in other research and non-research jobs. Sponsoring support in early career and the supervisor’s propensity for basic research also play a role in the future academic career path. Gender differences in type of occupation, however, continue to persist even taking motivations and the supervisor’s role into account.

The experience of meaningful rehabilitation as perceived by people with chronic pain: A phenomenological study.

People with chronic pain may seek rehabilitation to reduce pain and restore productivity and valued roles. Theoretically, a biopsychosocial approach makes rehabilitation more meaningful, however, the limited research on meaningful rehabilitation predominantly describes the perspective of therapists and researchers. The client's perspective of meaningfulness in rehabilitation is lacking. To investigate the experience of meaningfulness in rehabilitation from the perspective of people with chronic pain. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Australian adults who had chronic pain and recent experience of occupational therapy or physiotherapy. Sampling continued until thematic saturation occurred. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using theory-driven and data-driven thematic analysis. Ten participants (four males; six females) were interviewed. Pain histories ranged from nine months to 20+ years, with conditions such as fibromyalgia or trauma. Three themes from a prior concept analysis were upheld, and a further three data-driven themes emerged. Results indicate that people with chronic pain seek a "genuine connection"; from a therapist who is "credible"; and can become a "guiding partner", and they find rehabilitation meaningful when it holds "personal value"; is "self-defined"; and relevant to their sense of "self-identity". The genuine connection and guiding partnership with a credible therapist, that is sought by people with chronic pain, may be at odds with aspects of contemporary rehabilitation. Client-defined meaningfulness is an important construct to engage clients in treatment and improve work and other occupational outcomes for people with chronic pain.

Intersections on the road to skills' transferability: The role of international training, gender, and visible minority status in shaping immigrant engineers' career attainment in Canada.

This paper focuses on the engineering profession in Canada, a regulated field with a large proportion of internationally trained professionals. Using Canadian census data, this study addresses two main questions. First, I ask whether immigrant engineers who were trained abroad are at increased disadvantage in gaining access (1) to employment in general, (2) to the engineering field, and (3) to professional and managerial employment within the field. Second, I ask how immigration status and the origin of training intersect with gender and visible minority status to shape immigrant engineers' occupational outcomes. The results reveal that immigrant engineers who were trained abroad are at increased risk of occupational mismatch and this risk is two-fold and intersectional. First, they are at a disadvantage to enter the engineering field. Second, those employed in the engineering field are more likely to occupy technical positions. These forms of disadvantage intensify and diversify for women and racial/ethnic minority immigrants. The paper concludes with a discussion of immigrants' skills transferability in regulated fields from an intersectional perspective.

Variation in nest‐site occupancy and breeding outcome in a threatened Subantarctic raptor

Breeding outcome in birds can be influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which may contribute differentially to each stage of the breeding cycle. Island raptors are relatively threatened species that rely on simplified food webs and usually co‐occur with invasive species. Here, we studied a population of Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis in Isla de los Estados (Argentina) to understand the relative contribution of food availability, topographical features and territoriality to breeding parameters. Caracaras in the area depend on the short seasonal (i.e. pulsed) availability of seabirds for feeding their chicks. On the other hand, the recent introduction of non‐native ungulates may have led to a suboptimal breeding environment by reducing Caracara nest‐site availability within the seabird colonies via disturbance of the grassland. Using data from seven breeding seasons we analyse the abundance, the proportion of breeding individuals, the spatial structure of breeding events and the population‐level breeding performance, including chick sex ratio, to study whether the breeding ecology of this species is still shaped by marine food web pulses or could be associated with invasive herbivore disturbance. The breeding adults represented only 6–15% of the population. The spatial pattern of nest‐sites did not differ from random arrangement after considering the heterogeneous distribution of food availability. Territory identity accounted for most of the variation in clutch size and productivity, and penguin availability explained part of the variability in territory occupancy and hatching rate. The chick sex ratio was biased towards females and varied according to brood size, with the more productive territories producing 91% of males. The breeding cycle of this population is still mainly dependent upon the Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome food pulse and presents mixed evidence of being disrupted by invasive herbivores. The studied factors contributed differentially to the output of each reproductive stage, with territory identity accounting for most of the variation. Our results suggest that individual‐level, long‐term data could be relevant to understanding the dynamics of this species in the Fuegian archipelago, and thus a broad‐scale research programme is warranted to assess the conservation status and propose future management scenarios for this species.

Why Inclusive Resources Matter—The Importance of Inclusive Internal Resources for Strain and Intended Inclusive Practices of Pre-Service Teachers

Inclusive internal resources moderate teachers’ mental health and predict teachers’ inclusive practices. Therefore, it is important to enhance inclusive internal resources during the beginning of initial teaching experiences. Applying the job demands–resources (JD-R) theory to explain strain and the theory of planned behavior to elucidate behavior, it can be assumed that teachers’ inclusive resources lead to a reduction in negative strain, an increase in positive strain and efficient (intended) inclusive practices as occupational outcomes. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to support this assumption among pre-service teachers. To ensure that student teachers had teaching experiences in inclusive settings, the present study was conducted after pre-service teachers’ final teaching practicum in the university phase of teacher education. A total of 294 pre-service elementary school teachers from one university in Germany participated. Structural equation models suggested that inclusive self-efficacy expectations and attitudes towards inclusion predicted students intended inclusive practices, but so did professional engagement as a positive strain. While professional engagement only correlated with inclusive self-efficacy expectations, the self-perceived stress intensity of a challenging student as negative strain negatively correlated with inclusive self-efficacy expectations and personal resistance.

"I don't want to be a victim again": the impact of repeat assault on police officers.

The frequency of assaults on police officers in the United Kingdom is rising and evidence suggests that exposure to work-place violence can negatively impact wellbeing, for example, increased perceived stress, feeling worn out and tired, and emotional exhaustion. Despite the prevalence of assaults on police officers, little research has examined the impact of repeat assaults on officers' wellbeing. For the current study, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted to investigate the impact of repeat assaults on wellbeing and occupational outcomes in police officers and staff, including impacts on their mental and physical heath, impacts on their work, the impact of prior assaults on future assaults, and what support they were provided with. Findings indicate that repeat assaults had a negative impact on participants mental and physical wellbeing. Furthermore, a lack of support both from management and peers within the police force was found to further exacerbate the impact of repeat assaults. However, the provision of support was also identified as a mitigating factor when it was available and provided to participants which helped to protect participants from some of the negative impact of repeat assaults. Findings provide a unique in-depth perspective into police officers' experiences following repeat assaults, which can in turn inform national policies and help tailor effective support services within the police force.

Prospective Predictors of Work Limitations in Young Adult Lesbian and Bisexual Women: An Examination of Minority Stress, Trauma Exposure, and Mental Health.

Trauma exposure and mental health problems adversely affect work functioning. Sexual minority women are at increased risk for trauma exposure, depression, and PTSD. Sexual minority women also experience unique stressors related to their sexual orientation, which can directly impact work functioning. However, little research to date has examined the impact of trauma exposure and mental health problems among sexual minority women on their occupational outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine whether trauma exposure, mental health problems, and minority stressors were associated with occupational functioning one year later in a large sample of young adult lesbian and bisexual women. The study utilized a subset of data (N = 304) from a larger longitudinal study on health risk behaviors among young adult lesbian and bisexual women. Results indicated that trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress, depression, and perceived heterosexism were each associated with subsequent work limitations, but after accounting for shared variance between predictors, only perceived heterosexism and depression were uniquely associated with subsequent work functioning. These findings highlight the roles of mental health and sexual orientation-related stress in the challenges that lesbian and bisexual women experience at work and point to a need for additional research to better understand risk and protective factors related to negative employment outcomes among lesbian and bisexual women.

Traces in the shadow: Occupational outcomes of previously undocumented migrants in Italy

AbstractUsing a representative sample of currently legal third‐country immigrants in Italy, obtained from the Social Condition and Integration of Foreign Citizens survey, this article examines the long‐term labour market consequences of previous undocumented spells. First, formerly undocumented immigrants are identified using retrospective information on respondents' legal status. Second, immigrants are classified according to the duration of irregular spells before the achievement of the first residence permit. Third, current labour market outcomes are investigated to account for the endogeneity underlying the previous undocumented history. Results show that even though formerly undocumented immigrants are more likely to participate in the labour market, they are more likely to be employed in underqualified occupations than continuously legal immigrants. The duration of the irregular experience affects occupational qualification negatively, among both men and women. The lack of legal entry channels and policies to plan and regulate migration to Italy may reinforce labour market segmentation, exposing migrants to long‐term occupational downgrade.

Review of work from home empirical research during Covid-19

This study synthesizes the empirical research on Work From Home (WFH) during COVID-19 from 2020 to 2022. The study addressed two objectives; (1) to find the common WFH practices during the COVID-19 2020–2022 period and (2) to find the areas that are not common in WFH practices in the research landscape during COVID-19 in 2020–2022 and (3) the areas that need attention in future research on WFH practices. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to address these objectives. Following a predetermined article selection criteria, 108 articles were included from Scopus for the review. The study addressed the first objective and found five areas of outcomes which are; (1) Work attitudinal outcomes and means for WFH, (2) Gender-related outcomes, (3) Leadership challenges and mental health outcomes, (4) Work-related outcomes, and (5) Mobility-related outcomes. Addressing the second objective, we have seven areas for future research, including the five outcomes related to the first objective and (1) Determinants and (2) Occupational health outcomes of WFH, which were found in addressing the second objective. Moreover, research implications for practicality and future researchers are also provided.

Impact of patient safety climate on infection prevention practices and healthcare worker and patient outcomes

BackgroundStandard precautions may prevent patient health care associated infections and provider occupational exposures but are not often used by health care workers. A positive patient safety climate might contribute to improved adherence. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among patient safety climate, standard precaution adherence, and health care worker exposures and HAIs. MethodsThis multi-site, cross-sectional study included survey data from nurses on patient safety climate, observational data on adherence, and existing health care worker exposure and health care associated infections data. Data were aggregated to hospital unit level for correlational and multivariable regression analyses. ResultsA total of 5,285 standard precaution observations and 452 surveys were collected across 43 hospital units. Observed adherence to all categories of standard precautions was 64.4%; there were significant differences by provider role. Multivariable models identified key predictors explaining sizeable variance in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (41%), catheter associated urinary tract infections (23%), mucotaneous exposures (43%) and needlestick and sharps injuries (38%). DiscussionThis study produced findings not previously published thus advancing the state of the science in patient and occupational health safety. These include identifying modifiable features of the safety climate and key organizational characteristics associated better outcomes. ConclusionsIn this novel study we identified that a positive patient safety climate and adherence to standard precautions predict key HAI and occupational health outcomes.

PROTOCOL: The effectiveness of sensory interventions targeted at improving occupational outcomes, quality of life, well-being and behavioural and psychological symptoms for older adults living with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This is the protocol for a Campbell systematic review. The objectives are as follows: The primary objective is to systematically review the available evidence of the effects of sensory interventions on quality of life, well-being, occupational participation, and behavioural and psychological symptoms of older adults living with dementia.

Modular Homes as a New Form of Accommodation to Tackle Homelessness: A Case Study From Cambridge, England

In England, provision of temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness has often entailed using traditional construction approaches to deliver housing. However, recent experiments are using modular homes to provide temporary accommodation, accompanied by support services for people experiencing homelessness. Given the early nature of these trials, it is unclear what impacts these modular homes have on their occupants and how these projects in turn impact surrounding residents and businesses. We present a case study of the first modular homes for people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, England, drawing on longitudinal interviews with the six residents occupying these homes. We found that the physical features of the homes, coupled with wrap-around support services, yielded positive short- and mid-term outcomes for occupants, including improved management of their substance use and money, skills development and readiness for employment, social relations, and a burgeoning sense of community, safety, and security. These positive outcomes have spurred wider interest, including the incorporation of modular homes as alternative temporary accommodation in the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy of Cambridge City Council, alongside a growing research interest in modular homes and other new schemes by the national government. We argue for further empirical studies of the impacts of different modular home projects, including those that admit more diverse resident cohorts and offer different accommodation types to establish a clear methodology for future modular homes projects in England and beyond.

Mental health issues and illness and substance use disorder (non-)disclosure to a supervisor: a cross-sectional study on beliefs, attitudes and needs of military personnel

ObjectivesResearch suggests that military personnel frequently delay disclosing mental health issues and illness (MHI), including substance use disorder, to supervisors. This delay causes missed opportunities for support and workplace accommodations...