Work Situation Research Articles

Exploring the working life of people with multiple sclerosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to vast changes in working life and conditions in which we work. These changes may affect people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) differently. We aimed to describe the working situation of PwMS during the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic’s impact on their working lives.MethodsAll individuals aged 20–50 listed in the Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Registry were invited to participate in an online survey in 2021. Closed and open-ended responses linked to individual-level register data were used in this exploratory mixed-methods study. Differences in the proportions reporting specific impacts were assessed with chi-square tests by sex, MS severity, education, and profession. The open-ended answers were analysed through content analysis.ResultsOver 8500 PwMS were invited (52% response rate). We included the 3887 respondents who answered questions about the impact of the pandemic on working life. Most (93.7%) reported being in paid work. An impact of the ongoing pandemic to one’s daily occupation was reported by 26.2%, with different characteristics observed across the impacts. Four categories of type of answers were identified from the open-ended answers: Direct impact on one’s occupation, Disclosing or concealing MS in the workplace, Worry and uncertainty, and Broader impact to life situation.ConclusionsPwMS navigated the pandemic by interrupting as well as continuing their working lives. Many PwMS reported that the pandemic did not affect their work situation. However, the reported impacts differed among the participants and a sense of uncertainty and worry was often underlying their statements. Lessons from the pandemic may support future work participation.

Does childhood maltreatment affect hikikomori via traits of modern-type depression?

BackgroundIn the 1990s, the concepts of hikikomori and modern-type depression (MTD) emerged in Japan. Hikikomori is a condition of social avoidance or isolation, characterized by staying at home and being physically isolated for at least six months. MTD is characterized by depressive symptoms—mainly in stressful work or school situations during adolescence and early adulthood—which tend to rapidly reduce or disappear after leaving the stressful situation. We hypothesized that childhood maltreatment can form MTD traits that lead to hikikomori. MethodsAs a first step, we conducted a multigroup path analysis between childhood maltreatment, MTD traits, and physical isolation in the hikikomori group. This study utilized the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Home Environment Questionnaire (HEQ), 22-item Tarumi Modern-Type Depressive Trait Scale (TACS-22), 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). The HQ-25 contains three factors: physical isolation, lack of socialization, and lack of emotional support. ResultsThe hikikomori group included 92 patients and the control group comprised 137 healthy individuals. All total and subscale scores of PHQ-9, HEQ, TACS-22, HQ-25, and HDRS were significantly higher in the hikikomori group than in the control group. The risk model of childhood maltreatment for physical isolation via MTD traits obtained good fit with a goodness-of-fit index of.982. LimitationsThe study's limitations were its sample selection bias, cross-sectional design, and use of self-report scales. ConclusionsOur findings support the hypothesis that childhood maltreatment is an important risk factor for hikikomori via MTD traits.

Examining performance calibration in smart power system electricity metering based on environmental perception attention LSTM-network

The operating environment greatly influences the accuracy of power metering devices, resulting in variations and inconsistencies in measurement results across different working situations. A calibration model for power metering devices is proposed in this study, considering a range of environmental circumstances. The first step involves investigating the environmental conditions that impact the accuracy of power metering devices. The mutual information approach is utilized to identify environmental disturbances affecting device accuracy. A machine learning-driven symmetry attention Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network addresses measurement errors, capitalizing on the network’s symmetry data knowledge. Ultimately, the efficacy of the suggested approach is substantiated through the utilization of performance indicators, namely, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the errors of the power measurement device in all quarters, and the error reduction effect is over 10% in the spring, which is better than other models, demonstrating exemplary performance in correcting the calibration errors of the power measurement device.

Human Risk in Work Situation: Theoretical Framework

To improve the contribution of human risk management in different work activities and thus to the general reliability of safety systems, this research proposes a theoretical framework for human risk management in work situations, through a detailed analysis design elements of human factors in the genesis of work accidents.

How healthcare team build Resilience to Stress

Introduction: This study explores how the interaction theory of stress and coping, the expansion and construction theory of positive emotions, and the conservation of resources theory can help healthcare teams resist stress. Community resilience has been overlooked in health research on individual resilience. This study examines the resilience of teams to overcome knowledge gaps. Methodology: A snowballing method was used to select 10 members of the oral and maxillofacial surgery team for the study. Zoom was used to conduct 10 semi-structured interviews with three study participants. What causes team stress? How is stress tolerance defined? What strategies does the team use to build resilience? Interviews were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Research has found that patient care, long working hours, conflicting work commitments and a lack of control contribute to employee stress. Transactional theories of stress and coping suggest that a problem- and meaning-centered approach can help people cope with a variety of stressors. Teams also leverage social capital, constructive criticism, and positive emotions. It turns out that people have different definitions of resilience. Resilience is defined as a quality, characteristic, or strategy for coping with stress. Conclusion: The paper concludes with recommendations for implementation. Research shows that unpleasant emotions are expressed in difficult, low-stress work situations. It supports the non-suppression of unpleasant feelings, their resolution, and solutions. Management needs to step in and teach team members to express uncomfortable feelings in a constructive way.

Peningkatan Kompetensi dan Etika Bekerja Melalui Pelatihan Bahasa Jepang di PT Toray International Matsuoka Winner

Work ethics and foreign language skills are essential for the professional, especially in a multinational corporate environment, where people who work have different cultures, languages, and nationalities. That is confirmed by observations at PT Toray International Matsuoka Winner Industries Semarang (PT TIMW). With daily interactions with Japanese clients and college, an understanding of the work ethics of Japanese corporations and proficiency in Japanese is necessary. The participants first studied Japanese corporate work ethics to improve PT TIMW staff's professional skills. Furthermore, ethical knowledge is covered by studying Japanese, which correlates to the office and business activities carried out by PT TIMW. The Japanese class training was attended by related department staff with the highest intensity of interacting with Japanese colleges and clients. Pair conversation activities were carried out to support the simulation of work situations related to production quantities and activities that indicate time. The tricky part was when the participants communicated by using numbers because there were differences in how to count between Indonesian and Japanese. The training showed good results where the participants could answer the mini-tests in each session. Pictures in textbook show an excellent impact in helping participants to imagine concepts and assist conversational activities in Japanese.

The Relationship Between Job Weight and Work Situation with Nurses' Work Discipline

Keberhasilan pelaksanaan kerja Puskesmas ketika melaksanakan perannya ditunjukkan dengan adanya kualitas layanan terbaik. Servis yang prima, keramahan dan ketepatan waktu pengobatan yang diberikan kepada pasien erat kaitannya dengan kedisiplinan kerja perawat. Instabilitas bobot pekerjaan ialah perwujudan lain dari awal munculnya keletihan, kejenuhan dan stres karena pekerjaan, sampai-sampai mempengaruhi disiplin kerja perawat. Kedisiplinan kerja merupakan sebuah kompenen yang mempengaruhi situasi kerja diantara beberapa komponen lainnya. Riset ini memiliki arah guna mengetahui keterkaitan Bobot pekerjaan dan situasi kerja dengan kedisiplinan kerja perawat di Puskesmas Haurpanggung Garut Tahun 2021. Riset ini memakai desain deskriptif korelasi, dengan sampel sebanyak 42 perawat. Perolehan riset ini yaitu sebagian besar perawat menyatakan bobot pekerjaan berat, sebagian besar perawat menyatakan situasi kerja kurang baik dan sebagian besar perawat di Puskesmas tidak disiplin. Kesimpulan terdapat keterkaitan bobot pekerjaan dengan kedisiplinan kerja perawat dan terdapat keterkaitan situasi kerja dengan kedisiplinan kerja perawat di Puskesmas Haurpanggung Garut.

Heuristics for Equitable Technical Communication in Remote & Hybrid Game Development

Purpose: This article seeks to provide a set of heuristics for technical communication, addressing the newfound challenges to game developers as a result of the seemingly permanent shift to hybrid and remote work in this industry. In particular, this piece offers developers tangible ways in which they can facilitate productive and equitable means of technical communications that account for the unique needs of this kind of work that now takes place in almost exclusively remote and hybrid working situations. Method: This piece relies on both survey and interview data collected from nearly 300 members of the Independent Game Developers Association (IGDA) and at various games-based conferences (e.g., the Game Developers Conference) over a period of two years through a partnership grant between York University and the IGDA. Results: The results noted two key findings: First, the majority of game developers do not want to or intend to ever return to a fully physical office setting. Second, the results indicate that the shift to remote work more often negatively impacted female and non-binary developers, most likely due to the additional caregiving responsibilities traditionally emplaced on these groups. Conclusion: Technical communication is a central part of the game development process and has become even more pivotal as developers continue to operate under remote and hybrid working conditions. As such, the heuristics developed from this data focus on addressing the needs of these groups so that the remote and hybrid workplaces can operate as equitably as possible in this new industry model.

Employee Experience While Working Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand: A Qualitative Enquiry

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought massive changes to all aspects of human society and the economy. Recent outbreaks in Thailand lasted for a longer duration and have been more severe than the previous commencing epidemic, as evidenced by the increased counts of cases, hospitalizations, and, unfortunately, fatalities. Thereby, social distancing - the most powerful strategy to prevent the coronavirus spread - was more strictly imposed, as officials implemented vaccination and other mitigation strategies. Consequently, remote working has become obligatory for every firm, alternating working in person in most situations. This paper aims to reflect unique perceptions of employee experience and initially identify some contributing factors regarding the remote working situation in Thailand during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby illuminating implications for both employees and employers in the possible long-term future of remote working. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants who served different roles in various industries, yet all experienced remote working during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. The subsequent analysis yielded four primary themes. First , the application of technology and its quality had a strong impact on employee experience, as this was the inevitable instrument to maintain all activities. Second, the discrepancy in role autonomy discriminated more distinctly the working pressure between managers and subordinates. Third, work-life balance was more difficult to achieve for people who have a family, with more blurs and complications. And finally, organizational changes were critical to employee experience, yet still limited and incomprehensible.

Assessment of occupational health hazards among printing press workers

Background Workers in printing press are frequently exposed to various occupational health hazards, including physical, chemical, mechanical (ergonomic), biological, and psychological hazards while doing their jobs. Chemical and mechanical hazards pose a significant threat to the health and safety of printing press workers (PPWs). A hazardous working condition not only brings numerous health risks to the workers’ health but also minimizes the enterprise’s productivity. Recognizing these hazards and their consequences is the first step toward creating a safer and healthier work environment for this dedicated workforce. Aim To assess occupational health hazards (OHHs) as reported by PPW. Design A descriptive study design was utilized. Sample A purposive sample of 299 was approached for the current study. Tools Printing Press Workers Structured Questionnaire. Results Workers at the printing press were exposed to different types of OHHs, 44.6% of PPWs were exposed to chemical hazards, 46.3% were exposed to mechanical hazards, 58.5% were exposed to accidents in the workplace, and 39.5% had work accidents due to machines. Regarding causes of chemical hazards, 61.5, 55.2, 89.0, and 57.2% of PPWs were always exposed in the workplace to dust, organic solvents, ink, and lead, respectively. As for the causes of mechanical hazards, 61.9% of the study sample always have work that requires carrying heavy objects, 63.9% have a job that always requires a fixed work situation, and 61.9% have work that requires vigorous effort or maximum range of motion. Additionally, 68.9% of the study sample always have work that requires pushing or pulling, and 68.9% always have jobs that require similar repetitive movements. There were highly statistically significant positive correlations between the work stage and chemical and mechanical hazards (P=0.00). Conclusion PPWs faced various OHHs and health problems due to their work and environment. Over one-third were exposed to mild chemical hazards, almost half were exposed to moderate chemical hazards and less than one-fifth were exposed to high chemical hazards. Regarding mechanical hazards, over one-third of PPWs were exposed to mild mechanical hazards, another one-third were exposed to moderate mechanical hazards, and almost one-third were exposed to high mechanical hazards. Recommendations Conduct training programs on safety and health measures to increase knowledge and awareness of printing workers to minimize OHHs. Also, ensure effective usage of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Determinants of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Young Adults Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Selected Tertiary Hospitals in Shandong Province, China

Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the current situation of knowledge, attitude, and practice of self-management in young patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to explore the relationship between general conditions (personal, social, and environment, clinical factors) and their knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of diabetes self-management, This aims to provide patients with high-quality nursing care management and services, as well as to provide relevant recommendations for effective self-management. Methods: This study is a descriptive correlational study that used the purposive sampling method to investigate 359 patients with T2DM aged 18–25 years in four designated tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province. Results: Knowledge of self-management was correlated with sex, age, education level, occupation and work situation, monthly household income, medical payment method, family and friend support, frequency of diabetes health education, and diabetes complications. The attitude subscale was correlated with sex, age, education level, work situation, and family and friend support. The practice subscale was associated with age, education level, work situation, family and friend support, frequency of diabetes health education, and HbA1c values. Conclusion: Young adults aged 18–25 with T2DM have positive attitudes towards diabetes self-management, but there are still deficiencies in knowledge acquisition and behavioral practice. The KAP of self-management of diabetes is influenced by personal factors such as sex, age, and education level, and socio-environmental factors such as family income and family or friends’ social support. Additionally, clinical factors such as complications and HbA1c values significantly impacted the patient’s disease self-management ability.

How overloaded employees can use resilience and forgiveness resources to overcome dissatisfaction and maintain their knowledge-sharing efforts

Purpose Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this study aims to examine how employees’ experiences of excessive workloads may direct them away from efforts to share knowledge with other organizational members, as well as the circumstances in which this process is more or less likely. To untangle the process, the authors predict a mediating role of job dissatisfaction and moderating roles of two complementary resources that help employees cope with failure: resilience as a personal resource and organizational forgiveness as an organizational resource. Design/methodology/approach Survey data were gathered from employees of an organization that operates in the construction retail sector. The Process macro provides an empirical test of the moderated mediation dynamic that underpins the proposed conceptual framework. Findings The statistical findings affirm that an important channel through which employees’ perceptions that their work demands are unreasonable escalate into a diminished propensity to share knowledge is their lack of enthusiasm about their jobs. Their ability to recover from challenging work situations and their beliefs that the organization does not hold grudges against people who commit mistakes both mitigate this harmful effect. Practical implications For organizational practitioners, this research shows that when employees feel frustrated about extreme work pressures, the resource-draining situation may escalate into diminished knowledge sharing, which might inadvertently undermine their ability to receive valuable feedback for dealing with the challenges. From a positive perspective, individual resilience and organizational forgiveness represent resources that can protect employees against this negative spiral. Originality/value This study explicates an unexplored harmful effect of strenuous workloads on knowledge sharing, which is explained by employees’ beliefs that their organization fails to provide satisfactory job experiences. This effect also is mitigated to the extent that employees can draw from valuable personal and organizational resources.

Evaluation of psychological occupational health constraints according to the Karasek model among female sewing machine operators in Tunisia

Evaluation of psychological occupational health constraints according to the Karasek model among female sewing machine operators in Tunisia

The Upshot of Bs Industrial Technology Graduates' Acquired Competencies Aligned to Employment Opportunities

In today's global economy, competencies and skills are highly valued in employment opportunities. This research examines the employment profile, skills acquired in college, and the challenges of BS Industrial Technology graduates concerning job opportunities and their ability to successfully transition from college to employment. This study utilized concurrent triangulation research design. The respondents were chosen randomly for survey questionnaire and purposively for the interview. The results revealed that all majors have more single respondents than married respondents. The gender distribution of BSIT graduates varies according on their major, with some majors having a male- or female-dominated cohort. Additionally, the number of graduates varies from year to year across all majors, with some years having more or fewer graduates. Meanwhile, many students are also greatly motivated by a personal interest in the topic, highlighting the value of curiosity and passion in choosing a vocation. BSIT graduates have varying work situations which clarifies the characteristics of the labor market and the outlook for employment across a range of field of specialization. All majors agree that salaries and benefits are the main factors influencing employment decisions while career challenge ranks as the second most frequently cited factor. Furthermore, the variability in job opportunities, the impact of specialization, the relevance of education to employment, the role of transferable skills, and employment adjustments to market dynamics are some of the key themes that the challenges faced by BSIT graduates concerning job opportunities and their successful transition from college to employment encompass.

Teaching Management Coordination Work and Function of Teaching Secretary in Colleges and Universities

With the higher requirements put forward for colleges and universities to carry out education management, the assistant work of a teaching secretary is an important foundation for colleges and universities to carry out teaching management, by realizing the interoperability and communication between teachers, students, and educational affairs. Along with the continuous reform and optimization of the teaching system in colleges and universities in China, various teaching management issues are increasingly becoming prominent. So the continuous coordination of teaching secretaries can indeed lay the foundation for the smooth development of teaching. Therefore, colleges and universities should fully realize the importance of the work of teaching secretaries, and take effective measures to encourage them to play their coordinating role, which can ultimately promote the long-term development of colleges and universities. Based on this, this paper puts forward the main contents of the coordination work of teaching secretaries in colleges and universities, analyzes their main features, responsibilities, and functions, and introduces the present situation and countermeasures of the teaching management work of teaching secretaries in colleges and universities in China in the hope of promoting the rapid development of college education in the country.

Experiences of workers with long-term disabilities on employer support throughout the RTW process in The Netherlands: a qualitative study

Purpose The aim of this qualitative study was to explore ways that employer support influenced successful return to work (RTW) in workers with disabilities. Methods We conducted a semi-structured interview study among 27 workers with disabilities in the Netherlands who received a partial disability benefit two years after sick leave and who continued working in paid (part-time) employment after a period of long-term sickness absence (> 2 years). We analyzed data by means of thematic analysis. Results We identified four types of employer support that were experienced as factors of successful RTW: 1. Supervisor accessibility; 2. Supervisor engagement; 3. Supervisor strategies; and 4. Supervisor-initiated work accommodations. More specifically, during the preparations for RTW phase, the supervisor’s active role involved having a positive and open attitude toward facilitating RTW; during the initial RTW phase, the supervisor’s role involved being creative in finding solutions for work accommodations; and during the sustained RTW phase, the supervisor’s role included helping workers who still needed changes in their work situations. Conclusion The elements of successful employer support reveals that the pressure on the shoulders of the supervisor is high. Future research should further investigate whether supervisors need more phase-specific training from their organization.

Efficiency of working coveralls and chemical resistant gloves in reducing operator exposure to pesticides

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used to reduce exposure when working with chemicals. For pesticides, exposure scenarios comprise mixing and loading (M&L) and application. The exposure prediction model recommended by European regulatory agencies for operator risk assessments—the Agricultural Operator Exposure Model (AOEM) – is based on 48 operator exposure studies involving over 500 professional operators from 10 European countries in typical working situations to assess exposure under realistic field conditions. We used the AOEM data to assess the efficiency of exposure reduction resulting from wearing chemical-resistant nitrile gloves and non-certified working coveralls during M&L (tank and backpack sprayer), applications using groundboom and airblast spraying, and outdoor and indoor (greenhouse) applications using handheld sprayers. All studies indicated consistent and high exposure reduction > 90% for gloves and non-certified coveralls across all investigated scenarios. Exceptions were almost exclusively observed when an operator incorrectly used the PPE. The mean exposure reduction from all operators, including those that used PPE incorrectly, was 95.0% for gloves and 96.4% for polyester/cotton working coveralls during M&L, and 91.1% for gloves and 94.9% for non-certified coveralls during all application scenarios. This analysis confirms the essential role of PPE and non-certified working coveralls in reducing operator exposure to pesticides. Outliers indicate that operators need to be properly trained and adhere to label instructions to apply pesticides according to good agricultural practices.

Impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on the oral health behaviour of young children.

Children up to the age of 10 are dependant primarily on their caregivers for oral care; COVID-19 lockdowns may have disrupted this care. We therefore assessed whether the COVID-19 lockdown affected routine parental oral care for their children. A short online survey regarding oral health behaviour and changes in the home setting during the COVID-19 lockdown was emailed to parents (n = 782, response 15%) participating in an existing study 'Healthy Teeth All Aboard (HTAA)'. During the lockdown, 29% of parents reported that they skipped their children's toothbrushing more often than before the lockdown, and 49% of the children were allowed to consume sugary snacks or drinks more often. These behaviours were not significantly associated with socio-economic status, country of birth of the mother, work situation of the parents, school attendance patterns or HTAA participation status. The COVID-19 lockdown affected the daily oral hygiene routines of children, potentially increasing caries risk. Dental professionals should be aware of the potential impacts on oral health in children in the circumstance of a new lockdown. Parents should be made aware of the oral health consequences of a lockdown.

Non-dispensing pharmacists integrated into general practices as a new interprofessional model: a qualitative evaluation of general practitioners’ experiences and views

BackgroundA new interprofessional model incorporating non-dispensing pharmacists in general practice teams can improve the quality of pharmaceutical care. However, results of the model are dependent on the context. Understanding when, why and how the model works may increase chances of successful broader implementation in other general practices. Earlier theories suggested that the results of the model are achieved by bringing pharmacotherapeutic knowledge into general practices. This mechanism may not be enough for successful implementation of the model. We wanted to understand better how establishing new interprofessional models in existing healthcare organisations takes place.MethodsAn interview study, with a realist informed evaluation was conducted. This qualitative study was part of the Pharmacotherapy Optimisation through Integration of a Non-dispensing pharmacist in primary care Teams (POINT) project. We invited the general practitioners of the 9 general practices who (had) worked closely with a non-dispensing pharmacist for an interview. Interview data were analysed through discussions about the coding with the research team where themes were developed over time.ResultsWe interviewed 2 general practitioners in each general practice (18 interviews in total). In a context where general practitioners acknowledge the need for improvement and are willing to work with a non-dispensing pharmacist as a new team member, the following mechanisms are triggered. Non-dispensing pharmacists add new knowledge to current general practice. Through everyday talk (discursive actions) both general practitioners and non-dispensing pharmacists evolve in what they consider appropriate, legitimate and imaginable in their work situations. They align their professional identities.ConclusionsNot only the addition of new knowledge of non-dispensing pharmacist to the general practice team is crucial for the success of this interprofessional healthcare model, but also alignment of the general practitioners’ and non-dispensing pharmacists’ professional identities. This is essentially different from traditional pharmaceutical care models, in which pharmacists and GPs work in separate organisations. To induce the process of identity alignment, general practitioners need to acknowledge the need to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care interprofessionally. By acknowledging the aspect of interprofessionality, both general practitioners and non-dispensing pharmacists will explore and reflect on what they consider appropriate, legitimate and imaginable in carrying out their professional roles.Trial registrationThe POINT project was pre-registered in The Netherlands National Trial Register, with Trial registration number NTR-4389.

Bridging the theory-practice gap in pharmacy education using an authentic learning approach: A cross-sectional study

Background: Authentic learning environments highlight real-world relevance to students, contributing to readiness for practice. This study evaluated the impact of an educational activity on student pharmacist learning and personal/professional development. Methods: An activity similar to that used by practising pharmacy professionals to record errors during dispensing was included in simulated community pharmacy workshops delivered to Year-2 students as part of a Professional Practice Module. Students were instructed to complete entries when academic staff identified errors during final accuracy checks. Student evaluation surveys were analysed at the end of terms one and two of the academic year. Descriptive statistics were used for closed questions, and thematic analysis for open-ended responses. Results: Of the 75 student pharmacists who completed both evaluation surveys, 64% (n=48) recorded fewer errors in term two. Respondents considered the exercise helpful in highlighting the need for more attention to detail and identifying negative trends in their dispensing process. A positive response to personal/professional development was noted, with student pharmacists commenting that the activity facilitated reflection. Conclusion: This activity has allowed students to experience real-world working situations, extending their learning experience, facilitating personal/professional development, and encouraging best practices.