Swedish Working Population Research Articles

Expectancies, Socioeconomic Status, and Self-Rated Health: Use of the Simplified TOMCATS Questionnaire

BackgroundCoping has traditionally been measured with inventories containing many items meant to identify specific coping strategies. An alternative is to develop a shorter inventory that focusses on coping expectancies which may determine the extent to which an individual attempts to cope actively.PurposeThis paper explores the usefulness and validity of a simplified seven-item questionnaire (Theoretically Originated Measure of the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress, TOMCATS) for response outcome expectancies defined either as positive (“coping”), negative (“hopelessness”), or none (“helplessness”). The definitions are based on the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress (CATS; Ursin and Eriksen, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(5):567–92, 2004). The questionnaire was tested in two different samples. First, the questionnaire was compared with a traditional test of coping and then tested for validity in relation to socioeconomic differences in self-reported health.MethodsThe first study was a comparison of the brief TOMCATS with a short version of the Utrecht Coping List (UCL; Eriksen et al., Scand J Psychol, 38(3):175–82, 1997). Both questionnaires were tested in a population of 1,704 Norwegian municipality workers. The second study was a cross-sectional analysis of TOMCATS, subjective and objective socioeconomic status, and health in a representative sample of the Swedish working population in 2003–2005 (N = 11,441).ResultsIn the first study, the coping item in the TOMCATS questionnaire showed an expected significant positive correlation with the UCL factors of instrumental mastery-oriented coping and negative correlations with passive and depressive scores. There were also the expected correlations for the helplessness and hopelessness scores, but there was no clear distinction between helplessness and hopelessness in the way they correlated with the UCL. In the second study, the coping item in TOMCATS and the three-item helplessness scores showed clear and monotonous gradients over a subjective socioeconomic status (SES) ladder. Positive response outcome expectancy (“coping”) was related to high subjective SES and no expectancy (“helplessness”) to low subjective SES. In a model including age and sex, TOMCATS scores explained more variance (r 2 = 0.16) in self-reported health than both subjective (r 2 = 0.08) and objective SES (r 2 = 0.02).ConclusionThe brief TOMCATS questionnaire showed acceptable and significant correlations with a traditional coping questionnaire and is sensitive enough to register systematic differences in response outcome expectancies across the socioeconomic ladder. The results furthermore confirm that psychological and learning factors contribute to the socioeconomic gradient in health.

Income differences in stroke mortality: A 12-year follow-up study of the Swedish working population

This study explored the association between income and stroke mortality in the total working population in Sweden and examined whether the associations differ by gender or for stroke subtypes intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) or brain infarction (BI). This was a register-based study among nearly 3 million working women and men (30-64 years in 1990) with a 12-year follow up (1991-2002) for mortality from stroke (4886 deaths). Income was measured as annual registered income from work in 1990. Gender-specific Cox regressions were applied with adjustments for sociodemographic covariates. The age-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of lowest versus highest income quartile was 1.80 (1.48-2.19) for any stroke, 1.68 (1.29-2.17) for ICH and 2.23 (1.53-3.22) for BI in women, and the corresponding figures for men were 2.12 (1.92-2.34), 2.02 (1.77-2.31), and 2.09 (1.77-2.46). Adjustment for covariates attenuated these associations to 1.69 (1.33-2.15) for any stroke and 1.56 (1.14-2.14) for ICH in women and to 1.98 (1.74-2.24) for any stroke and 1.77 (1.44-2.19) for BI in men. In contrast, adjustment for covariates amplified the estimates to 2.36 (1.52-3.66) for BI in women and to 2.05 (1.73-2.44) for ICH in men. Risk of stroke mortality was highest in the lowest income group, with a gradient for the intermediate groups, in both women and men. The risk of mortality from BI was highest in women with the lowest income and the risk of ICH was highest in men with the lowest income.

Exploring the interplay between work stress and socioeconomic position in relation to common health complaints: The role of interaction

This study explored the interplay between work stress and socioeconomic position and investigated if the interaction of work stress and low socioeconomic position is associated with poorer health. A representative sample of the Swedish working population, including 2,613 employees (48.7% women) aged 19-64 years, was analyzed. The health outcomes were poor self-rated health, psychological distress, and musculoskeletal pain. Work stress was operationalized as job strain and effort-reward imbalance, and socioeconomic position as occupational class. Interaction analysis was based on departure from additivity as criterion, and a synergy index (SI) was applied, using odds ratios (ORs) from logistic regressions for women and men. In fully adjusted models, work stress, and in a lesser extent also socioeconomic position, was associated with higher odds for the three health complaints. The prevalence of poorer health was highest among those individuals jointly exposed to high work stress and low occupational class, with ORs ranging from 1.94 to 6.77 (95%CI 1.01-18.65) for poor self-rated health, 2.42-8.44 (95%CI 1.28-27.06) for psychological distress and 1.93-3.93 (95%CI 1.11-6.78) for musculoskeletal pain. The joint influence of work stress and low socioeconomic position on health was additive rather than multiplicative.

Subjective social status: its determinants and association with health in the Swedish working population (the SLOSH study)

This study aims to confirm associations between subjective social status (SSS) and health in the Swedish working population, to investigate if SSS is related to health over and above conventional measures of socio-economic status and to identify factors related to perception of SSS. The study includes 2358 men and 2665 women in the age group of 19-68 years who participated in the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH). SSS was measured using the MacArthur scale, a 10-rung ladder on which individuals indicate where they think they stand in the social hierarchy. Health, health behaviors and social situation were also measured in 2006, while more objective measures of socio-economic position were derived from registry data and interviews in 2003. Perception of SSS was cross-sectionally related to age-adjusted prevalence of suboptimal perceived general health, sleep disturbances, musculoskeletal symptoms, depressive symptoms and emotional exhaustion. Relative Indices of Inequalities (RII) showed significant relationships between SSS and health, which were attenuated by adjustment for general life satisfaction. Adjustment for occupational grade, education and income further attenuated the relationship. The main predictors of SSS in 2006 were occupational grade, personal income and education in 2003; household financial situation, general life satisfaction and job control in 2006. When ranking their SSS, women put more weight on household financial situation and men on their personal income. SSS is associated with prevalence of several health complaints in the Swedish working population over and above conventional SES, indicating that SSS is a valid measure of social inequality in health.

Stress and prevalence of hearing problems in the Swedish working population

BackgroundCurrent human and experimental studies are indicating an association between stress and hearing problems; however potential risk factors have not been established. Hearing problems are projected to become among the top ten disabilities according to the WHO in the near future. Therefore a better understanding of the relationships between stress and hearing is warranted. Here we describe the prevalence of two common hearing problems, i.e. hearing complaints and tinnitus, in relation to different work-and health-related stressors.MethodsA total of 18,734 individuals were invited to participate in the study, out of which 9,756 (52%) enrolled.ResultsThe results demonstrate a clear and mostly linear relationship between higher prevalence of hearing problems (tinnitus or hearing loss or both) and different stressors, e.g. occupational, poorer self-rated health, long-term illness, poorer sleep quality, and higher burnout scores.ConclusionsThe present study unambiguously demonstrates associations between hearing problems and various stressors that have not been previously described for the auditory system. These findings will open new avenues for future investigations.

Assistant nurses working in care of older people: associations with sustainable work ability

Indicators of health have shown improvements in the Swedish working population during the past decades, but with the exception of low-skilled women. Earlier research has shown that assistant nurses belong to an occupational group, which has the lowest share of individuals with long-term health in the total Swedish workforce. Sick leave research has mostly focused on determining risk factors for the development of diseases and dysfunctions. In the process of acquiring knowledge about mechanisms for sick leave, it has become obvious that there is also a need to focus on what contributes to work ability. The aim in this study was to explore what promotes sustainable work ability in female assistant nurses working in care of older people. Associations between factors related to work, health, lifestyle and sustainable work ability were investigated in a cross-sectional nested case-control study in a cohort of 366 female assistant nurses. Data were collected in self-reports in a questionnaire. Odds ratios were calculated, and a multiple logistic regression analysis was performed with sustainable work ability as the dependent variable. Sustainable work ability was associated with good self-rated health, a BMI <30, ability to sleep well, recuperation, low stress level, support from family and friends, being over 25 years of age at birth of the first child, and control over one's own life in the ≥50 age group. In the logistic regression analysis, the significant associations were good self-rated health, being over 25 years of age at the birth of the first child and recuperation. In conclusion, the study showed that self-rated health and factors in private life are important for assistant nurse's sustainable work ability over time. The results from this study could be applied in health promotion work for employees in the care sector to strengthen and enhance sustainable work ability.

Allergic rhinitis and the common cold – high cost to society

The common cold and allergic rhinitis constitute a global health problem that affects social life, sleep, school and work performance and is likely to impose a substantial economic burden on society because of absence from work and reduced working capacity. This study assesses the loss of productivity as a result of both allergic rhinitis and the common cold in the Swedish working population. Four thousand questionnaires were sent to a randomized adult population, aged 18-65 years, in Sweden, stratified by gender and area of residence (metropolitan area vs rest of the country). The human capital approach was used to assign monetary value to lost productivity in terms of absenteeism (absence from work), presenteeism (reduced working capacity while at work) and caregiver absenteeism (absence from work to take care of a sick child). Thousand two hundred and thirteen individuals responded, response rate 32%. The mean productivity loss was estimated at 5.1 days or euro 653 per worker and year, yielding a total productivity loss in Sweden of euro 2.7 billion a year. Of the total costs, absenteeism (44%) was the dominant factor, followed by presenteeism (37%) and caregiver absenteeism (19%). Poisson regression analyses revealed that women, people in the 18-29 year age group, and respondents with 'doctor-diagnosed asthma' reported more lost days than the rest of the group. In Sweden, the cost of rhinitis is euro 2.7 billion a year in terms of lost productivity. A reduction in lost productivity of 1 day per individual and year would potentially save euro 528 million.

Stability and change in burnout profiles over time: A prospective study in the working population

This is a prospective study on the development of burnout in the general Swedish working population from a person-oriented perspective. A large random sample of the general working population (N=1118) was cluster analyzed, using scores on the subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. The individual and structural stability of the configurations over time, as well as accompanying changes on work-related and mental health variables were investigated. The results show the occurrence of several different configurations of burnout variables. Scoring patterns with high exhaustion and cynicism reflected burnout; those with a high level of professional efficacy reflected engagement; there were also scoring patterns characterized by only one of the dimensions in the relative absence of others. These patterns show structural, as well as individual stability over time. The risk factors for development of burnout or engagement from clusters with only one burnout characteristic varied according to the cluster. These results give new insights, indicating that the road to burnout may be different for subgroups of different burnout profiles, and that these subgroups may potentially have different risk factors associated with the development of burnout. This is of importance for the development of early interventions.

Psychosocial working conditions and depressive symptoms among Swedish employees

To investigate prospective associations between working conditions and depressive symptoms in Swedish men and women. The study was based on SLOSH (N = 5,985), a follow-up of a representative sample of gainfully employed Swedes 16-64 years of age from the Swedish Work Environment Survey 2003. Work demands, decision authority, support and conflicts at work were measured in 2003. Depressive symptoms were recorded in 2006 by a short version of the depression subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Linear regression analyses were performed. After adjusting for an indicator of previous depressive symptoms and covariates, conflicts with fellow workers in men were associated with depressive symptoms, whereas demands (men), support from fellow workers (women), and decision authority predicted lower scores. The study supports the theory that decision authority, support and conflicts at work are predictive of depressive symptoms in the general Swedish working population.

Managerial leadership is associated with self-reported sickness absence and sickness presenteeism among Swedish men and women

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between managerial leadership and self-reported sickness absence/presenteeism among Swedish men and women. Five thousand one hundred and forty-one Swedish employees, 56% of the participants in a nationally representative sample of the Swedish working population, were included in this cross-sectional questionnaire study. The leadership dimensions measured were five subscales of a standardized leadership questionnaire (Global Leadership and Organizational Behaviour Effectiveness Programme): Integrity, Team integration, Inspirational leadership, Autocratic leadership, and Self-centred leadership. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for factors in private life, employment category, labour-market sector, working conditions, self-reported general health, and satisfaction with life in general. Inspirational leadership was associated with a lower rate of short spells of sickness absence (<1 week) for both men and women. Autocratic leadership was related to a greater amount of total sick days taken by men. Sometimes showing integrity was associated with higher rate of sickness absence >1 week among men, and seldom showing integrity was associated with more sickness presenteeism among women. Managers performing Team integration were sometimes associated with women taking fewer short (<1 week) and long (>1 week) spells of sickness absence. Adjustment for self-reported general health did not alter these associations for men, but did so to some extent for women. Managerial leadership was found to be relevant for the understanding of sickness absence in the Swedish working population. There were distinctive gender differences.

Work-Related Sleep Disturbances and Sickness Absence in the Swedish Working Population, 1993–1999

To examine secular trends in work-related sleep disturbances and their association with sickness absence in the Swedish working population. Nationally representative cross-sectional samples of the Swedish working population aged 16-64 (the biennial Swedish Work Environment Survey) in 1993, 1995, and 1999 respectively. Questionnaire data on work-related sleep disturbances were linked to records of medically-certified sick-leave spells exceeding 14 days obtained from national registers. All Sweden. A total of 28,424 individuals aged 16-65 with complete data (5162/5173 women/men in 1993; 4635/4764 in 1995; and 4422/4268 in 1999). N/A. The age-adjusted proportion of women with work-related sleep disturbances at least once a week increased from 12.3% in 1993 to 21.7% in 1999 (P < 0.001). The corresponding figures for men were 12.5% to 18.6% (P < 0.001). There was a strong cross-sectional association between work-related sleep disturbances and sickness absence in both genders and in each studied year. Using binary logistic regressions and adjusting for age, supervisory position, and geographical region, the odds ratios for sickness absence for those who reported work-related sleep disturbances every day, compared with those who answered "not at all/seldom last 3 months" varied between 3.22 (1.88-5.50) and 4.26 (2.56-7.19), with the strongest associations seen in 1999. Adjustment for health indicators, especially depressive symptoms, attenuated the relationship substantially. Self-reported sleep disturbances attributed to work-related causes were on the rise in Sweden and were associated with medically-certified sickness absence. Most of this association seems to be accounted for by depressive symptoms.

Does shift work cause cancer?

Does shift work cause cancer?

Experiences of WAI in a random sample of the Swedish working population

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the usability of the Work Ability Index (WAI) in a random sample of the Swedish working population. Totally 6637 subjects were selected randomly from the whole Swedish population of ages 25–75 years, stratified based on gender, age and place of domicile. The present study is based on responses from employed or self-employed subjects 25 to 64 years old, 1011 women (mean age 44.4 years) and 951 men (mean age 44.9). Rank correlation analyses between total WAI score and the seven subscores and factor analyses of the seven subscores were performed in relation to gender, age group, level of total WAI score. The Work Ability Index seems to be a useful tool not only among older workers but also among the entire working population, but the distortion of the distribution should be taken into consideration when evaluating WAI results in healthy groups and when planning new studies. Further evaluations of the WAI instrument are needed regarding changes in demands in present working life, workers of different ages and in relation to other instruments that measure work ability.

The Association between Job Demand, Control and Depression in Workplaces in Japan

Journal of Occupational HealthVolume 44, Issue 6 p. 427-428 Short CommunicationFree Access The Association between Job Demand, Control and Depression in Workplaces in Japan Kazuyo Kitaoka-Higashiguchi, Kazuyo Kitaoka-Higashiguchi Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorHideaki Nakagawa, Hideaki Nakagawa Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorYuko Morikawa, Yuko Morikawa Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorMasao Ishizaki, Masao Ishizaki Department of Hygiene, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorKatsuyuki Miura, Katsuyuki Miura Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorYuchi Naruse, Yuchi Naruse Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama, Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorTeruhiko Kido, Teruhiko Kido Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University, JapanSearch for more papers by this author Kazuyo Kitaoka-Higashiguchi, Kazuyo Kitaoka-Higashiguchi Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorHideaki Nakagawa, Hideaki Nakagawa Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorYuko Morikawa, Yuko Morikawa Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorMasao Ishizaki, Masao Ishizaki Department of Hygiene, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorKatsuyuki Miura, Katsuyuki Miura Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorYuchi Naruse, Yuchi Naruse Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama, Medical and Pharmaceutical UniversitySearch for more papers by this authorTeruhiko Kido, Teruhiko Kido Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kanazawa University, JapanSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 March 2003 https://doi.org/10.1539/joh.44.427Citations: 11 Correspondence to: K. Kitooko, Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University, Tsu 7-1 Nakanuma, Takamatsu-machi, Kahoku-gun, Ishikawa 929-1212, Japan AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. References 1RA Karasek: Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: Implications for job redesign. Adm Sci Quart 24, 285– 308 (1979) 2J De Jonge, MMEN Reuvers, ILD Houtman and MAJ Kompier: Linear and nonlinear relations between psychosocial job characteristics, subjective outcomes, and sickness absence: Baseline results from SMASH. J Occup Health Psychol 5, 256– 268 (2000) 3Karasek R. Job content questionnaire and user's guide. 1985—Revision 1.1. Lowell (MA): University of Massachusetts, Department of Work Environment, 1985. 4N Kawakami, F Kobayashi, S Araki, T Haratani and H Furui: Assessment of job stress dimensions based on the Job Demands-Control model of employees of telecommunication and electric power companies in Japan: Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Job Contend Questionnaire. Int J Behav Med 2, 358– 375 (1995) 5N Kawakami and Y Fujigaki: Reliability and validity of the Japanese version of Job Content Questionnaire: Replication and extension in computer company employees. Ind Health 34, 295– 306 (1996) 6WWK Zung. A self-rating depression scale. Arch Gen Psychiat 12, 63– 70 (1965) 7Fukuda K, Kobayashi S. Japanese version SDS (self-rating depression scale): Manual. Kyoto (Japan): Sankyobou, 1983. 8Karasek R, Theorell T. Healthy work. New York (NY): Basic Books, 1990. 9JV Johnson and EM Hall: Job strain, work place social support and cardiovascular disease: A cross sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population. Am J Public Health 78, 1336– 1342 (1988) Citing Literature Volume44, Issue6November 2002Pages 427-428 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Work environment and health in different types of temporary jobs

The aim of the study was to compare and analyse differences in work conditions and health between workers in permanent and temporary employment. The study group consisted of a representative, stratified sample of the Swedish working population (n = 2767). The data support the main hypothesis of the study, i.e., that temporary employed differ from permanent employed in control over their working life. With some exceptions, there were clear differences between these two categories with respect to a number of variables that can be regarded as central to both the individual's success at work and protection against job loss and exclusion from working life. Health differences were in favour of the permanent employed. There were also considerable differences between different sub-groups of temporary employees of such amplitude and consistency that they formed a distinct centre-periphery structure.

Validity of a Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for Patients with Symptoms of Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (WPAI-GERD)—Results from a Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives To validate a Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI-GERD) developed to measure lost productivity due to symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods and Data The WPAI-GERD was administered along with two quality-of-life questionnaires, Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) and Short Form 36 (SF-36), to a Swedish working population ( N = 136) visiting a general practitioner for symptoms attributed to GERD. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each productivity variable derived from the WPAI-GERD and symptom severity, symptom frequency, quality of life dimensions, age, and gender. Statistical tests were carried out to determine the relationship between each productivity variable and the severity of heartburn. Results High correlations (range: 0.30–0.75) were found between productivity and symptom severity as well as between productivity and quality-of-life dimensions related to work and daily activities. The results demonstrated the ability of the questionnaire to discriminate between different grades of heartburn severity. On average, patients with heartburn reported 2.5 hours absence from work, 23% reduced productivity while at work, and 30% reduced productivity while doing regular daily activities during the week preceding the consultation. The SF-36 scores implied that patients, especially those with moderate-to-severe heartburn, had a poor quality of life compared with a normal population. Conclusion The results indicate a high convergent and discriminant validity of the WPAI-GERD questionnaire and also show that patients consulting a physician because of symptoms attributed to GERD report substantial impairment in both productivity and health-related quality of life.

Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, perceived productivity, and health-related quality of life

Objectives: To investigate to what extent patients consulting a general practitioner (GP) because of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) report impaired health-related quality of life, absence from work, reduced productivity while at work, and reduced daily activities. Methods: A disease specific, self-administered work productivity and activity impairment questionnaire (WPAI-GERD) was distributed together with a GERD-specific quality of life questionnaire (QOLRAD) and a generic questionnaire (SF-36) to a Swedish working population (N = 136) consulting a GP because of current or recent symptoms of heartburn. The severity and frequency of GERD symptoms (heartburn and acid regurgitation) were recorded by the GP. Results: Among patients with heartburn symptoms, a mean of 2.5 h absence from work per week was reported. Furthermore, productivity while working was reduced by 23% and productivity while doing regular daily activities by 30%. This corresponds to an average of 10.7 h lost from work per patient and week, of which 8.3 h are due to reduced productivity while working (23% reduction times the actual work time). Results from the quality of life questionnaires showed a poor quality of life, especially in patients with moderate to severe heartburn symptoms. Conclusions: In patients consulting a GP because of GERD, results indicated that symptoms incur a large burden to the patient as well as a considerable cost to society due to absence from work, reduced productivity while working, and reductions of regular daily activities.

High-risk occupations for breast cancer in the Swedish female working population.

The purpose of this study was to estimate, for the period 1971 through 1989, occupation-specific risks of breast cancer among Swedish women employed in 1970. Age-period standardized incidence ratios were computed. Log-linear Poisson models were fitted, with geographical area and town size taken into account. Risks were further adjusted for major occupational group, used as a proxy for socioeconomic status. Risk estimators were also calculated for women reporting the same occupation in 1960 and 1970. Most elevated risks among professionals, managers, and clerks were reduced when intragroup comparisons were carried out, indicating the confounding effect of socioeconomic status. Excess risks were found for pharmacists, teachers of theoretical subjects, schoolmasters, systems analysts and programmers, telephone operators, telegraph and radio operators, metal platers and coaters, and hairdressers and beauticians, as well as for women working in 1960 and 1970 as physicians, religious workers, social workers, bank tellers, cost accountants, and telephonists. While the high risks observed among professional, administrative, and clerical workers might be related to lower birth rates and increased case detection, excess risks found for telephone workers and for hairdressers and beauticians deserve further attention.

Violence toward Health Care Workers

The aim of this study was to establish data for career prevalence and 1 year incidence of work-place violence for major categories of health care workers. Three consecutive work environment questionnaire studies at a large Swedish hospital provided the basis for the study. Prevalence and incidence rates of violence were age and gender adjusted to the Swedish working population. Prevalence of violence in the study population was compared to data from a national sample of Swedish registered nurses. Incidence of violence in each professional group was compared to that of the largest group of hospital employees, registered nurses. Standardized prevalence ratios for violence were significantly higher for all nursing personnel and physicians, and were highest for practical nurses (1.56). Standardized incidence rates ranged from 18/100 person years for physicians to 31/100 person years for practical nurses. The relative risk for violence at work over a 1 year period was significantly higher only for practical nurses (1.59) as compared to registered nurses. Nursing personnel and physicians were at considerable risk for workplace violence in the course of their careers. One year incidence rates were highest for practical nurses.

Combined effects of job strain and social isolation on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality in a random sample of the Swedish male working population.

This study examined the impact of psychosocial work organization on cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and the nine-year cumulative mortality incidence for a random sample of the male Swedish working population (N = 7219). A multiplicative measure was constructed to model the combined effects of psychological job demands, work-related social support and work control. Highly strained and isolated workers had a higher age-adjusted prevalence ratio for CVD morbidity and a higher age-adjusted risk ratio for CVD mortality when compared with those working under less strained and more collective conditions. Blue-collar workers showed the greatest risk for both morbidity and mortality when groups with highly isolated and strained conditions were compared to those in more collective and less strained conditions. Strained and isolated workers also had a substantially higher probability of developing and dying of CVD at a younger age than did those in less adverse environments.