Workplace Health Research Articles

NALYSIS OF FOREIGN TRENDS IN THE FIELD OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

In this article, the author analyzes current trends in occupational safety and health in Japan, South Korea and the United States, including the development of a compliance strategy, staff training, provision of appropriate equipment, ensuring safe performance of work duties, accident reporting and reduction of injuries and morbidity. Thus, the author identifies several key aspects on which the enterprises of the above-mentioned countries focus. In the course of the study, the author came to the conclusion that an active labor protection policy not only ensures the safety of employees, but also allows enterprises to function optimally even in difficult times and conditions. The author also emphasizes that policies aimed at identifying and eliminating workplace hazards before they lead to injury or illness are not only necessary in many jurisdictions, but also provide value by increasing trust between employers and employees, improving safety and communication, leading to an overall improvement in operational performance. The author argues that the successful implementation of workplace health and safety policies should continue to be a top priority for employers, employees, other stakeholders and governments around the world. Based on the analysis, the article also provides recommendations on the partial implementation of foreign experience into domestic practice.

Evaluation of the "15 Minute Challenge": A Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program.

The 15 Minute Challenge is an mHealth workplace wellness initiative, employing gamification to promote physical activity, aiming to enhance health outcomes and overall well-being. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of the program among employees at various Australian, New Zealand, and UK workplaces. Real-world data from 11,575 participants across 73 companies were analyzed. The program encouraged daily 15 min physical activity sessions over six weeks. Participants self-reported their physical activity and fitness, energy, overall health, sleep quality, and mood at baseline and 6 weeks. Program satisfaction, engagement rates, and adherence to the program were also assessed. Effectiveness was evaluated using multi-level mixed-effects linear regression analyses. The intervention showed significant increases in physical activity, with 95% of participants meeting or exceeding international physical activity guidelines, up from 57% at baseline (p < 0.05). Self-reported fitness, energy, overall health, sleep quality, and mood significantly improved (between 7.1 and 14.0% improvement; all p < 0.05). High satisfaction was reported, with 92% of participants recommending the program. The 15 Minute Challenge effectively increased physical activity levels and improved self-reported health outcomes among participating employees. The high satisfaction rates and significant health improvements highlight the potential of workplace wellness programs to combat sedentary behavior and promote a healthier, more active lifestyle.

A Study on the Perception and Awareness of Nutritional Requirements in Cab Drivers

Cabs are a vital part of urban transportation, facilitating mobility within cities, connecting people to their destinations, and contributing to the urban fabric. This study aims to explore the perception and awareness of nutritional requirements among cab drivers, a demographic often overlooked in discussions surrounding health and well-being. The study will involve data collection from 50 drivers operating in urban areas, with considerations for factors such as age, gender, years of experience, and working hours. Moreover, this research would highlight the broader societal implications of improving the nutritional health and overall wellbeing of the cab driver population, emphasizing the potential ripple effects on individual health outcomes, workplace productivity, and overall community health. In essence, this research serves as a call to action for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and community stakeholders to prioritize the nutritional needs and implement targeted interventions that empower them to make healthier choices.

The current situation of occupational health in the Internet industry and countermeasures

As an important force in promoting the transformation and upgrading of the national economy, the occupational health of the Internet industry's employees has received widespread attention. This paper examines the current situation of occupational health risks and management in the Internet industry at home and abroad, and on this basis reveals the physical and mental health problems of Internet industry employees. Combining the existing regulations, policies and standard documents at home and abroad, countermeasures are proposed to improve the relevant laws and regulations and their guidelines, implement relevant job design requirements, build a healthy working environment, optimise the work management system and carry out workplace health promotion, in order to provide ideas to accelerate the improvement of occupational health issues in the Internet industry.

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Health Interventions on Workplace Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Evaluating the Impact of Digital Health Interventions on Workplace Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Return to Work Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study in Participants with Direct Referral from Hospital to Occupational Health Care Services.

In a new Finnish Coordinated Return to Work (CRTW) model, patients are referred to occupational health care after hip or knee arthroplasty. This study evaluated the CRTW model's effect on return to work (RTW), activities used in occupational health care and in the workplace, and the patient- and work-related factors affecting early RTW. 209 participants with occupational health care service underwent primary hip (THA) or total/unicondylar knee (KJA) arthroplasty and completed self-reported questionnaires after arthroplasty and at time of RTW. Factors affecting RTW, and the roles of occupational health care and the workplace in RTW were evaluated. Time to RTW was determined as days between the arthroplasty and RTW. Mean time to RTW was 69days after THA and 87days after KJA. For easing RTW, work arrangements were made for 56% of the participants. The most utilized adjustments of work were enabling remote work and arranging limitations in work tasks. Participants with earlier RTW had lower physical workload, higher professional status and motivation to work, less pre-arthroplasty sick leave, and more positive personal expectations about the time to RTW compared to participants with later RTW (p < 0.001 for all). The linear regression and dominance analyses showed participants' own expectations and pre-arthroplasty sick leave as the strongest factors affecting time to RTW. The CRTW model seems to shorten time to RTW after THA and KJA. Occupational health care and workplace play important roles in supporting RTW. Patients' own expectations should be noted when giving pre-arthroplasty information.

Participatory Approaches in the Context of Research Into Workplace Health Promotion to Improve Physical Activity Levels and Reduce Sedentary Behavior Among Office-Based Workers: Scoping Review.

Participatory research (PR) involves engaging in cocreation with end users and relevant stakeholders throughout the research process, aiming to distribute power equitably between the end users and research team. Engagement and adherence in previous workplace health promotion (WHP) studies have been shown to be lacking. By implementing a PR approach, the insights of end users and stakeholders are sought in the co-design of feasible and acceptable intervention strategies, thereby increasing the relevance of the research. This scoping review aims to explore, identify, and map PR techniques and their impact when used in office-based WHP interventions designed to improve physical activity (PA) or reduce sedentary behavior (SB). The reporting of this scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). A systematic literature search of 5 electronic databases-Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and OpenGrey-was conducted, searching from January 1, 1995, to February 8, 2023. In total, 2 independent reviewers first screened the retrieved articles by title and abstract, and then assessed the full texts based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The search strategy and eligibility criteria were developed and guided by an a priori population (office-based working adults), intervention (a PA WHP intervention that took a PR approach), comparison (no comparison required), and outcome (PA or SB) framework. Data were charted and discussed via a narrative synthesis, and a thematic analysis was conducted. The included studies were evaluated regarding the degree of end user engagement throughout the research process and power shared by the researchers, using Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation. The search retrieved 376 records, of which 8 (2.1%) met the inclusion criteria. Four key strategies were identified: (1) end user focus groups, (2) management involvement, (3) researcher facilitators, and (4) workplace champions. The degree of engagement and power shared was relatively low, with 25% (2/8) of the studies determined to be nonparticipation studies, 25% (2/8) determined to be tokenistic, and 50% (4/8) determined to provide citizen power. This review provides a foundation of evidence on the current practices when taking a PR approach, highlighting that previous office-based PA WHP studies have been largely tokenistic or nonparticipative, and identified that the end user is only engaged with in the conception and implementation of the WHP studies. However, a positive improvement in PA and reduction in SB were observed in the included studies, which were largely attributed to implementing a PR approach and including the end user in the design of the WHP intervention. Future studies should aim to collaborate with workplaces, building capacity and empowering the workforce by providing citizen control and letting the end users "own" the research for a sustainable WHP intervention. RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054402.

Comparative Study of Stress Levels and Coping Mechanisms among Women Bank Employees in Kanpur City: Public vs. Private Sector Banks

Purpose: The study compares stress levels and coping mechanisms among women bank employees in Kanpur City, focusing on key stressors, coping mechanisms, and differences in effectiveness. It aims to contribute to understanding stressors faced by women in the banking sector, inform strategies for improving well-being, and contribute to gender equity and workplace health efforts. Theoretical Framework: The study on stress levels and coping mechanisms among women bank employees in Kanpur City uses a theoretical framework. Key components include the transactional model of stress and coping, job demands-resources model, gender role theory, intersectionality theory, organizational factors, organizational culture and climate, and organizational support theory. The mixed-methods approach is used to capture the complexity of stress experiences and coping mechanisms. The framework also emphasizes creating healthy work environments to mitigate stress and enhance well-being. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study aims to assess stress levels and coping mechanisms among women bank employees in Kanpur City using a comparative design and mixed-methods approach. The target population includes women from public and private sector banks. Data collection methods include structured surveys and in-depth interviews. The study will analyze data using statistical techniques and qualitative analysis. Ethical considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, and ethical approval. Limitations include sampling biases and the study's specificity to Kanpur City. Practical implications include policy recommendations and contribution to existing literature on stress management and workplace support. Findings: The study on stress levels and coping mechanisms among women bank employees in Kanpur City is hypothetical. However, the findings can be presented and interpreted using a structured section. The summary should include a summary of the key findings, quantitative data comparison, demographic influences, qualitative themes, coping mechanisms, and sector differences. The findings should be compared and analyzed using theoretical frameworks, and the implications should be discussed for organizational policies and practices. Implications: The study on stress levels and coping mechanisms among women bank employees in Kanpur City suggests implementing gender-sensitive support programs, promoting work-life balance, and enhancing resilience training. It also emphasizes equal opportunities for career development and mentorship programs. The study also contributes to stress theory, gender equity, and policy development, urging regulatory oversight and industry collaboration. It also has societal implications, as it can lead to societal changes and inspire future generations. The findings can guide policy and practice in the banking sector.

Lung deposition of PM-bound trace elements and corresponding human health risk assessment in commercial kitchens serving Mediterranean cuisine

The service offered by commercial kitchens and the catering industry is becoming more and more popular all around the world. However, the health risks of sector workers are often overlooked. In this study, size-segregated Particulate Matter (PM) samples were collected from the indoor environments of five commercial kitchens, and elemental concentrations were quantified to estimate the corresponding health risks. Lung-deposited fractions of trace elements in three different regions of the respiratory tract were estimated and used to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks. Besides, the deterioration in lung capacity of the cooks was also evaluated by spirometry tests to correlate indoor pollutants. Exposure to trace elements was dominated by Na, S, Al, Fe, and Mg. Estimated carcinogenic risk through inhalation exposure to Cr was between the moderate risk level of 10−6 to 10−4, while the Hazard Index (HI) values were lower than the acceptable level of 1. This, along with elevated indoor PM levels, represented a significant potential for carcinogenic health hazards for the kitchen staff. According to the results of the lung function tests, a significant decrease was determined in the respiratory functions of the cooks, and it was associated with elevated exposure to fine PM, Pb, Cr, Cu, K, Ni, and Mn. Workplace health and safety measures to better protect the health of kitchen staff are urgently needed and should attract more public attention.

Factors Associated With Reporting Attitudes of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Direct Care Workers in South Korea.

Workers' reporting of work-related injuries or illnesses is important for treatment and prevention, yet research often focuses on reporting barriers. This study aimed to identify factors related to work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMSD) reporting attitudes and their connection to reporting intention and behavior. We analyzed data from 377 direct care workers employed in 19 long-term care facilities in South Korea. A self-administered questionnaire collected demographics, job characteristics, physical and psychosocial factors, musculoskeletal symptoms, reporting attitudes, and WRMSD reporting intentions and behavior between May and August 2022. We used a generalized linear mixed model with a random intercept by employers to identify factors influencing reporting attitudes. To explore the relationship between reporting attitude and reporting intention and behavior, simple logistic regression was also conducted. We achieved an 86% response rate. The majority of the study participants were female (87.2%), married (95.9%), and non-immigrant (72.8%). Of the study participants, 48.9% had no intention to report WRMSDs, and 44.3% held negative reporting attitudes. Among 200 workers with WRMSDs, 86.5% did not report them. Attitudes were associated with work duration, safety training, management safety priority, WRMSD experience, and symptom severity and frequency. Management safety priority did not moderate this relationship. Significant links existed between attitudes and reporting intention and behavior. This study highlights the vital influence of workers' attitudes on reporting work-related injuries and illnesses. Occupational health providers should employ strategies, such as tailored safety training and management commitment, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of long-tenured and musculoskeletal-exposed workers. Fostering a safety culture that promotes open and timely reporting is crucial, and implementing these strategies can significantly enhance workplace safety and health.

The Vitality of Psychosocial Risks Identification: Results from Malaysian Oil Rigs

The growing focus on psychosocial risks and their possible effects on the mental and physical well-being of employees has thrived as a result of the transformations occurring in the workplace. The transformations in the realm of employment and the recent global occurrences have intensified the pre-existing psychosocial risks and introduced novel psychosocial risks that must be taken into account in order to safeguard the well-being of the employees. Thus, this study explores psychosocial risks among offshore O&amp;G industry employees in Malaysia. Psychosocial risks have consistently been challenging in workplace health and safety practices. A generic descriptive research study was conducted with 412 offshore O&amp;G employees from four states: Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, and Terengganu. The data collected were analysed using SPSS 28. Based on the findings, job demands, job security, social support, and job satisfaction were identified to influence the mental health state among offshore O&amp;G employees. Among the most significant factors were social support and work environment, with mean values of 4.09 and 5.76, respectively. Meanwhile, job security (mean 2.06) indicated a low level in the score category. Simultaneously, the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 resulted in changes in how people live and work, which are dominant examples of psychosocial influences. The findings emphasized the importance of these aspects in measuring employee’s mental health state. The study also discusses the research implications.

"Back Health 24/7/365"-A Novel, Comprehensive "One Size Fits All" Workplace Health Promotion Intervention for Occupational Back Health among Hospital Employees.

Projects for workplace health promotion (WHP) for back pain traditionally focus exclusively on work-related but not on leisure-time stress on the spine. We developed a comprehensive WHP project on the back health of hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work and compared its effects on sedentary and physically active hospital workers. Study assessments were carried out before and six months after participation in the WHP intervention. The primary outcome parameter was back pain (Oswestry Disability Index, ODI). Anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), work ability (Work Ability Index), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10), and quality of life (Short Form-36) were assessed via questionnaires as secondary outcome parameters. Physical performance was measured via the 30 seconds Sit-to-Stand test (30secSTS). Sixty-eight healthcare workers with non-specific back pain were included in the evaluation study of the WHP project "Back Health 24/7/365". After six months, back pain, physical performance, and self-perceived physical functioning (SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale) improved significantly in both groups. Not a single parameter showed an interaction effect with the group allocation. A comprehensive WHP-intervention showed significant positive effects on hospital workers regardless of the physical characteristics of their work.

EMPOWERING MANUAL HANDLERS: A COMPREHENSIVE ERGONOMIC AWARENESS TRAINING PROGRAM IN PLASTIC MANUFACTURING KULAI, JOHORE

Background: Ergonomic awareness training programs are known for their methodical approach to identifying and mitigating workplace risks and have been associated with decreased Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). MSDs were prevalent in manufacturing including the plastic industry, causing significant health and economic impacts. However, research on ergonomic interventions in this sector is limited. Objective: The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of ergonomic awareness programs among manual handling workers in the plastic tray manufacturing industry, with a focus on tasks related to forming and packing. Methods: This study was conducted in a plastic tray manufacturing facility in Kulai, Johor, that targeted workers involved in high-risk ergonomic tasks such as forming and packing, with exposure to ergonomic hazards for up to 12 hours daily. A total of 108 workers participated, receiving ergonomic awareness training and completing survey questionnaires. Results: The results revealed that post-training showed significant improvement (p&lt;0.01) in workers' ergonomic awareness, indicating the effectiveness of the ergonomic training program in enhancing knowledge (t=12.92), attitudes (t=14.77), and practices (t=16.29). Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical role of enhanced ergonomic awareness in emphasizing the necessity for industry-specific, customized ergonomic training in the plastic tray manufacturing industry. It is suggested the implementation of these focused training programs to strengthen workplace safety and health, encourage ergonomic awareness, and lessen the long-term development of MSDs.

What Do We Know about Age Management Practices in Public and Private Institutions in Scandinavia?—A Public Health Perspective

In view of global population ageing and of policies that support longer working lives, especially in developed countries, it is important to achieve diversity in organisations through age management. Age management is the “management of human resources, [often] with an explicit focus on the requirements of an ageing workforce.” Through age management practices, organisations will be better able to change their human resource management policies and practices towards accommodating their ageing workforce. Little is known about age management practices in Scandinavian organisations, considering the region’s high prevalence of workers beyond the age of 50 across both private and public organisations. There are indications that Scandinavian business organisations are already practicing age management for all ages, including older workers. Their age management practices include the dimensions of job recruitment, training, lifelong learning, development, and promotion. However, there is a dearth of knowledge on how the health and well-being of workers is ensured in the context of age management practices in these organisations. Given the current and future importance of age management for all organisations globally, public health and other health science professionals need to collaborate with other disciplines, such as management and sustainability science, to better understand how they can contribute to an aged and healthier workforce as well as workplace health promotion. This paper aims to contribute to the discussion concerning age management in public and private institutions in Scandinavia through the public health lens.

Workplace Injury Prevention and Wellness Program for Orchestra Musicians: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a workplace injury prevention and wellness program compared to no intervention (control) on musicians' playing-related musculoskeletal pain intensity. The hypothesis was that musicians who completed the program would have a greater reduction in pain intensity than the control group. DESIGN: Pragmatic parallel randomized controlled trial. METHODS: Sixty-five orchestra musicians were recruited and completed patient-reported outcome measures (primary outcome: pain intensity over 11 months, using the Musculoskeletal Pain Intensity and Interference Questionnaire for Musicians; range: 0-40; lower is better) at baseline, 14 weeks (T1), and 11 months (T2). Following baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 33) or control (n = 32) groups, stratified by instrument and pain prevalence. The intervention group received a 14-week injury prevention and wellness program including education and exercise; the control group received no intervention. RESULTS: Pain intensity means (standard deviation) were 7.8 (6.2), 8.0 (7.5), and 8.6 (5.7) in the control group, and 9.0 (6.6), 5.0 (4.2), and 6.7 (6.6) in the intervention group at T0, T1, and T2, respectively. Using intention-to-treat analyses (3 dropouts, n = 65 analyzed), between-group differences in pain intensity (95% confidence interval) were T1-T0: -4.2 (-7.5, -0.9); T2-T0: -3.7 (-7.1, -0.3), type III (overall) P = .03, favoring the intervention group. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: A workplace injury prevention and wellness program may have a clinically meaningful effect on reducing orchestra musicians' pain intensity. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(9):1-10. Epub 11 June 2024. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12277.

Practitioners’ perspectives on health and safety risk management in the Ghanaian oil and gas industry

Risk management has been regarded as one way to improve workplace health and safety conditions. However, very little research has been published on the perspectives of practitioners on safety risk management in general and the Ghanaian oil and gas industry in particular. This study bridges this literary gap by presenting findings from an online survey that investigated the perspectives of practitioners on safety risk management processes of the Ghanaian oil and gas industry. The results of 219 respondents indicated that a disparity existed between the risk methods the practitioners were required to use by their companies and the risk management methods the practitioners preferred to use, and this was verified through statistical testing. Whereas the practitioners were required by their organisations to use quantitative methods, they preferred to use qualitative methods, indicating a difference between work as planned/imagined and work as done. It was further observed that risk management tools/techniques were mostly used proactively, with a limited reactive application during accident investigations. This suggests the limited/lack of integration of risk management into accident investigation processes. Furthermore, feedback from the respondents indicated the narrow use of bowtie analysis in the Ghanaian mining industry as over 60 % of the practitioners had received no training and could not use bowtie analysis. The practitioners’ responses generally showed that whereas current risk management processes in the Ghanaian oil and gas industry had some strengths, some weaknesses exist which offer improvement opportunities. These have been discussed throughout the paper.

Frequency of workplace incidents and injuries in veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students and measures to control these.

Veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students work and train in a variety of environments and are exposed to a wide range of hazards. (1) To compare the rate of health and safety incidents and injuries between veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students. (2) To investigate the health and safety hazard controls present in Australian veterinary workplaces. A cross-sectional study, using an online questionnaire. Anonymous links to the questionnaire were disseminated to Australian veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary students. A total of 494 veterinarians, 484 veterinary nurses and 212 veterinary students completed the survey. Incidents and injuries were common, particularly sharps-related injuries and animal bites. Australian veterinary nurses and veterinarians experienced the studied incidents at similar rates to each other. Veterinary students experienced some incidents and injuries at rates higher than both veterinarians and veterinary nurses, including heatstroke, hypothermia, sunburn, electric shock, loss of consciousness, being rammed or pushed over by an animal and farm equipment injuries. Of the workplace hazard controls reported, first aid boxes were most commonly present, and safety meetings occurred least commonly. Veterinary nurses received Q fever and rabies vaccines much less frequently than veterinarians and veterinary students. This study demonstrated that improvements need to be made to the occupational health and safety standards in the Australian veterinary sector. Veterinarians and veterinary nurses had suboptimal rates of access to many of the required and critical workplace health and safety controls. Improvements to the standard of health and safety training of veterinary students are indicated, given their higher rates of certain incidents and injury.

Flemish critical care nurses’ experiences regarding the influence of work-related demands on their health: a descriptive interpretive qualitative study

BackgroundCritical care nurses (CCNs) around the globe face other health challenges compared to their peers in general hospital nursing. Moreover, the nursing workforce grapples with persistent staffing shortages. In light of these circumstances, developing a sustainable work environment is imperative to retain the current nursing workforce. Consequently, this study aimed to gain insight into the recalled experiences of CCNs in dealing with the physical and psychosocial influences of work-related demands on their health while examining the environments in which they operate. The second aim was to explore the complex social and psychological processes through which CCNs navigate these work-related demands across various CCN wards.MethodsA qualitative study following Thorne’s interpretive descriptive approach was conducted. From October 2022 to April 2023, six focus groups were organised. Data from a diverse sample of 27 Flemish CCNs engaged in physically demanding roles from three CCN wards were collected. The Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven was applied to support the constant comparison process.ResultsParticipants reported being exposed to occupational physical activity, emotional, quantitative, and cognitive work-related demands, adverse patient behaviour, and poor working time quality. Exposure to these work-related demands was perceived as harmful, potentially resulting in physical, mental, and psychosomatic strain, as well as an increased turnover intention. In response to these demands, participants employed various strategies for mitigation, including seeking social support, exerting control over their work, utilising appropriate equipment, recognising rewards, and engaging in leisure-time physical activity.ConclusionsCCNs’ health is challenged by work-related demands that are not entirely covered by the traditional quantitative frameworks used in research on psychologically healthy work. Therefore, future studies should focus on improving such frameworks by exploring the role of psychosocial and organisational factors in more detail. This study has important implications for workplace health promotion with a view on preventing work absenteeism and drop-out in the long run, as it offers strong arguments to promote sufficient risk management strategies, schedule flexibility, uninterrupted off-job recovery time, and positive management, which can prolong the well-being and sustainable careers of the CCN workforce.

Comparing Human-Smartphone Interactions and Actigraphy Measurements for Circadian Rhythm Stability and Adiposity: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between adiposity and circadian rhythm and compare the measurement of circadian rhythm using both actigraphy and a smartphone app that tracks human-smartphone interactions. We hypothesized that the app-based measurement may provide more comprehensive information, including light-sensitive melatonin secretion and social rhythm, and have stronger correlations with adiposity indicators. We enrolled a total of 78 participants (mean age 41.5, SD 9.9 years; 46/78, 59% women) from both an obesity outpatient clinic and a workplace health promotion program. All participants (n=29 with obesity, n=16 overweight, and n=33 controls) were required to wear a wrist actigraphy device and install the Rhythm app for a minimum of 4 weeks, contributing to a total of 2182 person-days of data collection. The Rhythm app estimates sleep and circadian rhythm indicators by tracking human-smartphone interactions, which correspond to actigraphy. We examined the correlations between adiposity indices and sleep and circadian rhythm indicators, including sleep time, chronotype, and regularity of circadian rhythm, while controlling for physical activity level, age, and gender. Sleep onset and wake time measurements did not differ significantly between the app and actigraphy; however, wake after sleep onset was longer (13.5, SD 19.5 minutes) with the app, resulting in a longer actigraphy-measured total sleep time (TST) of 20.2 (SD 66.7) minutes. The obesity group had a significantly longer TST with both methods. App-measured circadian rhythm indicators were significantly lower than their actigraphy-measured counterparts. The obesity group had significantly lower interdaily stability (IS) than the control group with both methods. The multivariable-adjusted model revealed a negative correlation between BMI and app-measured IS (P=.007). Body fat percentage (BF%) and visceral adipose tissue area (VAT) showed significant correlations with both app-measured IS and actigraphy-measured IS. The app-measured midpoint of sleep showed a positive correlation with both BF% and VAT. Actigraphy-measured TST exhibited a positive correlation with BMI, VAT, and BF%, while no significant correlation was found between app-measured TST and either BMI, VAT, or BF%. Our findings suggest that IS is strongly correlated with various adiposity indicators. Further exploration of the role of circadian rhythm, particularly measured through human-smartphone interactions, in obesity prevention could be warranted.

The Prevalence of Duplicate Prescription of Oral Antibiotic Drugs in Outpatient Care among People Insured by Corporate Health Insurance Societies in Japan.

Inappropriate antimicrobial use is a global problem, especially because the use of antimicrobials in excess of appropriate doses is associated with increased antimicrobial resistance. Duplicate prescriptions are an issue contributing to inappropriate antimicrobial use. This study aimed to analyse antibiotic prescriptions during a specific month to examine the frequency of outpatients receiving duplicate antibiotic prescriptions and the associated determinants. Utilizing the Japan Medical Data Centre health insurance claim database, we retrospectively identified 527,110 insured individuals with at least one medicine prescription in October 2014. Data regarding age, gender, antibiotic drug usage, and health insurance status were extracted. Duplicate prescriptions entailed a patient receiving two or more prescriptions of systemic antibiotics from multiple facilities within one month. The risk factors for duplicate antibiotic prescriptions were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Of the total sample, 131,709 individuals (25.0%) received antibiotics, and 24,529 of these individuals (18.6%) had duplicate prescriptions. Third-generation cephalosporins accounted for the largest proportion of prescriptions (37.4%). Duplicate prescriptions were significantly associated with sex, age, medical facilities, and health insurance status. These findings could help to identify patients at risk of duplicate antibiotic prescriptions, highlighting the need to promote proper antimicrobial use in both patients and medical professionals.