Occupational medicine
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Occupational medicine · Mar 2006
Multicenter StudyOccupational health provision and health surveillance in the semiconductor industry.
To identify the nature of occupational health provision in UK semiconductor-manufacturing plants. To identify the level of industry compliance with legal health surveillance requirements. ⋯ The spectrum of occupational health provision was very wide. Where health surveillance was provided, it was poorly targeted with limited interpretation and feedback to management.
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Occupational medicine · Mar 2006
Job strain and neck-shoulder symptoms: a prevalence study of women and men white-collar workers.
Neck-shoulder symptoms are frequent among workers. Psychosocial factors at work have been associated with neck-shoulder symptoms, but few studies have examined job strain, the combined effect of high psychological demands (PD) and low decision latitude (DL). ⋯ These results suggest that primary prevention of neck-shoulder symptoms among white-collar workers should consider the exposure to job strain, especially when workers are exposed to low social support at work.
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Impaired physician health can have a direct impact on patient health care and safety. In the past, problems of alcoholism and substance abuse among physicians have received more attention than other conditions-usually in the form of discipline. While patient safety is paramount, the medical profession may be more successful in achieving the required standards by fostering a culture committed to health and wellness as well as supporting impaired physicians. ⋯ Physicians whose health or wellness is compromised should seek appropriate help and engage in honest self-assessment of their ability to practice. The medical profession should provide an environment that helps to maintain and restore health and wellness. Physicians need to ensure that impaired colleagues promptly modify or cease practice until they can resume professional patient care. In addition, physicians may be required to report impaired colleagues who continue to practice despite reasonable offers of assistance.
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Occupational medicine · Jan 2006
ReviewSystematic review of studies of productivity loss due to rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, debilitating disease with a significant impact on workplace productivity. ⋯ RA-related work-disability rates were similar in the USA and European countries. An apparent decrease in the prevalence of RA-related work disability since the 1970s may be related to a decrease in physically demanding work rather than to epidemiologic changes in RA. The majority of the literature addresses permanent disability and temporary work loss; none of the studies reviewed reported the effect of RA on presenteeism, i.e. work limitation from the employer perspective, and there are few published studies of the effectiveness of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in reducing work-related productivity loss.
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Occupational medicine · Oct 2005
Occupational factors associated with low back pain in urban taxi drivers.
Urban taxi drivers differ from other professional drivers in their exposures to physical and psychosocial hazards in the work environment. Epidemiological data on low back pain (LBP) of this occupational group are very scarce. ⋯ We have identified that long driving time and several physical and psychosocial factors are associated with high prevalence of LBP in taxi drivers. This should be further investigated in prospective studies. Future studies are needed to examine the potential adverse effects of prolonged exposure to low levels of whole-body vibration.