Occupational and environmental medicine
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To examine risk factors for onset of low back pain (LBP) in healthcare workers. ⋯ Other than a history of LBP, pre-existing psychological distress was the only factor found to have a pre-existing influence on new episodes of LBP. Increased levels of psychological distress (as measured by the GHQ) preceded the occurrence of new episodes of pain by only short intervening periods, implying a role for acute distress in the onset of the disorder. This finding suggests that management of the onset of occupational LBP may be improved by management of psychological distress.
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To report some of the most serious omissions and errors which may occur in papers submitted to Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and to give guidelines on the essential components that should be included in papers reporting results from studies of occupational and environmental health. ⋯ There is increasing interest in the development and application of formal "good epidemiology practices". These not only consider issues of data quality, study design, and study conduct, but through their structured approach to the documentation of the study procedures, provide the potential for more rigorous reporting of the results in the scientific literature.
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To establish the extent of Occupational Health (OH) service provision in the National Health Service (NHS). ⋯ Substantial inequality of access to OH services exists for the NHS workforce, despite previous guidance. There is no real evidence to suggest why the extent of provision of OH services varies so greatly between institutions.
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To describe workers with low back symptoms, to identify risk factors and to assess the occupational consequences separately in men and women. ⋯ The incidence and severity of low back pain were higher in women, although they seemed to be less exposed to known occupational risk factors. However, our results indicate a preponderance of these risk factors among female workers. Particular attention must therefore be paid to lifting of weights and uncomfortable working positions in female jobs (clerk, trading, health care staff).
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To evaluate genetic damage as the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges and micronuclei in lymphocytes of peripheral blood of operating room personnel exposed to waste anaesthetic gases. ⋯ Exposure even to trace concentrations of waste anaesthetic gases may cause dose-dependent genetic damage. Concerning the micronuclei test, no clastogenic potential could be detected after average chronic exposure to waste anaesthetic gas. However, an increased frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in human lymphocytes could be detected. Although the measured differences were low, they were comparable with smoking 11-20 cigarettes a day. Due to these findings, the increased proportion of micronuclei and rates of sister chromatid exchanges may be relevant long term and need further investigation.