Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Feb 2009
The Back Disability Risk Questionnaire for work-related, acute back pain: prediction of unresolved problems at 3-month follow-up.
To assess the validity of the Back Disability Risk Questionnaire (BDRQ) to predict developing chronic back disability. ⋯ The BDRQ may provide prognostic information not observed in a routine medical evaluation for acute BP.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Jan 2009
ReviewTemperature extremes and health: impacts of climate variability and change in the United States.
We evaluated temperature-related morbidity and mortality for the 2007 U.S. national assessment on impacts of climate change and variability on human health. ⋯ Temperature extremes and variability will remain important determinants of health in the United States under climate change. Research needs include estimating exposure to temperature extremes; studying nonfatal temperature-related illness; uniform criteria for reporting heat-related health outcomes; and improving effectiveness of urban heat island reduction and extreme weather response plans.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Nov 2008
Comparative StudyNurse practitioner services: three-year impact on health care costs.
In 2005, our initial analysis of the impact on health care costs (HCC) of providing on-site Nurse Practitioner (NP) services showed favorable results. ⋯ This 3-year analysis confirms our preliminary findings that an on-site NP has a favorable benefit-to-cost function. Longer-term analyses are needed to confirm these findings.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Sep 2008
Direct and indirect costs of pain therapy for osteoarthritis in an insured population in the United States.
To assess the health care utilization and cost of illness for osteoarthritis (OA) patients taking pain medications. Specifically, the goals were to estimate the direct health care and indirect costs of OA. ⋯ There was a substantial payer burden associated with OA resulting from the drug, medical, and disability costs and OA-related comorbidities and high concomitant medication utilization.