Journal of occupational and environmental medicine
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Mar 2006
Comparative StudyInvestigating risk factors for chronicity: the importance of distinguishing between return-to-work status and self-report measures of disability.
The objective of this study was to examine whether the outcome of psychosocial risk factor analyses varied as a function of whether the outcome variable was return-to-work status or self-reported functional disability. ⋯ Given the important theoretical, clinical, and policy implications of the outcome of risk factor research, more research is needed to further clarify the respective advantages and limitations to using self-reported versus return to work-based measures of disability.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Nov 2005
A benefit-cost analysis of a worksite nurse practitioner program: first impressions.
This study aimed to assess the initial impact of an on-site nurse practitioner (NP) initiative on the health care costs (HCC) among 4,284 employees and their dependents. ⋯ The first 6 months of a new NP initiative yielded substantial reductions in HCC that warrant further analysis over longer periods of observation. However, the initial estimates may understate the aggregate value of the program because it may also reduce on-site injury and illness patterns and improve productivity, end points that were not assessed in this initial snapshot.
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J. Occup. Environ. Med. · Jul 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialDetection of feigned tactile sensory loss using a forced-choice test of tactile discrimination and other measures of tactile sensation.
Intentional exaggeration of disability is a risk in work injuries but is hard to reliably detect clinically. This study examined the accuracy of tactile sensory threshold and forced-choice discrimination measures in detecting feigned sensory loss. ⋯ Below-chance scores are definitive evidence that the sensory loss is intentionally feigned. Scores beyond cut-offs should raise the clinician's suspicion of malingering if there is no physical basis for sensory loss.
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Working conditions in the developing world seldom meet the minimum standards required by international agencies. This article addresses some of the major obstacles to occupational and environmental health and suggests methods by which they can be overcome. ⋯ Occupational health and safety can be advanced in the developing world with modest funding of innovative programs.