This study was designed to evaluate the health and economic benefits of a workplace vaccination programme against influenza funded by the employer. Employees of a Malaysian petrochemical plant volunteered to take part in this prospective, non-randomised, non-placebo-controlled study. Demographic and health information, including influenza-like symptoms, sick leave and post-vaccination adverse events were collected via questionnaires. Cost-benefit analyses were performed from the employer's perspective. Results: A total of 1,022 employees took part in the study, with 504 choosing to be vaccinated against influenza, and 518 remaining unvaccinated. The rate of influenza-like illness (ILI) was lower among vaccinated (8.13%) than non-vaccinated subjects (30.31%). Fever and respiratory symptoms were associated with all ILI cases. ILI-related sick leave was taken by 58.54% of vaccinated employees with ILI and 71.34% of non-vaccinated employees with ILI. Vaccination was financially beneficial, with the employer saving up to US$ 53.00 per vaccinated employee when labour costs only were considered. Savings rose to up to US$ 899.70 when the operating income of each employee was also considered. Workplace vaccination of healthy adults against influenza had a clear impact on ILI rates, absenteeism and reduced productivity in this Malaysian company. The health benefits translated into financial benefits for the employer, with cost savings significantly outweighing the costs of the vaccination programme.

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This study addressed the prevalence of working overtime in relation to psychosocial work characteristics and need for recovery. More precisely, the aim of this study was to find out (1) whether a relationship exists between working overtime and psychosocial work characteristics (job demands and job control), (2a) whether a relationship exists between working overtime and need for recovery, and finally (2b) whether such a relationship depends on job type (a specific combination of job demands and job control). The study sample (N=1,473) consisted of a national random sample of office-based municipal administration employees who worked full-time. These employees completed a questionnaire on working conditions, overtime and need for recovery, among other things. Overtime was especially common in jobs characterised by high demands. The analyses showed that working overtime is not associated with a higher need for recovery in the total study population. However, there was a positive relationship between overtime hours and need for recovery in high strain jobs (high demands, low control). Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between structural overtime and need for recovery in active jobs (high demands, high control). The relationship between overtime and need for recovery seems to be dependent upon working conditions; indicators of overtime were associated with a higher need for recovery only for employees who experienced high job demands. Longitudinal research within a heterogeneous sample will be necessary to draw firm conclusions about causality with respect to the relationship between overtime, need for recovery and working conditions.

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Methanol is primarily metabolized by oxidation to formaldehyde and then to formate. These processes are accompanied by formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. This paper reports data on the effect of methanol on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in lymphoid organs such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow of rats. Male Wistar albino rats were intoxicated with methanol (2.37 g/kg b.w intraperitoneally) for detecting toxicity levels for one day, 15 d and 30 d, respectively. Administration of methanol at 15 and 30 d significantly (p<0.05) increased lipid peroxidation and decreased the enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione and vitamin C) in lymphoid organs. However, lipid peroxidation and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the acute methanol exposed group animals were found to be significantly (p<0.05) increased. In one day methanol intoxication, the levels of free radicals initially increased, and to remove these free radicals, antioxidants levels were elevated, which generally prevented oxidative cell damage. But in longer periods of intoxication, when the generation of reactive free radicals overwhelmed the antioxidant defense, lipid peroxidation increased. Further, decreased antioxidants in 15 and 30 d methanol intoxication may have been due to overutilization of non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants to scavenge the products of lipid peroxidation. In addition, the liver and kidney markers of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea and creatinine significantly increased. This study concludes that exposure to methanol causes oxidative stress by altering the oxidant/antioxidant balance in lymphoid organs of the rat.

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Using workplaces as a unit for randomization, a randomized controlled trial was conducted to determine the effects of web-based supervisor training on the subject of worksite mental health on job stressors, supervisor support and psychological distress among subordinate workers. A total of eight workplaces of a sales and service company were randomly assigned to either training workplaces or non-training workplaces. Supervisors (n=23) at the training workplaces participated in web-based self-learning training on worksite mental health; supervisors (n=23) at the non-training workplaces did not. A total of 81 subordinate workers under the trained supervisors (the intervention group) and 108 subordinate workers under the non-trained supervisors (the control group) completed the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) at baseline and at a three-month follow-up. No significant intervention effect was observed for any scale of the BJSQ measuring job stressors, supervisor or coworker support, or psychological distress among subordinate workers (p<0.05). The item score of work autonomy changed very little in the intervention group, while it decreased in the control group during the follow-up period, yielding a significant intervention effect (p=0.02). The item score for a friendly atmosphere in the workplace increased in the intervention group, while the score remained stable in the control group, yielding a significant intervention effect (p=0.02). While the present study failed to show any clear effect of the web-based training of supervisors on reduction of job stressors, it may be useful for maintaining worker autonomy and improving the friendliness of the worksite atmosphere.

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This study was conducted to 1) evaluate the personal selection and use of protective gloves against bloodborne pathogens and management of glove selection in the workplace, 2) survey the experience with occupational dermatitis and other allergic symptoms, 3) explore the relationships between occupational dermatitis experience and glove use, and 4) determine the impact of glove selection upon occupational dermatitis among midwives. Subjects were 1,150 midwives working in Japan. Participants were selected from the members of Japanese Nursing Association and 835 responded to the survey. More than 30% of respondents wore gloves only when clients had an infectious disease, 41% reported experience of occupational dermatitis, 26% associated the dermatitis with medical glove use, and 2% had a diagnosis of latex allergy. Demographic variables that were significantly associated with occupational dermatitis included history of allergic symptoms other than due to occupational exposure, age, tenure and type of working institution. Using latex gloves during administering enema, shaving, changing pads, washing perineum, receiving newborns, suctioning, and handling waste significantly increased the risk of occupational dermatitis experience compared to not using gloves. Logistic regression analysis with backward stepwise elimination revealed glove selection management, such as availability of alternative glove types, using latex gloves for washing perineum, and using latex gloves for handling waste were significant predictors of occupational dermatitis. Occupational dermatitis is a significant issue and glove use as personal protective equipment is not standardized. Some occupational dermatitis may be preventable by managing appropriate glove selection.

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In our previous inhalation studies on health effects of the asbestos substitute, potassium octatitanate whiskers (POW), we showed that an excess amount of POW deposition in the rat lung increased biopersistence resulting in fibrotic changes. The critical deposition amount which induced the higher biopersistence was estimated to lie between 1.5 mg and 2.4 mg. In order to find the exact amount, the relationship between the lung POW burden and biopersistence was investigated by the intratracheal instillation method. The chemical formula of POW is K₂Ti₈O₁₇ and the geometric mean fiber diameter (geometric standard deviation, GSD) and geometric mean fiber length (GSD) are 0.35 μm (1.6) and 4.4 μm (2.7), respectively. Rats were intratracheally instilled with 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg or 5.0 mg of POW and sacrificed at 1day and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the instillation. The POW amount in each lung was chemically analyzed by ICP-AES after microwave digestion and the biological half time (BHT) of each POW dose was calculated. The BHTs of each group were 10, 15, 20 and 42 months for 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg of POW, respectively, and BHT showed a linear dose-dependent increase, but without a threshold within the range of 0.5 mg to 5.0 mg, which was recognized in our earlier inhalation studies. In the histopathological photograph just after the instillation, many macrophages, which had phagocytized many more fibers, existed around the bronchiole compared with the earlier inhalation study at almost the same deposited amount. The relationship between POW amount and biopersistence in this intratracheal instillation study was different from that of our previous inhalation studies, probably due to the unnatural method of the fiber introduction to the lung, which in turn led to a different fiber distribution. It is suggested that an intratracheal instillation study is not an appropriate method for estimating excess deposition amounts of POW and an inhalation study will be needed. However, this intratracheal instillation study clarified that the clearance of POW was delayed as compared with previous inhalation studies at similar deposition amounts and this result has importance for the hazard assessment of dusts in animal experiments.

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Rapid turnover of novice nurses eventually results in a shortage of veteran nurses. This study aimed to clarify the factors affecting rapid turnover of novice nurses in a prospective manner. We carried out an investigation in 20 university hospitals whose directors of nursing service departments accepted our request to cooperate with our research program. These hospitals were selected from all of the 102 university hospitals listed in The Hospital Catalog of Japan. The subjects were 1,203 novice hospital nurses who gave their informed consent for participation in our study. The questionnaires, which dealt with burnout, assertiveness, stressful life events, reality shock, ward assignment preference, transfer preference, job satisfaction (workplace, salary, workload, and overtime), social support and coping mechanisms were completed by 923 novice nurses in June 2003. Then, their turnover was investigated in December 2003. Thirty-seven novice nurses (4.0%) quit during this period. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the factors affecting rapid turnover were 1) graduation from vocational nursing schools, 2) dissatisfaction with assignment to a ward contrary to their desire, and 3) no peers for support. Assignment of novice nurses to wards they choose as far as possible, avoidance of assigning novice nurses to wards alone, and establishment of a support system for nurses who graduate from vocational nursing schools seem to be important for preventing rapid turnover of novice nurses.

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To assess the prevalence of cervical spondylosis and musculoskeletal symptoms among coolies a cross-sectional study was performed in Narayangonj City of Bangladesh on a random sample of 98 male coolies, using a questionnaire and the results of cervical spine X-rays. Statistical associations were investigated using the chi-square test. The results show a considerably higher prevalence of cervical spondylosis among the coolies (39.8%). More than half (51.3%) of the cases of cervical spondylosis were in subjects below the age of 40 yr, and a significant association was found between age group and prevalence of cervical spondylosis. The study also observed a significant association between duration of occupation and prevalence of cervical spondylosis. Coolies who had worked for 10 to 15 yr, or more than 15 yr, had higher rates of cervical spondylosis. In this study it was found that those who carried heavier loads suffered more from cervical spondylosis. Musculoskeletal symptoms in multiple body regions (two or more) were more prevalent (61.2%) than those in single body region (29.6%). Symptoms in the hands/fingers were the most frequent followed by the back and arms/forearms. In conclusion, the high prevalence of cervical spondylosis and musculoskeletal symptoms among professional coolies may be associated with the practice of carrying heavy loads on the head. Further study with a large sample of population is required to investigate this problem and to explore preventive measures.

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